Private Hire Venue in Bristol
There’s nothing quite like having the place to yourself, especially somewhere so deviously entertaining. Hidden away beneath the seemingly normal streets of Bristol, you’ll find a private hire venue like no other. Step into the world of Alcotraz Penitentiary, a unique cocktail bar and immersive experience – and the best news is – it can be all yours.
Combining delicious, bespoke cocktails with a one-of-a-kind immersive experience, Alcotraz Bristol promises to deliver a night you and your guests certainly won’t forget. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, corporate event, or any other special occasion, there’s nowhere better to enjoy fantastic drinks, a highly detailed prison-style setting, and unique interactive theatre.
Private hire with a difference
Do something completely different for your next event. Unlike your standard cocktail bar or speakeasy bar, Alcotraz Penitentiary is one of the most unique venues in the country with a rich, immersive and thematic aesthetic that’s the perfect way to celebrate any special occasion. But we’re so much more than just a place to drink.
From the moment you step through the metal detectors, you become part of the Alcotraz story. You’ll be handed a costume (standard issue orange jumpsuit), and your party will be led to sit in your very own highly realistic jail cell. Everyone else with you – the Warden, the “inmates” and mixologists – are all highly trained actors, dedicated to giving you a night you’ll never forget. You can get involved as much or as little as you want; plot to take down the Warden and interact with the actors, or observe the action from your jail cell – and stay out of trouble. Our “serving” mixologists are happy to create delicious and bespoke cocktails from the liquor you smuggle in, but whether you prefer beer and wine or steer clear of alcohol altogether, there’s a tipple for you to enjoy at Alcotraz!
No two nights are the same here at Alcotraz Penitentiary – the best private hire venue in Bristol. Our talented actors will tailor your experience to the unique dynamics and preferences of your group, creating unforgettable, one-of-a-kind storylines that feature you as the main characters. Want to get even more involved? Discover our series of missions and mini-missions hidden around your cell, and assign special roles such as the Janitor, the Mole or the Escape Artist to people in your party!
Corporate
Welcome liquor smuggles to your brand new office! Those back-to-back meetings just got interesting. If you’re looking for something completely unique and immersive for a work party in Bristol, Alcotraz cocktail bar ticks all the boxes.
Photoshoots and Filming
With our prime location in the centre of Bristol, and our lifelike prison set up, Alcotraz serves as the perfect backdrop for any creative projects you may be undertaking. Previous production companies of all kinds have found Alcotraz to be one of their favourite spots to shoot.
Birthday Parties
Looking to celebrate your birthday in style, i.e., fashionable orange jumpsuits and behind bars? Get ready for a party that everyone will be talking about for years to come. Hire out Alcotraz Bristol for a riotous event where all you have to do is bring the booze, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Special Occasions
Just got engaged? Just signed the divorce papers? Or maybe you simply want a private party behind private bars. Alcotraz Bristol private hire offers the perfect setting for any event – large or small – so come and make the jailhouse rock. You’ll get the entire block to yourself, complete with custom cocktails.
Capacity
Entire Penitentiary – Up to 60 inmates.
Visiting Hours:
Monday to Friday – Available for hire all day and evening.
Saturday – No options for hire.
Sunday – Available for hire all day and evening.
Bristol Private Hire Options
Choose one of our 4 options for hire based on the duration you would like and whether you would like an all-inclusive package or would rather smuggle in your own alcohol. Below pricing is for mid-week hires. Friday and Sunday pricing can be provided on request.
Option 1
All Inclusive:
1 hour 45 minute immersive theatrical experience with live actors and skilled mixologists.
4 cocktails / drinks included from the prison canteen.
£56 per person.
Option 2
Smuggle-In Your Own Alcohol:
1 hour 45 minute immersive theatrical experience with live actors and skilled mixologists.
Smuggle in your own spirit bottles, beer and wine and the prison canteen will serve up to 4 cocktails/drinks for you.
£36 per person.
Option 3
All Inclusive:
2 hour immersive theatrical experience with live actors and skilled mixologists. 3 cocktails / drinks included.
2 hour open venue hire to allow mingling between guests with 3 more cocktails / drinks and pizza.
£99 per person.
Option 4
Smuggle-In Your Own Alcohol:
2 hour immersive theatrical experience with live actors and skilled mixologists.
2 hour open venue hire to allow mingling between guests with pizza.
Smuggle in your own spirit bottles, beer and wine and the prison canteen will serve up to 6 cocktails/drinks for you.
£69 per person.
Private hire extras
No matter what option you choose, feel free to let us know if you want to make the experience extra memorable by assigning anyone in your party their own unique character. Choose from the options of ‘the janitor’, ‘the mole’ or ‘the escape artist’ and watch them play out an integral part of the immersive storyline
For any option we would require to charge for a minimum of 40 guests, even if less attended.
Get In Touch
FAQs
For processing and conviction, we recommend that you wear light clothing as you will be required to wear a standard-issue Alcotraz orange jumpsuit (provided) for the duration of your stay. For this reason, it’s best to avoid skirts or dresses if possible.
Your experience will last 1 hour 45 minutes, and inmates will be provided with their own orange jumpsuit for the duration of their time behind bars. If you want to spend more time behind bars, with time to mingle and eat pizza, you may want to consider our private hire package, exclusively for large groups of 30+.
Our standard-issue Alcotraz jumpsuits cater to all inmates, with sizes ranging from XS to 4XL. Please note that you are free to wear your jumpsuit as you wish to make it more comfortable, such as tying the arms around your waist.
The inmates you come across behind bars are highly skilled mixologists, and they work best with smuggled spirits. But, if you prefer wine or beer, this can also be served to you.
If you don’t want to smuggle in alcohol as part of your private hire experience, you can choose one of our all-inclusive private hire packages.
Alcotraz operates a closed bottle policy, meaning we will not accept any bottles previously opened. Please only bring new, unopened and sealed bottles.
If you have any alcohol left at the end of the experience, we will give you your bottle back. For this reason, we would advise you to bring screw-top bottles rather than anything with a cork.
Don’t worry – the guards are on your side and will help you smuggle in your contraband! Smaller bottles can be smuggled in coat pockets or handbags, but if you don’t have anything to conceal your alcohol with, the guard checking you in may be able to provide some props to help…
Once you’re in, our talented inmates-turned-mixologists will take your alcohol from you to create delicious, bespoke cocktails tailored to your preferences and any dietary restrictions. Just remember to hide your cocktails from the Warden or convince them you’re actually enjoying some “chicken soup”!
(Please note that the above does not apply for our all-inclusive private hire packages.)
Inmates get approximately 4 personalised cocktails delivered by our expert mixologists, using the liquor you smuggle in with you. All liqueurs, bitters, syrups and other ingredients that go into making your gang delicious cocktails are included in the ticket price, so all you need to bring is the liquor of your choice.
If you’ve chosen one of our all-inclusive private hire options, 4 cocktails/drinks will be included from the prison canteen for our 1 hour 45 minute experience. If you’ve chosen our 4-hour all-inclusive experience, you will receive 3 cocktails/drinks in the first 2 hours (during the immersive theatrical experience) and 3 more cocktails/drinks in the second 2 hours (open venue hire for pizza and mingling).
Alcotraz is an immersive experience where guests get absorbed into a storyline that is brought to life around them through characters including the Warden, the Guards and Inmate Cassidy – all played by actors.
Those that really want to get involved will soon be trying out their American accent and telling the Warden what they are in for!
Those that would prefer to sit back and enjoy are welcome to do that too, whilst enjoying personalised cocktails in this unique and fun world.
Alcotraz may be an immersive experience, but it’s not scary. We have actors working inside the prison who help bring to life a fun, lighthearted experience for guests. However, if at any time guests do not act respectful and polite towards actors and the venue, then they run the risk of their experience being cut short.
If drinking isn't your thing, don't worry. The Alcotraz experience is exactly the same for non-drinkers as a huge part of your time behind bars is the immersive storyline that unfolds around you where you can interact with the storylines and the actors. For those not drinking liquor, there is no need to smuggle anything in, and instead you will receive x 4 expertly crafted mocktails included within the ticket price!
Our Bristol Cell Block is fully wheelchair-accessible. If your party is attending with a wheelchair user, please contact us after your booking with your booking number.
Alcotraz Bristol is a strictly 18+ venue. Whilst visitors are encouraged to interact with our actors and fully immerse themselves in their new roles as Alcotraz inmates, abusive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated, and we would ask that you don’t interrupt the show during times when the actors are performing in front of the whole audience (although you are welcome to chat to them at any other time). Visitors who violate these rules may be asked to leave the venue early.
Visitors will need tickets for each person attending – one ticket doesn’t mean one cell. A maximum of 6-7 guests can sit in each cell. Where possible, we will endeavour to seat groups together, but larger groups may need to sit in opposite or adjacent cells. When the venue is busy, smaller groups and couples may have to share a cell with other guests – but this can be a great opportunity to meet new people!