By Suzanne Gloyne, Southend BID manager

London, Paris and Singapore have them. Edinburgh has one, so why not Southend too?

Of course, I’m talking about Cocktail Weeks and from Friday 18 to Sunday 27 October, our town will be hosting its very own!

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Positive - Suzanne Gloyne, Southend BID manger

Showcasing a number of fantastic bars in a variety of locations, from the High Street to the seafront, Southend Cocktail Week will be your chance to enjoy and sample some amazing drinks – both alcoholic and completely alcohol free.

All the participating venues will be creating a signature cocktail for you to try for just £5 during the week, such as a classic Cosmopolitan by Grosvenor Casino, the appropriately themed 1935 Aviation at the Holiday Inn, by Southend Airport and, echoing James Bond, Genting Casino’s Maverick Martini. I’m intrigued by the Pipe of Port’s A Dark and Stormy Port, which sounds and probably tastes very exotic.

Of course, if you’re coming by car or prefer not to drink booze, then each bar will also be offering equally delicious mocktails as an alternative choice.

The response to our very first Cocktail Week has already been hugely encouraging, with the afore mentioned local landmarks excited about demonstrating their mixologists’ skills.

We also have the Royal Hotel, Caddies and the Park Inn and Grosvenor Casino on board and I hope to be able to announce more hotels, bars and restaurants as the launch date approaches.

Southend BID is creating a special, downloadable Cocktail Week trail for cocktail lovers to follow, with posters also on display in the establishments taking part. For the latest information about Cocktail Week, go to www.visitsouthend.co.uk, like the Facebook page @VisitSouthendonSea, or follow @VisitSouthend on Twitter.

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