The Brain Jar says it is a ‘nice badge of honour’
Last year, it was nominated as a “one to watch” at the Top 50 Cocktail Bars event. Now The Brain Jar, in Hull’s Old Town, has learned it has made it onto the prestigious list for 2026.
Matt Smith, of The Brain Jar, said: “Getting a cocktail bar from Hull onto this is huge and really showcases the city across the UK hospitality scene.” For the proud bar manager, it has been a long time coming.
“This is pretty mad,” he said. “We have been trying for years and finally, this year, we’ve cut the mustard.”
Award-winning cocktail maker Matt said: “It’s based on a voting system but not just from bars’ votes. It is from people across the industry – spirits business representatives, influencers, people who work in the industry – you just need to be enough on people’s radars.”
The Top 50 Cocktail Bars is sponsored by Franklin & Sons and recruits over 200 industry experts to make up its voting academy, from bartenders and owners, to drinks writers and influencers. The bars chosen for the list will only get to find out where they rank on it in February 2026.
READ MORE: I visited award-winning Hull city centre cocktail bar and couldn’t be more impressed
“We will go down to an event in London and find out where we are on the list. I am expecting our place will start with a 5 but it’s nice just to be on there,” said Matt.
He hopes the listing will bring people to The Brain Jar who have “never come across us”. “There’s a new place in Harrogate that has made it onto the list and us two are definitely the outliers on it.
“It’s good to bring some attention to what we are doing in Hull. It’s a nice badge of honour.”
For The Brain Jar at the moment, there is the buzz of the build-up to Christmas and Matt being busy with the festive menu. “There are all our Christmas specials, like our hot buttered beer that people go crazy for every year – I’m doing different flavours like mint chocolate or banana.”
The Top 50 Cocktail Bars description of The Brain Jar says the cocktail and pizza bar serves over 60 cocktails and temperance mixes, craft and bottle conditioned beer, wine and spirits as well as 25 different loose leaf teas, locally roasted coffee, and food.
“It has two floors and three generous sized rooms where it hosts parties, gigs, art exhibitions, comedy nights, opera, presentations, celebrations, and workshops,” it said. “The goal of the Brain Jar is to create a ‘third place’ between work and home which encourages ‘conversation, the interaction of differing ideas, and a proactive approach to tackling the challenges’.
“The drinks menu includes classic cocktails such as Old Fashioned, Rusty Nail and Bramble.
But the real innovation takes place on the Seasonal section of the menu with drinks such as a Mushroom Old Fashioned made with shiitake mushroom infused Toki Whiskey, Amontillado sherry, milk washed miso & white chocolate mushroom and the Tarot Cake with Absolut Vanil Vodka, Pedro Ximinez, Allspice Dram, Dry Curacao, carrot, lime and cream cheese frosting.
“The house favourites are also a delight with the Salty Russian, made with Stoli salted caramel vodka, Kahlua, whole milk, cream and Stoopwafel and the Rainbow Juice with Absolute Vanilia Vodka, Limoncello Di Capri, banana, strawberry, lemon and soda.”