The Faversham, Leeds
The Fav, a bar, kitchen and music venue in the university district, has a pop-up Winter Lodge with space for 100 people. Festive offerings include a twinkly ceiling, live acoustic music, Christmas film screenings, hearty food and warming winter drinks such as toddies and spiked hot chocolate. On 15 December there is a Christmas singalong with Leeds soul singer Cleve Freckleton and his choir.
• thefaversham.com
Angel Hotel, Abergavenny
This 18th-century coaching inn has added an alpine ski lodge, with an après-ski bar serving German beer, mulled wine, festive cocktails, and snacks such as sausage rolls and mince pies. There are also Great Gatsby Christmas parties in the ballroom on 18 and 19 December, a Santa’s grotto in the courtyard and horse-drawn sleigh rides on 20 December.
• Weekends during the ski season, angelabergavenny.com
Queen of Hoxton, east London
Once Upon a Wigwam is a rooftop pop-up at this bar and club, themed around the Brothers Grimm fairytales. Visitors climb winding, vine-covered stairs and step through a keyhole into a treehouse and a gingerbread-house bar. There are performances inspired by Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel and other tales, and macabre workshops such as butterfly preservation. Try a Big Bad Buttered Rum cocktail, and Three Little Pigs – pork three ways in a bun.
• Until 31 March, queenofhoxton.com
Little Feast, west London
Fir trees, ivy-covered pergolas, bark floors … this Scandinavian forest is actually Shepherd’s Bush Yard, with a festive makeover. Six sheds serve street food including cider-braised beef cheeks, and at weekends the deli shed sells bread, cheese, smoked fish and meat. The bar is a former fishmonger’s turned into a Norwegian cabin. Live music includes choirs, carols, jazz and brass bands.
• Weds-Sun until 23 December, wefeast.co.uk
South Pole Saloon, south London
This isn’t just a bar; it’s a drinking, dining and immersive theatre experience celebrating “the dark side of Christmas” in Brixton. That means a 500-person purpose-built dive bar with live performances by elves, secret guest DJs and private themed booths including Rebel’s Den and Snowman’s Land. Street food vendors include Dip & Flip (burgers with gravy), and gin and rum punches come in smoking barrels.
• Until 23 December, southpolesaloon.com
Bar Hütte, Manchester
Ten Austrian huts have popped up on Manchester’s Crown Square. The “carol-oke” huts have karaoke machines playing carols and festive songs; the disco huts have glitter balls and Christmas party tunes; and the après-ski huts have blankets and hot-water bottles. All have table service so guests can summon a Gin Apple Winter Toddy or a Twisted Bombardino (eggnog liqueur and rum) without going out in the cold.
• Until 3 Jan, huts seat up to 10, £20 for two hours, facebook.com/barhutte
Après Lounge, Leicester
Offering a year-round taste of the Alps on Leicester’s High Street, lethal-sounding “ski shots” have booze combinations seemingly chosen entirely by colour: the Red Run, for example, contains Aftershock, Aperol, chilli-infused vodka and cherry rum. The warming cocktails might be a better bet: On the Piste is whisky, ginger liqueur, cinnamon and maple syrup. Decor is retro: wood panelling, vintage ski gear, cuckoo clocks and wall-mounted reindeer heads (not real ones).
• apreslounge.co.uk
Orange Rooms, Southampton
A collection of themed cocktail bars that now has a new Off Piste Lounge, a custom-built chalet with a big screen for playing retro ski games on a PlayStation 1, and a resident 7ft polar bear. Drinks are served in Thermos flasks or wooden barrels, ready for decanting into camping cups or glasses made from ice. The cocktail list includes the Grimm and Bear It, made from blackberry purée, chocolate liqueur, wild berry vodka and Jagermeister Spice.
• orangerooms.co.uk
Abbey hotel, Bath
This Georgian hotel’s pop-up Après-Ski Bar is a huge snow-topped cabin decked out like an alpine lodge. Cocktails come in ski boots and shots are served on skis; food includes goulash and spiced apple cake. Wrap up in a thick blanket to sit on the terrace, or party inside with the resident DJs. New this year is the pop-up Igloo Bar: a vaulted space for parties of 50 or more. On 21 December, it is Bavarian night in the Igloo, with an oompah band, beer, supper and dancing.
• Until 9 January, abbeyhotelbath.co.uk
Three Sisters, Edinburgh
This party pub has a pop-up après-ski lodge for Christmas, an outdoor cinema with free screenings of Christmas classics every night, live music from three drag Mariah Careys every Friday and Saturday, and a giant inflatable snowglobe. There is also festive street food, a guest ale bar and lashings of mulled cider.
• thethreesistersbar.co.uk
