The only thing that makes me happier than having a cocktail in hand is having one in each hand, so I’d like to start this blog by extending a personal thank you from me and my bank balance to whoever invented the genius concept known as ‘Happy Hour’.
Happy Hour is any cocktail enthusiast’s best friend. If you’ve somehow gone through life without discovering Happy Hour, it’s a beautiful time of day when bars and pubs sell their cocktails (and sometimes other alcoholic beverages) at discounted prices. Although the term is singular, Happy Hour usually lasts for two hours or more, meaning more time for you to booze on a budget.
In this blog I’ve put together 15 of the best Happy Hour deals available in bars across Nottingham city centre. I’ve included Happy Hour timings as well as the terms & conditions for each bar, plus Google Map links to make it easy for you to find your way from one place to the next. Now then, who’s up for a bar crawl?!
Lost Property — 📍 7 Carlton Street, NG1 1NL
Happy Hour: 5 to 7pm, Wednesday and Thursday; 4 to 7pm, Friday and Saturday (extended to 10pm on all days with valid student ID)
Ts & Cs: 2 for £10 on cocktails and double spirits
Let’s kick this list off with one of the coolest bars in Notts! Going for drinks at secret underground bar Lost Property is a whole experience. Fashioned in the style of a cocktail speakeasy, this venue is a rabbit warren of different themed rooms, each with its own distinct vibe and drinks menu. Brave the steep staircase to the bottom floor for the chance to have a drink or two in a real medieval cave.
400 Rabbits — 📍 15-16 Hurts Yard, NG1 6JD
Happy Hour: 5 to 8pm, every day
Ts & Cs: All cocktails £6
Tucked away down Hurts Yard alleyway, you’ll find tequila specialists 400 Rabbits. Don’t let traumatic memories of tequila slammers put you off visiting, as tequila has a much more subtle (and pleasant) taste when mixed into cocktails. Decorated with vibrant colours and shabby chic furniture, this quaint and quirky bar is the perfect place to start a night out.
Tier — 📍 38 Pelham Street, NG1 2EG
Happy Hour: 4 to 8pm, every day
Ts & Cs: All cocktails £5.50
I’ve raved about the grilled cheese toasties at Tier many a time on this blog but this venue is also well known for its affordable and creative cocktails. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll already know that my favourite cocktails are basically alcohol and dessert combined, and the Raspberry Ripple and Crème Brûlée cocktails at Tier definitely fit the bill.
The Playwright — 📍 38 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ
Happy Hour: 5 to 8pm, every day
Ts & Cs: 2 for £10 on cocktails, £6 for doubles on spirits
Prefer the relaxed setting of a pub to a bar? Head to the Playwright, situated on the edge of Nottingham Trent University’s city campus. It’s the ideal place to chill and enjoy some laidback drinking after (or between) lectures. As well as tasty cocktails, it serves up great pub grub and there’s a weekly quiz for trivia buffs to get involved in too.
Cosy Club — 📍 16-18 Victoria Street, NG1 2EX
Happy Hour: 4 to 8 pm, Sunday to Thursday
Ts & Cs: Any two cocktails for £10.95 (excludes pitchers)
Did you know that Nottingham’s home to the largest Cosy Club in the country? As far as national chains go, Cosy Club is a good choice if you’re looking for a venue with character. Nottingham’s Cosy Club is situated in a grade II listed building that used to be a gentleman’s club and casino way back in 1913, and both original and new features in the grand décor pay homage to its origins.
Pepper Rocks — 📍 12 Pepper Street, NG1 2GH
Happy Hour: 5 to 10pm, Sunday to Friday and 3 to 10pm Saturday
Ts & Cs: House cocktails £5.50
Any bar that has its own hot dog stand at the entrance is a must visit in my eyes! Pepper Rocks is my absolute favourite bar for date night cocktails. Set over three floors, there’s always a buzzing atmosphere of laughter and chatter and empty tables are a rare sight at weekends. The generous Happy Hour timings at Pepper Rocks should give you just enough time to work your way through the long list of house cocktails.
Be At One — 📍 20A Victoria Street, NG1 2EX
Happy Hour: 4.30 to 8pm, Monday to Thursday; 4.30 to 7pm, Friday; 2 to 6pm, Saturday; 3 to 8 pm, Sunday
Ts & Cs: 2 for 1 on cocktails (must order two of the same cocktail)
If you’re a student living in Notts, you’ll most likely already be familiar with Be At One, which is fast becoming one of Nottingham’s hottest late night bars. The party atmosphere and banging tunes offer all the excitement of clubbing without the messiness! Be At One launched a brand new cocktail menu earlier this month, so why not make Happy Hour your excuse to visit and be one of the first to sample the new flavours?
Penny Lane — 📍 9 Fletcher Gate, NG1 1QQ
Happy Hour: Midday to 9pm, Sunday to Thursday
Ts & Cs: Two cocktails for £9.95
Enjoy a trip to the seaside without getting sand in your shoes at Penny Lane, where bar meets arcade to provide an entertaining evening for all. Prepare yourself for a hefty dose of childhood nostalgia with classic seaside games such as 2p machines and a donkey derby, complete with live commentator! The cocktail menu is fun and imaginative, including drinks served in miniature pool inflatables and a fully functioning hook-a-duck sharer.
Lost City Tiki Bar — 📍 The Cornerhouse, Burton Street, NG1 4DB
Happy Hour: 5 to 7pm, Monday to Friday
Ts & Cs: Two for £10 cocktails
A hidden gem located in the basement of Cornerhouse, this Tiki bar can be found in the midst of the Lost City Adventure Golf course. It has a tropical vibe, serving a variety of exotic cocktails and equally exciting mocktail concoctions. Purchase a play, drink and eat bundle to get an 18 hole game of crazy golf and a cocktail for just £15 per person!
The Walrus — 📍 19A King Street, NG1 2AY
Happy Hour: All night, Thursday and Friday; before 9pm on Saturday
Ts & Cs: Two cocktails for £10
The Walrus is one of the best bars in Notts for creative cocktails, with inventive twists on classics such as a Kinder Martini and a Berry Cosmo. Jump on one of the four beer pong tables to challenge your mates or sing along to an epic soundtrack of tunes across the decades, from 70s disco to 90s hip hop.
The Magic Garden — 📍 24-26 Low Pavement, NG1 7DL
Happy Hour: All day, Sunday to Thursday
TTs & Cs: Standard cocktails 2 for £9.95, premium cocktails 2 for £11.95
Opened in summer last year, The Magic Garden’s idyllic outdoor seating area feels like entering an oasis among the concrete surroundings of the city centre. There’s no need to check the weather forecast before visiting, as there’s plenty of indoor seating available too. Any fans of creamy cocktails should try the Peanut Butter Cup — peanut butter whiskey, banana, creamy milk and cocoa. Yum!
Tilt — 📍 9 Pelham Street, NG1 2EH
Happy Hour: 5 to 7pm, Tuesday to Friday
Ts & Cs: All cocktails £8 and glasses of prosecco for £4.50 each
Tilt is a dedicated cocktail bar with an inventive menu. The candle-lit setting of this intimate venue is great for couples looking for their next date night destination, but the laidback atmosphere is also well-suited to catch-ups with close friends. If there’s a classic cocktail you like that’s not on the menu, tell one of the mixologists behind the bar and they’ll make one especially for you.
Revolución De Cuba — 📍 26-28 Market Street, NG1 6HW
Happy Hour: 3 to 7pm, Monday to Friday and all day Sunday
Ts & Cs: 2 for 1 cocktails, £3.50 Mahou lager, £20 prosecco bottles
Revolution’s cooler, younger sibling (sorry Revs), the Cuban themed Revolución De Cuba is a fabulous choice if you love cocktails, tapas and live music. The cocktail menu is heavily rum focused, but there are gin & tonic options as well as a handy page titled ‘not rum’ for anyone with different tastes.
The Bodega — 📍 23 Pelham Street, NG1 2ED
Happy Hour: 4 to 7pm, Sunday to Thursday
Ts & Cs: Deals available on pints, wine and cocktails
Local live music venue The Bodega has seen the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Lewis Capaldi and George Ezra perform on its humble stage before they became household names. Although you’re unlikely to bump into Alex Turner at the bar these days, fans of indie music won’t want to miss The Bodega’s Indie Clubnight every Wednesday.
Ginsecco — 📍 The Cornerhouse, NG1 4DB
Happy Hour: 5 to 7pm, Monday to Friday
Ts & Cs: 2 for 1 on bellinis and £20 bottles of Prosecco. Also 2-4-1 on all cocktails every Friday.
The highest bar in Nottingham, Ginsecco offers unbeatable views over the city and the early evening Happy Hour is your chance to watch the sun set while enjoying your tipple of choice. Obviously this is a brilliant place to go if you love gin or prosecco but there’s also a fabulous selection of cocktails to order. The window views combined with plush furnishings and a painted pair of angel wings on the wall mean lots of photo opps for the ‘gram.
Luce in Notts 
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