After a week of tropical temperatures across Greater Manchester, it’s safe to say we’ve all been dreaming of Caribbean vibes, ice-cold cocktails and a little escapism.

Thankfully, the weather has been perfectly on theme, because Manchester Rum Week is arriving from 29th June to 5th July 2026, bringing a taste of the tropics to some of the city’s very best bars.

Manchester Rum Week will see venues across the city creating exclusive rum cocktails, limited-time menus and special offers, all leading up to the Manchester Rum Festival at New Century Hall on Saturday 4th July.

If you haven’t already secured your place, we’d recommend grabbing your tickets now, as it’s set to be one of the city’s biggest celebrations of rum, cocktails and Caribbean-inspired flavours.

Some of Manchester’s finest bars, including Exhibition, Turtle Bay, Blinker, Bar Posie, 10 Tib Lane and MDNT, will all be taking part. It’s the perfect excuse to spend the week exploring Manchester’s outstanding cocktail scene before heading to the festival itself.

We were invited along to the launch event to sample four of the cocktails that will be available during Rum Week, and if they’re anything to go by, cocktail lovers are in for a treat.

Blinker – Naughty Nectar

Blinker’s Naughty Nectar is an ideal summer serve, combining DropWorks Barrel Drop rum with nectarine, dry peach, bergamot and fresh lime. Bright, citrusy and incredibly refreshing, it’s exactly the sort of drink you’d hope to be sipping during a heatwave. We also enjoyed tasting the DropWorks rum neat, allowing its smooth character to shine through.

Bar Posie – Return to Sender

Bar Posie’s Return to Sender mixes Goslings Black Seal Rum with raisin honey, ginger, verjus, champagne acid and Crémant to create a beautifully balanced cocktail that’s rich, elegant and surprisingly light on the palate. Sampling the Goslings rum on its own afterwards highlighted just how versatile the spirit is.

10 Tib Lane – Toucan

Possibly the most intriguing cocktail of the evening, Toucan pairs Hampden Estate 1753 rum with banana liqueur, Guinness reduction, chocolate bitters and saline. It sounds unusual on paper, but the result is a complex, savoury-sweet cocktail packed with character.

MDNT – After Hours

Coffee and rum make a superb pairing in MDNT’s After Hours, where Clément Ambre Rum meets Pedro Ximénez sherry and coffee for a rich, smooth cocktail that’s made for late evenings.

The Main Event – Manchester Rum Festival

The celebrations culminate on Saturday 4th July with the 10th anniversary of the Official Manchester Rum Festival at New Century Hall. As Manchester’s first and only dedicated rum festival, it’s become a must-visit event for rum enthusiasts and cocktail lovers alike.

Your general admission ticket includes unlimited rum samples from exhibitors throughout the day, giving visitors the chance to discover everything from well-known favourites to exciting independent distilleries. Alongside hundreds of rums to taste, there’ll also be expertly crafted cocktails, Caribbean-inspired street food, live Soca and Reggae music, plus the opportunity to chat directly with the people behind many of the brands.

For those looking to deepen their rum knowledge, optional Rum Ramble masterclasses will cover everything from British Navy Rum and Australian Banana Rum to the history of rum cocktails and emerging rum-producing countries.

General admission tickets start from £27.50, with the festival running between 12pm and 6pm.

Whether you’re a seasoned rum drinker or simply looking for an excuse to enjoy some outstanding cocktails in Manchester this summer, Manchester Rum Week offers the perfect opportunity to discover some of the city’s best bars before celebrating in style at the Manchester Rum Festival.

Tickets are on sale here and we’d highly recommend booking in advance before they sell out.