Bath: You can’t buy happiness but you can buy booze

Last week I published A Delicious Guide to Bath that was full plenty of options for you all to sink your teeth into. However, this wouldn’t be very “Sophie” of me, if I didn’t include a piece about the best places to have a drink in Bath.

Although originally from Sussex, I have been in this area so long I am definitely a South-West girl through and through – and we love a bloody good pub. Whether it’s a speak-easy cocktail bar or a classic country pub with the finest beers and ciders on tap, there are plenty of bars for you to visit in Bath. So with that, allow me to introduce to you my top 10 watering holes:

The Dark Horse

A speak-easy cocktail bar located on Kingsmead square that prides itself on all wines, liquers and spirits being as locally sourced as possible in England. At the door you will be met by a doorman who will escort you inside, where someone else will then escort you to your seat. You are then presented with a menu and cucumber water – the experience you get here is outstanding. You are treated like royalty from the second you arrive and the drinks are fantastic.

The Hideout

A bar hidden just off Kingston Parade near Bath Abbey specialising in Whiskey, but have a killer cocktail menu. This place is buzzing, fun and the ultimate throwback with the most friendly staff. Playing 00’s punk and rock hits, this is the most fun bar I have been to in Bath. The menu is presented in a booklet like you get in a CD and your bill is presented in a cassette tape. This alternative bar is one you cannot miss.

Bath Brewhouse

This classic pub is opposite where I used to work on near Green Park so I would visit it often… very often. If you want a pint and chips, this is a great place to go. They craft their own ales and have a large drinks menu, making it a great spot for a group of people with different tastes. Bonus – they also do pub grub.

Sub 13

A stylish cellar bar on George St full of intimate corners, a courtyard and heated terrace. They serve great cocktails and play music until late, often offering 2 for 1 on drinks. This has been voted the best cocktail bar in Bath and it’s certainly a lot of fun. The outdoor space is also a great way to meet new people as it’s so open, I often find groups start to mingle together.

Hall and Woodhouse

So, I have mentioned Hall and Woodhouse before. This is the watering hole of Queen Square that I have spent an embarrassing amount of evenings in. This place is a pub, restaurant and rooftop bar and with a great menu and fantastic food, it’s top of my list of places to go with my friends. There are benches for larger groups and sofas with coffee tables for smaller, more cosy groups towards the back.

Opium Bar

A boutique-style bar hidden in an alley behind Pultney Bridge full of pan-historical decor and quirky art with an extensive cocktail menu. The rooms are small and intimate but there are plenty of them. Whether you want to sit in an armchair or lay on some form of bed, you can sure get comfy here… however, don’t allow yourself to fall asleep after one too many cocktails like I did on my 22nd birthday. I’m such a mess, soz.

The Hop Pole

The Hop Pole is a gastropub that is fantastic for beers and ales on tap. If you want a Somerset pub – this is it. With a menu of British classics complete with a courtyard pub garden, this hidden gem just outside of the city is a must-go-to for anyone wanting to try a variety of local favourites. It’s a great place to stop while walking along the river for the pint, but their food is also really good. A traditional family pub, and a staple to any bar crawl you may fancy doing.

The Common Room

Behind the Assembly Rooms is another cute and quirky cocktail bar. This is a place I love to come with a friend of mine and we always sit in the window and people watch. Their chilli and watermelon daiquiri is potentially my favourite cocktail on earth. With scenes from the swinging 60s and bright art decor – what’s not to love?

The Crystal Palace

A typical British pub. With plenty of beer on tap, a heated pub garden and a separate restaurant, this is an absolute classic. They have a menu ranging from your basic ham, egg and chips to often serving up a more classy special. They have pretty much every spirit you can think of and the atmosphere is always so bubbly. It just feels like a damn good British pub.

The Canary Gin Bar

This has a special place in my heart because it’s the bar that made me fall head over heels in love with gin. I used to be a wine drinker, but then wine started to hurt my head if I had 1 glass or 4 glasses. Here I discovered new gins and other spirits, I learnt more about mixers and their cocktails are fantastic too. The staff are exceptional and the cosy vibes are perfect for an evening drink.