For ten days this November, Belfast is raising a glass. From Friday 6th to Sunday 15th November 2026, Belfast Cocktail Week sees bars, restaurants and hotels across the city serve signature cocktails from £5+ to wristband holders, and we’re proud to be the official travel partner.
The night out is the headliner. We’re the bit in the middle that gets you there and home again. No designated driver, no hunting for parking and no pricey taxi home, whether you’re coming from Dublin or Derry/L’Derry.
Here’s how the wristbands work, where to go, a suggested venue route and how to get there and back on our 705X.
What is Belfast Cocktail Week?
Belfast Cocktail Week is a ten-day festival where more than 50 bars, restaurants and hotels serve signature cocktails from £5 to wristband holders, plus food offers and extra discounts at selected venues. In 2026, it runs from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th November.
It’s run by M.ad Agency, which organises Cocktail Weeks across the UK and Ireland, including Dublin. Belfast’s first edition was in November 2025 and was quickly brought back for a spring edition in April 2026.
Not drinking? Signature mocktails are available too, so everyone in the group gets something special.
Grown-ups only: Belfast Cocktail Week is 18+, so bring your ID and leave the little ones at home for this one.
How does Belfast Cocktail Week work?
It’s simple: buy a wristband online, collect it in Belfast, then wear it at participating venues to unlock the offers.
- Buy your wristband: Pre-order through Fatsoma, linked from the official Belfast Cocktail Week website. Wristbands start from £9.95 plus a booking fee, and prices rise with each release, so book early and check the official site for live prices.
- Collect it: From Friday 30th October, swap your ticket barcode for a wristband at HALT Weavers Cross, Glengall Street (daily, 12pm–8pm), Haymarket, 84 Royal Avenue (daily, 1pm–8pm), or Malmaison, 34–38 Victoria Street (daily, 1pm–9pm).
- Sip and explore: Wear your wristband and order the signature cocktail (or mocktail) at any participating venue.
Aircoach tip: HALT Weavers Cross is right beside Belfast Grand Central, where our 705X service stops. Step off the coach, collect your wristband, and you’re ready to go.
Where to go: venues taking part in Cocktail Week, Belfast
With more than 50 venues in this year’s line-up for Cocktail Week in Belfast, you’re spoilt for choice. Here are a few to get you started. For the full list and each venue’s signature cocktail, check the official site.
Linen Quarter (closest to Grand Central)
- The Perch Rooftop Bar, 42 Franklin Street: a rooftop bar in a converted Victorian warehouse.
- Rita’s, 44 Franklin Street: a 1940s-glamour cocktail den.
- Sweet Afton, 12 Brunswick Street: a relaxed bar and kitchen.
- The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Great Victoria Street: a polished hotel bar.
City centre
- Malmaison, Victoria Street: a stylish hotel bar and wristband collection point.
- Crimson Cocktail Lounge at Haymarket, Royal Avenue: a hidden sanctuary of velvet and shadows, it’s also a wristband collection point.
Cathedral Quarter
- The Northern Whig, 2–10 Bridge Street: a grand bar in the Cathedral Quarter.
- The Deer’s Head, 1–3 Lower Garfield Street: a beautifully restored bar dating from 1885.
- Common Market, 16–20 Dunbar Street: street food and three bars under one roof (listed as open Thursday to Sunday, so check before visiting midweek).
Also taking part: The Points, The Practitioner, Char + Mash, The Chester, The Foundry, Moxy Belfast City and Novelli at AC Hotel.
A Belfast Cocktail Week route: from Grand Central to the Cathedral Quarter
This route starts at our stop at Belfast Grand Central and works north to the Cathedral Quarter. Think of it as a pick-and-mix, not a challenge: choose three or four stops a night and save the rest for another evening. You’ve got ten days, after all.
From the Cathedral Quarter, it’s around a 20–25-minute walk back to Grand Central, so leave plenty of time before your coach.
Midweek swap: Common Market may be closed from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November, so finish at Crimson Cocktail Lounge at Haymarket instead, around five minutes from The Deer’s Head.
Want more bars and live music? Our guide to Belfast nightlife has plenty more ideas.
Aircoach: official travel partner of Belfast Cocktail Week 2026
The best nights out are the ones where everyone joins in. Travel with us, and nobody has to be the designated driver, hunt for parking or pay for an expensive taxi home.
Our 705X serves Belfast from both directions, Dublin and Derry/L’Derry, and stops at Belfast Grand Central. From there, it’s a few minutes’ walk to the Linen Quarter and around 20–25 minutes to the Cathedral Quarter.
On board, you’ll find free Wi-Fi, reclining seats, toilets and charging ports, and you can pay contactless. See On-board with Aircoach for more about our coach comforts.
From Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport to Belfast
The 705X runs direct from Dublin City Centre (O’Connell Street, opposite the RIU Gresham Hotel) and Dublin Airport (Terminals 1 and 2) to Belfast Grand Central. There are up to 34 services a day between Dublin and Belfast.
The journey takes around two hours from Dublin Airport, and around two and a half hours from the city centre. Fares start from £11/€12 one way when you book online.
See our Dublin to Belfast route page, or read our guide on how to get to Belfast from Dublin for more navigational information.
From Derry/L’Derry to Belfast
The 705X runs direct from Foyleside Coach Park in Derry/L’Derry to Belfast Grand Central, picking up at Drumahoe Park & Ride and Maghera on the way. There are 11 services a day each way, and the journey takes around two hours.
Useful evening departures from Foyleside:
- 14:55, arriving at Grand Central at 17:00
- 16:55, arriving at 19:00
- 18:55, arriving at 21:00
Wristband tip: Collection points close at 8pm (9pm at Malmaison), so the 18:55 arrives too late to collect. On your first night, take the 16:55 or earlier, or collect on an earlier visit.
Find out more on our Derry/L’Derry to Belfast route page.
Late coaches home to Dublin
Here are the evening and late departures from Belfast Grand Central to Dublin:
Key point: The 21:10 is the last coach that reaches Dublin City Centre before the morning. The 01:10 stops at Dublin Airport only, and the 03:10 reaches the city centre at 05:35.
Heading up later from Dublin? The late departures from O’Connell Street are 20:50 (arriving in Belfast at 23:20), 22:50 (arriving at 01:20) and 00:50 (arriving at 03:20). These suit anyone staying overnight, but if you arrive after 9pm, you’ll need your wristband already.
Late coaches home to Derry/L’Derry
Here are the evening and late departures from Belfast Grand Central to Derry/L’Derry:
Key point: Coaches leave Grand Central for Derry/L’Derry every two hours through the night, with the 23:30 getting into Foyleside at 01:35.
These coaches also stop at Maghera and Drumahoe Park & Rides, which is handy if you left your car there. Just remember: if you’ve been drinking, don’t drive home from the Park & Ride.
Tips for getting home
- Book your return early: Book it with your outward journey, so your seat home is sorted.
- Get there in good time: Arrive at Grand Central 10–15 minutes before your coach.
- Check before you go: Check the 705X timetable before you travel.
- The morning after: Don’t drive the next morning if you might still be over the limit. Take the coach home instead.
Tips for a safe, sociable Cocktail Week in Belfast
- Pace yourself: Swap in a signature mocktail or a glass of water between cocktails, and make the most of the food offers.
- Bring ID: It’s 18+, so bring photo ID. Venues may ask for it.
- Stick together: Agree on a plan to get back to Grand Central, and look out for each other.
- Keep your phone charged: Top up your battery on your coach so that you can check your coach times later.
- Spread it out: With ten days to play with, there’s no need to fit everything into one night. Come up twice!
- Going as a group? Buy four or more wristbands together to bring the price down to £9.95 each.
Book your trip to Belfast Cocktail Week
Belfast Cocktail Week runs from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th November 2026. Grab your wristband, pick your favourite stops, and leave the journey to us. With the 705X from Dublin and Derry/L’Derry, getting there and home again is the easy part.
You bring the good company, we’ll handle the driving. Book your Aircoach ticket to Belfast today.
Fancy doing it all again in Derry/L’Derry? Our Derry Cocktail Week guide has you covered.