Classy, cool and loaded with booze - cocktails have the potential to improve any night. We picked six of the best cocktail bars in south east London and north Kent. And theres a little bonus option for a great night in, too.

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The Beckenham

Beckenham High Street BR3 1AN

It’s a great spot for a busy night out at the weekends but also lovely for a classy cocktail early on or in the week. General manager Tony Adams was once crowned the World Champion bartender at a contest in Las Vegas  and his staff are all well trained so the drinks (£7.50 to £8.50) are consistently just-so, never too sweet, never too acidic.

Tony said: “We try to do the stuff you have heard of but very well. We try not to overcomplicate things. If we can do something with fresh ingredients as against processed ones then we do it.”

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Henry’s

Ringers Road, Bromley BR1 1HT

Sales and events manager Rachel Pollock said: “Our key features for cocktails are that they are all freshly made in front of the customer and we have an extensive selection (29 different ones) Prices start from just £6.50 each.  Cocktails are also available in our Happy Hour (£1.50 off any cocktail) that runs between 4pm and 7pm daily.

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Little Nan’s Bar

It was in Deptford, then New Cross and now it's temporarily in Greenwich. Keep up to date at facebook.com/littlenansbar

Cocktails in tea pots, vintage decor and Little Nan’s secret recipes with names such as Lord of Forest Hill, Sexy Scottish Santa, The Empress of Deptford and Lady Anneka Rice. Little Nan’s is multi award-winning, including recognition from Time Out. Cocktails cost £4 to £7.

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The Kent

High Street, Gravesend

There’s only one place to go if you’re after cocktails in Gravesend, and that’s The Kent.

Owner Mat Stevens said: “We’re the town’s only cocktail bar. There are no other places in Gravesend that specifically do cocktails. We have some classic recipes and everything is made fresh rather than pre-mixed.”

The menu contains around 70 cocktails, priced between £3 and £8.50, and they’re happy to shake it up with off-menu mixes too.



Bar Du Vin

East Street, Bromley BR1 1QU

A whopping range of cocktails at around £8 a pop (there’s 55 on the menu) and they even do cocktail training.

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Bar Lorca

Bexley High Street DA5 1AA

A Bar Lorca spokesman told us: “We’re a cocktail bar in the heart of Bexley Village where we find something to celebrate every night of the week, shaking and stirring some of the greatest cocktails Bexley has ever seen. We aim to give everyone a great night out to remember for all the right reasons.”

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...Or serve ‘em at home.

You don’t have to have a cupboard stacked with spirits and a fridge full of juices these days – a couple of bar-quality cocktails can be ready to go in your freezer.

KOLD cocktails were founded by Nick Sotiropoulos, and come in a single serving pouch. They are made using ‘super-premium’ ingredients such as triple-distilled grain vodka and oak-barrel aged rum. Multipacks (two cocktails) cost £6.99. Go to koldcocktails.com