Bramble in Edinburgh heads a list of the best bars outside of London from Qype, the consumer reviews site. Within the UK capital, the league table is headed by the Oxo Tower bar.
Bramble, set up by Jason Scott and Mike Aikman (pictured) six years ago, is one of three Edinburgh bars in the top five of venues outside of London. At number two is Cabaret Voltaire and at number four is Dragonfly. The other top bars are Evil Eye Lounge in York and Amoeba in Bristol.
Based on user reviews posted on Qype.co.uk, Bramble’s top spot was gained by it scoring points among reviewers for its “interesting and exciting flavours” and “great cocktails and hospitality”.
Richard Dennys, Qype’s chief marketing officer, said: “It’s fantastic to see Bramble’s high standard of cocktails and service being recognised and appreciated by Qype reviewers. Edinburgh is increasingly offering exciting and innovative social options to locals and visitors alike and this is undoubtedly a trend that is set to continue.”
In London, the Oxo Tower is followed by Shoreditch House at number two and the Old School Yard in Borough at number three. Hawksmoor Spitalfields is in fourth place while Jamie Barber’s Hush in Mayfair is at number five.
The Oxo Tower scored points among reviewers for its ambience, views and service as well as its extensive cocktail menu. One Qype reviewer wrote: “What a fabulous venue – not too pretentious, nor pricey. The views from the terrace are out of this world, the service is pristine, and they’ve got the ambience just right.”
Dennys added: “It’s fantastic to see the Oxo Tower being recognised by Qype reviewers. It is one of the most iconic and impressive buildings in the UK. It’s also great to see that level of service has made such an impression on our reviewers.
“The list features a mix of well-known bars as well as more off-the-beaten-track options recommended by our reviewers, and this really shows that Qype is a great resource if you are planning a night out and want to try something new that has already proved a hit with others.”
The league tables are compiled using an algorithm unique to Qype which takes into account the number of reviews, how recent they are, their content and star ratings. They were put together to tie in with London Cocktail Week which runs from October 8 to 14.
Qype’s Top 5 Cocktail Bars outside of London
1. Bramble
2. Cabaret Voltaire
3. Evil Eye Lounge
4. Dragonfly
5. Amoeba
Qype’s Top 5 Cocktail Bars in London
1. OXO Tower
2. Shoreditch House
3. Old School Yard
4. Hawksmoor Spitalfields
5. Hush London
Click here for a profile of the team behind Edinburgh’s Bramble from the October 2012 issue of Bar magazine.
