8 Bars For When You’re Not Drinking
Is Dry January getting you down? Then grab your gal pals and head to one of these fantastic Hants & IoW bars that deliver the garnish on ambience, mocktails AND no hangovers!
If you’re doing dry January (or ‘Damp January’ – a fab phrase coined by local booze expert Helen McGinn of Knackered Mother’s Wine Club) it can feel like a bit of a slog and no fun at all.
But, have no fear! Muddy has scoured the bars across Hants & IoW *hic* to find some gems that will keep you in both amusement and plenty of mocktails until this marathon of a month is over.
Incognito, Winchester
Delightfully quirky, there’s a jolly good reason that Incognito has won the Muddy Award for Best Bar two years running. With “out of the box” mocktails including the likes of the Lychee & Rose Candy floss mojito, you’ll be in good company, wonderfully distracted and unaware your drink is totally a virgin.
The Blacksheep Bar, Ryde
It may be a Blacksheep, but we certainly won’t be casting this cool Island bar out with its fab range of no-alcohol options. For a spot of childish fun pick the Bubblegum Lemonade, made with elderflower cordial or an Apple Nojito, a fresh take on the Cuban classic sin rum.
The Alchemist, Portsmouth
With the latest branch of the fabulous bar-chain The Alchemist, Portsmouth is the place to go for bonkers concoctions and dramatic theatrics with your booze-free bevvies. For non-drinkers check out the Mango Shake, topped with White Chocolate Cream Foam. Delish.
Sky Bar @ The Aviator, Farnborough
Super classy and with major Bond vibes, the Sky Bar at Farnborough’s Aviator hotel serves up a flock of alcohol-free bevvies for your Dry January requirements. Just have a word with the super talented mixologists behind the bar and they can whip you up an alcohol-free classic in a cinch.
Cosy Club, Basingstoke
Basingstoke’s Cosy Club was well-received when it opened last year and with its maximalist design, vegan food and glut of drink options, its easy to see why. Top drink to check out is the Rosehip, Raspberry & Kombucha Tea Cooler that comes served in a teapot for added quirk.
Drydock, Stanwell House, Lymington
Standing proud on Lymington’s High Street is Stanwell House. This boutique hotel has its own in-house bar, the aptly named Drydock, which slings alcohol-free delights – plus some boozier concoctions. This is the perfect spot to catch up with pals in a quiet, intimate setting.
The Pig, Brockenhurst
So much more than a hotel, The Pig in Brockenhurst has some cracking alcohol-free options for those staying sober this month. Check out the homemade lemonade which is a cut above your usual soft drink, plus for those on a New Year health kick they also stock kombucha.
HarBar on 6th, Southampton
With its rooftop terrace and cracking view over the water, do you even need alcohol to have a good time at HarBar? Well, if you’re feeling weak then you’re in luck as there’s also a brilliant range of booze-free options on the menu. Try a Spicy Mango Daquiri or trick your palette with one of the three Seedlip botanicals they stock.