Guide to Cocktail Bars in Bury St Edmunds

Whether you’re partial to a Buck’s Fizz for brunch, a bellini for lunch or a negroni at nightfall, you’re spoilt for choice in Bury St Edmunds. Here’s our guide to cocktail bars in town.

Walk around the Abbey Gardens on Angel Hill to Northgate Street and you will find The Northgate, a glamorous boutique hotel with a fresh metropolitan feel.

Formerly known as Ounce House, this Victorian hotel has been extensively renovated with an immaculate finish. Cocktails can be enjoyed in the bar and lounge area, in the excellent restaurant or outside on the large south facing terrace. If the air is cool, stay warm beneath the heated parasols.

The Northgate boasts an inviting cocktail list, created with handpicked spirits, freshly squeezed juices and homemade syrups, which can be enjoyed in their modern bar or outside in their pretty enclosed garden. Try the Walled Garden Punch, made with Aperol, Kamm & Sons, Crème de Peche, Cherry Marnier, Sauvignon Blanc, pomegranate and basil soda and herbs, or the Foraged Martini, made with St George Terroir gin, Lillet Blanc, Mastika and Douglas fir pine.

On Angel Hill, stands the historic Angel Hotel and its beautiful bar has arguably the best view in Bury St Edmunds - with the historic Abbey Gate opposite.

Enjoy the view while you try their cocktail list inspired by the fables and tales surrounding the hotel and Bury St Edmunds, including the beautiful Abbey gardens cocktail, inspired by the gardens just steps away.

The Angel is mentioned in Charles Dickens' novel The Pickwick Papers and the author stayed at The Angel 3 times. The Angel was one of the filming locations for the movie The Personal History of David Copperfield, based on another of Dickens' novels in which Bury St Edmunds was mentioned so be sure to try The Copperfield cocktail. Made with British vodka, zesty pink grapefruit and fresh thyme it is The Angel's current favourite as an aperitif. Make sure you look out for the Dickens inspired quote from Pickwick Papers, hidden within the bar's stunning decor.

In the heart of the medieval grid is Baskerville’s, a cocktail bar masquerading as a coffee shop with a secret, hidden cocktail bar.

Serving craft cocktails, speciality coffees, loose leaf teas, milkshakes (and dirty filthy shakes, not to be missed!), a selection of cold drinks, some delicious lunchtime libations (including, wines and beers) through the day, with light bites too. The hidden bar comes alive on Friday and Saturday evenings until late, down in the basement you'll find the 1920s, speakeasy cocktail bar serving craft cocktails (many with a Sherlock theme) with wonderful theatrics involving dry ice. No need to wait for the basement bar to open we serve cocktails from 11am! Start the day well. Choose from the 221B Martini, The Moriarty, Scandal in Bohemia, Sleepy Peepers, Aristocratic Crook and more! If you're time pressured you can also get your cocktails to go with their cocktails for collection or delivery service.

St Distillery in St John's Street is a ‘Speak-easy’ style cocktail bar hidden away in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. Passionate about serving a range of top quality drinks & making their own as they have their own distillery on site! Table service in their private bar on Friday & Saturday nights.

At Verve their cocktail menu features an impressive list featuring classics such as cosmopolitans, Margaritas and Mojitos as well as premium cocktails including Sweet Little Something and The Old Ocho and house cocktails Peaches & Honey (a sweet take on the classic margarita. Cazcabel honey liqueur, peach liqueur, lime, and tequila, served frozen) and Caribbean Frappe (an alcoholic banana milkshake made with Bacardi rum, crème de banana, and Kahlua). Non alcoholic cocktails also feature on their menu. You can get Two House Cocktails for £12.90 on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

There's also a great range of cocktails at So Bar. Tucked away in Langton Place, this modern café bar is a great spot for a mojito, made with Bacardi Braveheart, Oro Or Blanea, mint, lime, sugar syrup and optional fruit purees. You can buy one cocktail and get one free on Thursdays from 6pm to midnight! Head over to Karooze Café Bar after if you want to dance and drink cocktails late into the night.

Queens Bar & Grill have a weekly changing cocktails menu so there is always something different to enjoy! The Hunter Club, known for its fantastic live music, has recently launched a new cocktail menu. A popular one has been the Pink Grapefruit Rose Spritz which combines a Rose Aperitivo with a fruity pink soda, topped with prosecco. Its the perfect seasonal transition mixing refreshing summer flavours with winter orientated undertones.

At Boosh Bar you can enjoy classic cocktails including Cosmopolitan, Pornstar Martini, Margarita, Mojto and Pina Colada alongside something different! Choose from the Romeo and Juliet (a fresh but decadent combination of gin, lime, cucumber & mint with a dash of plumb), Chocolate Cherry Martini (a naughty mingle of flavours - vodka & cognac shaken with creme de cacao, finished with a pop of cherry), and Orchard Fizz (a delicious mix of apple vodka, elderflower & prosecco), among others.

If you love cocktails, why not download the free Bury St Edmunds LoyalFree app and follow their Cocktail Trail?

Fancy mastering the art of making a good cocktail?

Book in for a Cocktail Masterclass at Baskervilles. Master iconic cocktails with your own dedicated bartender to guide you. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival followed by two cocktail demonstrations which you’ll follow to create your own masterpieces (either from their menu or a classic).

The Craft Of The Cocktail Course at St Distillery starts with an introductory drink and a brief look at the history of cocktails and the tools needed.

After that you will get your hands dirty producing 4 great libations and learning some of the tricks of the trade in developing cocktail recipes. You will make three different cocktails under the watchful eye of our expert team…. and drink them of course ! Mocktail (non-alcoholic) versions of each cocktail are available for non-drinkers.

You can download the Bury St Edmunds Cocktail Trail on the Bury St Edmunds LoyalFree App!

Visit our Food and Drink Directory for more yummy food and drink businesses in Bury St Edmunds and Beyond!