Maule Collective
Taproom and cocktail bar
The taproom of Northampton's Maule Brewing Company, opposite the Guildhall since 2018, pouring its own craft beers alongside cocktails and espresso martinis.
📍 4 Derngate, Northampton NN1 1UB
Our top 9 Northampton cocktail bars
If you only have one night, start here.
- Maule Collective
Craft beer and espresso martinis opposite the Guildhall.
St Giles and the Cultural Quarter - Lola's Bar
Cocktails and tapas at Royal & Derngate.
St Giles and the Cultural Quarter - Shipmans
Theatrical cocktails in a historic pub.
Market Square and Bridge Street - V and B Northampton
French wine and beer on St Giles Square.
St Giles and the Cultural Quarter - Corkers Champagne & Cocktail Bar
Champagne and fresh fruit cocktails.
Wellingborough Road - Room Thirty One
A bar and kitchen on St Giles' Street.
St Giles and the Cultural Quarter - The Smoke Pit
Barbecue and house cocktails.
Market Square and Bridge Street - Zapato Lounge
Tapas boards and cocktails.
Market Square and Bridge Street - King Billy Music Bar
Live music, open late.
Market Square and Bridge Street
Map of Northampton cocktail bars
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Cocktail bars in the Cultural Quarter
St Giles' Street, St Giles Square, Derngate and Guildhall Road, by the Royal & Derngate theatres and the Guildhall.
Swipe to see all 4 bars →
Lola's Bar
Cafe bar
The cafe bar at Royal & Derngate, right by the theatres, with signature cocktails, Spanish tapas and bottomless brunch.
📍 19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP
V and B Northampton
Wine and beer bar
The first UK branch of the French wine and beer chain, a shop and bar on St Giles Square with regular wine tastings.
📍 10 St Giles' Square, Northampton NN1 1DA
Room Thirty One
Bar and kitchen
A bar and kitchen on the corner of St Giles' Street and Fish Street.
📍 31 St Giles' St, Northampton NN1 1JF
Cocktail bars around the Market Square
The Drapery, the Grosvenor Centre and The Ridings around the Market Square, down to Bridge Street.
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Shipmans
Pub and cocktail bar
A small historic pub on the Drapery that now leans into theatrical cocktails, cocktail masterclasses and film nights.
📍 12 Drapery, Northampton NN1 2HG
The Smoke Pit
Barbecue restaurant and bar
A barbecue restaurant in The Ridings whose cocktail list runs to its own creations, such as the Flaming Mo and Cereal Milk.
📍 11A The Ridings, Northampton NN1 2AQ
Zapato Lounge
Cafe bar
A Lounges cafe bar in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre with mismatched furniture, tapas boards and cocktails.
📍 Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Northampton NN1 2EB
King Billy Music Bar
Live music bar
A live music bar on Commercial Street, just off Bridge Street, open late.
📍 2 Commercial St, Northampton NN1 1PJ
Cocktail bars on Wellingborough Road
The long road running east from the centre through Abington, lined with bars and restaurants.
Corkers Champagne & Cocktail Bar
Champagne and cocktail bar
A piano lounge on Wellingborough Road known for its Champagnes and fresh fruit cocktails, attached to an Indian restaurant and serving sharing platters.
📍 361-363 Wellingborough Rd, Northampton NN1 4ER
Northampton cocktail trail
One route in walking order, with the time between each bar. See them all on a map.
The Cultural Quarter
6 bars · about 9 minutes on foot in total
- 1Shipmans12 Drapery, Northampton NN1 2HG
- 🚶 about 3 min to the next bar
- 2V and B Northampton10 St Giles' Square, Northampton NN1 1DA
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 3Maule Collective4 Derngate, Northampton NN1 1UB
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 4Lola's Bar19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP
- 🚶 about 3 min to the next bar
- 5Room Thirty One31 St Giles' St, Northampton NN1 1JF
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 6The Smoke Pit11A The Ridings, Northampton NN1 2AQ
More Northampton bar guides
- Date nightRomantic bars in Northampton for a night for two: Lola's Bar at Royal & Derngate, V and B
- Fun bars for groupsLively Northampton bars for birthdays, hen and stag dos and nights out: Shipmans, Maule Co
- Cocktail trailA ready-made Northampton cocktail trail on foot through the town centre, in walking order
Know before you go
- 🗓️ Book at the weekendThe smaller bars fill up on Friday and Saturday. Book where you can, or go early.
- 🚶 It's compactSt Giles' Street, Derngate and the Drapery are all a few minutes' walk from the Market Square.
- 🚕 Wellingborough RoadCorkers is about two kilometres east of the centre, so take a taxi or the bus.
- 🆔 Bring IDYou must be 18 to drink in England and many bars ask for ID if you look under 25.
Your questions
What is the best cocktail bar in Northampton?
Start in the Cultural Quarter with Maule Collective, Lola's Bar and Room Thirty One, then Shipmans on the Drapery. For Champagne and cocktails, Corkers on Wellingborough Road is a short taxi ride east.
Where are the best areas for cocktails in Northampton?
St Giles' Street, St Giles Square and Derngate have the most bars close together. Wellingborough Road, running east through Abington, has more bars and restaurants.
Where can I get a cocktail before the theatre in Northampton?
Lola's Bar is part of Royal & Derngate, with signature cocktails and tapas. Maule Collective and V and B are a minute or two away.
Is there a wine bar in Northampton?
Yes. V and B on St Giles Square is a French wine and beer shop and bar that runs regular tastings.
Who wrote this guide
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We love Northampton's bars, so we put this guide together from our own research and trusted local press.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Our nearest cocktail festivals to Northampton
Want your bar in this guide?
Run a cocktail bar in Northampton that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.