Proving five really is the magic number, #BCW2019 will bring together 50 of the city’s best-loved venues. New for 2019, Nocturnal Animals, Bank, Fumo, Birmingham Hippodrome, The Rectory & 180 Club, Saint Paul’s House, Fumo Selfridges, Arch 13, Serve, Opus, Pub du Vin and Be at One Brindleyplace will all be joining the bumper menu.

Shaking things up with a brand-new Hub headliner, Maker’s Mark will be bringing bourbon fun to the Urban Room at the Mailbox. The Maker’s Mark Hub will be the starting point for cocktail-revellers, where they can grab their wristbands before heading out to explore the best of the city’s bar scene, one signature cocktail at a time.

Proving the Mailbox is the place to be, Birmingham Cocktail Weekend veterans Tom’s Kitchen, Malmaison, Harvey Nichols, AC Hotel, Pennyblacks, Churchills and Gas Street Social will be returning, as well as Marco Pierre-White’s Steakhouse at The Cube.

Venturing along the canal, The Canal House and Pushkar Cocktail Bar & Dining join the line-up once again. Then heading into Brindleyplace, Hilton Garden Inn and Pitcher & Piano are joined by newbies Bank and Be At One Brindleyplace.

Heading back into the city, Colmore BID will be a must-visit destination for attendees: Hotel du Vin will be joining Opus, Gusto, Pub du Vin, Bar Opus and Chung Ying Central as official BCW2019 venues. The Edwardian Tea Rooms at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will also get in on the fun, as well as The Lost & Found, The Cosy Club, Bodega and Buffalo and Rye. Part of the Bitters ‘n’ Twisted group, Bodega and Buffalo and Rye sister venues will also be taking part: The Jekyll & Hyde, The Victoria and Island Bar.

New for 2019 is Nocturnal Animals, the playful bar and restaurant that is sure to concoct something extra special to pop its BCW cherry. Also new for this year and just a stone’s throw away is Fumo, who join the bill alongside late night hotspot, Dirty Martini. Bringing a taste of Thailand to BCW, Sabai Sabai has also signed on the dotted line for 2019! Joining them, Temple Street’s The Botanist and Revolution de Cuba will be making their mark, alongside Great Western Arcade’s Land – formerly known as 1847 – and Birmingham’s below-ground hot spot, Be At One New Street.

Six of the JQ’s best-loved bars have united for 2019, and are set to put the JQ firmly on the map for this year’s festival. The Vanguard at 1000 Trades, The Birmingham Whisky Club, The Rectory & 180 Club, The Rose Villa Tavern and new faces Arch13 and Saint Paul’s House will be joining the bill.

Bringing a touch of theatre to proceedings, cocktail lovers will be invited to tread the boards as both the Birmingham Hippodrome and The New Alexandra Theatre will be playing their part in BCW2019. Serve is playing the BCW game, inviting wristband wearers to sip their signature cocktail whilst enjoying a game of ping pong! Completing the 2019 line-up are Lobby on Hill Street, The Radisson Blu, and the final new face, Fumo Selfridges, located on the fourth floor in the city’s iconic shopping destination The Bullring.

With the final couple of venues and a jam-packed events line up still to be announced, there’s no doubt that there is more in store than ever before for this year’s Birmingham Cocktail Weekend. Wristbands are priced at £10 and grant wearers access to signature £4 cocktails across all participating venues from Thursday 11 July – Sunday 14 July, as well as access to an array of exciting events that will take place over the four-day festival; from tastings to masterclasses and everything in between, they’re sure to keep cocktail-lovers shaken and stirred.