Publican Awards 2024 Best Late Night Operator winner, sponsored by Kopparberg: Kuckoo Brands

The northern operator was crowned the UK’s Best Late Night Operator at The Publican Awards 2024 in a star-studded ceremony in Battersea, south London on 27 March.

Founder by Preston-born entrepreneur Richard Powell, the original Kuckoo bar opened on Fox Street, Preston in 2010. The business now has five bars under its belt.

Fun-loving bartenders serve high quality cocktails to an Indie Rock ‘n’ Roll soundtrack at sites in Chester, Sheffield, Knutsford, Warrington and Preston.

Signature drinks

Guests can sing their heart out while learning how to make Kuckoo’s signature drinks at DIY cocktail making classes. Music-inspired cocktails include Wrecking Ball, which using a citrus-led gin, passionfruit and blackberry liqueurs rounded off with a few lashings of absinthe.

The cocktails, rarely priced at more than £10, also include Rainbow Road (Kuckoo Rainbow vodka, watermelon, apricot & passionfruit, fresh lime juice, rainbows) and French Kiss (Kuckoo Vanilla vodka, framboise, salted caramel juice, pineapple juice, fresh lemon).

Kuckoo runs a flat team structure with no managers, and staff are empowered to run the bar through its bespoke training programme. In this training, bartenders learn to complete tasks quickly in a clean and efficient way, and all go through WSET and licensing courses.

Since Covid, it has increased its low & no offering, and has also created a programme focused on using byproducts of ingredients in cocktails so it doesn’t go to waste.

Venue décor

Kuckoo also makes its own liquor on site, giving the cocktails a unique and delicious twist.

The décor is also top class. Kuckoo Chester includes luxurious seating areas and walls covered with artwork, including portraits of rock & roll icons, creating a luxurious, feel-good vibe.

Its Warrington site on Palmyra Square is based in the Treasury Building in the former site of Institution Bar. It’s stunning fully lit stone bar truly allows mixologists to take centre stage.