We all love a secret bar, there's no denying that. But the problem is, how do we find them? The country is teeming with hidden haunts, whether it's a concealed basement bar, swanky speakeasy or even a boozer tucked away behind a retro telephone box. So you don't have to miss out on the fun, we've searched every nook and cranny across the isles to uncover the best secret bars in the UK.
Last edited by Leighanne Bent
Last updated on 19th August 2024
This London bar likes to keep a low profile, but if you fancy chasing it down, just keep an eye out for the jade door in Chinatown. Behind it, you'll find Opium, which echoes the illicit vibe of smoking dens from 1920s Shanghai, serving up experimental cocktails and delectable dim sum.
Hidden away in a Georgian cellar in Bath, Circo Cellar Bar is a dreamy drinking destination. Fronting plush seating and modern decor, the venue supplies signature sips, the Miss Tia-rious Girl is a mix of vodka, strawberry, elderflower, cucumber and lime over crushed ice.
Make your way over to The Breakfast Club Spitalfields, ask to see "The Mayor" and you'll discover a retro speakeasy hidden behind a Smeg fridge. Here, you can get stuck into fun bottomless brunches, or if you fancy something a little more laid-back, just casual cocktails.
Secreted away in Kings Cross is Keystone Crescent, a sexy hideaway with an excellent drinks list. Swing by from Wednesday to Sunday to soak up a range of classic cocktails done justice, from whiskey sours to espresso martinis.
@ Merchant House on Various dates from Thursday 21st November 2024
Accessed via a nondescript door in an unassuming alleyway, The Brig is the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. While a part of Merchant House, the cubbyhole is technically a standalone bar - possibly the smallest in London.
Hidden behind the Smeg fridge at Oxford's The Breakfast Club is a super secret bar that's low-lit and operates on a first-come-first-served basis. Backseat Becky's is very much in the foreground with its creative cocktail offering. In a slinky setting, that also happens to be a great date spot, enjoy the likes of The Dreamboat (£7) made with gin, lime and orange bitters, Becky's Apple Pie (£7) featuring Advocaat and apple, and the sweet Maderia wine-based Stranger In Paradise (£8).
The stairs that descend down to Nightjar are a portal to another time - the glamorous 1920s to be exact. With candlelit tables, vintage cocktails and enchanting live jazz, you'll never want to leave this speakeasy-style haunt in East London.
@ Alcotraz Penitentiary: Brighton on Various dates from Thursday 21st November 2024
For an evening so fun it feels illegal, head over to Alcotraz on Brighton's seafront. At this basement bar, you and your mates will be instructed by a notorious gang to smuggle in booze. The result? Bespoke cocktails made from whatever contraband you managed to sneak past the guards.
While us Brits never actually had a Prohibition, let's be honest - we've all seen the movies. Speakeasy bars are full of illicit glitz and glamour, and Prohibition Cabaret Bar on Newcastle's famous Pink Lane brings that into the twentieth century.
On first impression, The Washhouse in Manchester just looks like your average laundrette, with machines, baskets of laundry - the lot. But head through the door in the corner and you'll find one of the best speakeasy bars in the UK, complete with leather-clad booths and smoking cocktails.
Nestled beneath a vintage barbershop in London, The Gobspy mirrors the sophisticated debauchery of the Roaring Twenties. The speakeasy bar in London boasts delectable cocktails and plush seating, as well as brilliant live music on the weekends.
If you're on the hunt for a secret bar in Nottingham, check out Coco Tang in Bridlesmith Gate. The hidden underground bar pushes the limits of cocktails, using bespoke liquors, botanical infusions and cold pressed juices.
A far cry from your average nightclub, The Berkeley Suite in Glasgow is a swish, speakeasy-themed bar disguised as an old pawn shop. Despite the plush interiors, the venue is laid-back, with live music and top quality DJs playing most weekends.
Hidden away just above Salt Dog Slim's in Liverpool, 81LTD is available by appointment only. To book your table, you'll have to text them with the date of your booking and how many it's for, and they'll send you a secret code that you'll need to use as a password to get in.
The entrance looks like the front door of someone's home, but don't be fooled - it's in fact one of the best secret bars in Birmingham. Pop along to the intimate venue (if you can find it) and sip on some of the best gin and tonics in the country.
With a name that gives a nod to its speakeasy theme, Blind Tyger sits above its sister site Sandinista in Leeds. The discreet watering hole boasts cosy booths and retro knick-knacks, as well as thirsty-quenching list of cocktails and jazz flowing from the speakers.
Speak in Code is clandestine cocktail bar tucked away in Manchester's city centre. Catering for those on a plant-based diet, everything on the menu is vegan-friendly, from the cocktails to the food. Tuck in as you listen to lo-fi beats at one of the top secret UK bars.
Nothing says secret bar more than a hideout that's accessed via an old school telephone box. Pop through and you'll discover Moorfield's Ex-Directory, a swanky underground bar in Liverpool that boasts an eclectic selection of unusual cocktails.
