Yorkshire


<p>Celebrating the most inventive, mood-making, and downright fabulous drinking dens across the country, the 2026 list is set to be a glittering who’s-who of mixology magic. It’s basically the Oscars for people who consider a beautifully balanced negroni a personality trait. Expect insider favourites, rising stars, and a few “how-have-I-never-been-here?!” gems . . . because Franklin &amp; Sons don’t just highlight bars; they spotlight experiences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The official rankings aren’t announced until February 2026 (keep an eye out <strong><a href="https://www.top50cocktailbars.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a></strong>), but Muddy did a little digging and managed to find out the Yorkshire bars that will be making their way onto this coveted list.&nbsp;Check them out before they get booked up!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-over-amp-above-harrogate-nbsp"><a href="https://www.overandaboveharrogate.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Over &amp; Above</a>, Harrogate&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083.jpg" alt="over &amp; above harrogate" class="wp-image-6451" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/OA-083-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Launched in March 2025,&nbsp;Over &amp; Above&nbsp;is Harrogate’s only speakeasy, and the sort of place that takes its cocktails seriously, but absolutely not itself (praise be). They’re all about the right kind of vibes, that friendly-feel-good service Yorkshire is famed for, and some of the most delicious cocktails we’ve had the privilege of knocking back. Our go-to is the Freezer Martini – trust us, you’ll never look back. </p>



<p>The name isn’t just about the craftsmanship or the top-notch service &#8211; it’s a wink to the venue’s secret setup: two gorgeous floors tucked away behind a very cool bookcase entrance (yes, really; prepare to feel like a stylish spy). </p>



<p>Owners Rich and Fran Hamer bring decades of hospitality know-how to their very first venture, and they’re on a mission to deliver proper table service and quality cocktails to the heart of Harrogate. Find this deliciously discreet drinking den hidden behind the bookcase at&nbsp;7 Cheltenham Crescent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-brain-jar-hull"><a href="https://www.thebrainjarbar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Brain Jar</a>, Hull</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1823" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/The-Brain-Jar_d47efca08392bed268fb19303a606e56.jpg" alt="the brain jar, hull" class="wp-image-6452" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/The-Brain-Jar_d47efca08392bed268fb19303a606e56.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/The-Brain-Jar_d47efca08392bed268fb19303a606e56-247x300.jpg 247w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/The-Brain-Jar_d47efca08392bed268fb19303a606e56-843x1024.jpg 843w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/The-Brain-Jar_d47efca08392bed268fb19303a606e56-768x933.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/The-Brain-Jar_d47efca08392bed268fb19303a606e56-1264x1536.jpg 1264w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Another newbie for 2026. Tucked away in Hull’s Old Town,&nbsp;The Brain Jar&nbsp;is a buzzy cocktail-and-pizza hangout pouring over 60 cocktails, temperance mixes, craft beers, wines, spirits &#8211; plus enough loose-leaf teas and locally roasted coffee to keep things cosy. Spread over two floors and three roomy spaces, it doubles as a creative hub hosting everything from gigs and exhibitions to comedy nights and workshops.</p>



<p>Expect the classics (Old Fashioned, Bramble, the gang’s all here), but the real magic happens on the Seasonal menu &#8211; think a Mushroom Old Fashioned or the gloriously bonkers Tarot Cake cocktail. House favourites like the Salty Russian and fruity Rainbow Juice keep things fun, indulgent and very, very sip-worthy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pearl-at-park-hill-sheffield"><a href="https://www.pearlatparkhill.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pearl at Park Hill</a>, Sheffield</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/ThePearlLOWRES-9.jpg" alt="pearl at park hill" class="wp-image-6448" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/ThePearlLOWRES-9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/ThePearlLOWRES-9-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/ThePearlLOWRES-9-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/ThePearlLOWRES-9-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Celebrating another year on the list after sitting at 44<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;on the 2025 list,&nbsp;The Pearl at Park Hill&nbsp;is the second project from the team behind Sheffield’s much-loved Bench (which also earned Top 50 Cocktail Bars status in 2023 &amp; 2024). Opening in 2023 inside the iconic Park Hill estate, Jack Wakelin and chef Tom Aronica set out to redefine what a modern “local” can be, and they’ve absolutely nailed it.</p>



<p>Expect a seasonal, ever-shifting cocktail menu, craft beer, natural wine and bar food that punches well above its weight. Park Hill once boasted four pubs in its steel-city heyday, and The Pearl is the first to return with its name a nod to two former boozers, The Parkway Tavern and The Earl George.</p>



<p>Bench, their Nether Edge bar, has already earned Top 50 Cocktail Bars status, and The Pearl feels like the natural, and very stylish, next chapter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-below-stairs-leeds"><a href="https://www.belowstairsbar.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Below Stairs</a>, Leeds</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2253" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48.png" alt="below stairs leeds" class="wp-image-6450" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48-200x300.png 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48-682x1024.png 682w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48-768x1154.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48-1023x1536.png 1023w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-13.17.48-1364x2048.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Leeds favourite&nbsp;Below Stairs&nbsp;will be returning to the list for its fourth year running – turns out keeping things fun, fresh and wonderfully unfussy, works! Alongside its inventive cocktails, you’ll find craft beer, small-vineyard wines and a vibe that basically says:&nbsp;<em>sit down, relax, we’ve got you</em>. The bar’s house-made cocktails are designed around simple sensory stories (read: no booze-lingo degree required) or you can go classic with something from the ever-reliable back bar or six craft taps.</p>



<p>Their latest menu, <em>State of Things</em>, strips things back to a collection of flavours and sensations inspired by fond memories and experiences, designed to create new ones. Add in their standout sustainability efforts, and Below Stairs isn’t just mixing great drinks &#8211; it’s redefining responsible sipping in Leeds.</p>



<p>Check out the 2025 list <strong><a href="https://www.top50cocktailbars.com/list/1-50" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a></strong></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://yorkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/drink/drinks-on-me-rich-harmer-over-above/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drinks on me: Rich Hamer, Over &amp; Above</a></li>



<li><a href="https://yorkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/yorkshire-restaurants-national-restaurant-awards/">The Yorkshire restaurants cleaning up in the National Restaurant Awards</a></li>



<li><a href="https://yorkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/brilliant-yorkshire-pubs-and-restaurants-with-a-view/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Yorkshire pubs with a view</a></li>
</ul>


Shaking up Yorkshire: inside the bars that made the Top 50 list

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