A taste of Coventry’s colourful past will be served up this September as one of its most historic venues joins the line-up for a city-wide celebration of cocktails.

St Mary’s Guildhall, the 14th-century medieval gem in the heart of Coventry’s Cathedral Quarter, has launched a limited-edition cocktail inspired by the city’s famous “Coventry Blue” cloth.

The striking new drink – developed for Coventry Cocktail Week, which runs from September 5 to 14 – draws on a shade of blue once so prized that it gave rise to the phrase “true as Coventry Blue”.

Based on a Blue Lagoon, it features blue curacao (an orange liquor), vodka, lime juice and lemonade and will be available at the guildhall’s Tales of Tea restaurant throughout Coventry Cocktail Week to wristband holders.

Organised by Coventry BID in partnership with M.ad Agency, 28 venues are already confirmed to take part in the event, including Turtle Bay, Las Iguanas, Cosy Club, The Telegraph Hotel, Slug & Lettuce, and many more – each offering exclusive deals to wristband holders and at least one signature drink.

The 10-day programme of events and offers, all of which are unlocked with your cocktail week wristband – including £5 cocktails – is designed to highlight the very best of the city’s vibrant food and drink scene.

In medieval times, Coventry’s reputation for weaving and dyeing made it a national centre for cloth production, with the guildhall playing a vital role in a thriving textile industry.

Its signature blue fabric – coloured using a now lost recipe using French woad and water from Coventry’s River Sherbourne – was sought after across the country for its non-fading quality.

Visitors to Tales of Tea will be able to sip Coventry Blue in surroundings that are steeped in that history, as a day-time tipple alongside its renowned afternoon tea, lunch or on its own.

A host of fellow popular city centre venues are providing discounts of up to 25% on food, lunchtime deals and reduced admission at participating locations including Putt Putt Social and Star Pins for wristband holders.

The inaugural Coventry Cocktail Week proved a major hit in 2024, delivering an estimated £291,250 direct economic boost to the city centre and drawing thousands of people into local venues.

With thousands attending last year, event organisers are forecasting additional growth for the second edition.

Joanne Glover, Chief Executive of Coventry BID, said: “We had fabulous feedback from last year’s Coventry Cocktail Week and we’re excited to be bringing it back this year.

“What better way to close out the summer than by enjoying Coventry Blue or another signature cocktail in our wonderful city centre venues, whether they’re an old favourite or somewhere you’re visiting for the first time.

“We’re committed to supporting activities that provide excellent experiences for visitors and a boost for businesses in Coventry city centre. Coventry Cocktail Week does just that and we can’t wait to get started.”

Jayne Pyatt, Marketing Manager at St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “Cocktail Week is a fantastic way to celebrate the city’s vibrant mix of bars and restaurants and encourage visitors to explore and try something new.

“Our Coventry Blue cocktail draws on a vital part of the city’s fascinating history, and there are few venues which offer a more palpable sense of that than Tales of Tea, in the guildhall’s atmospheric undercroft.”

Alice Christison, founder of M.ad Agency and Coventry Cocktail Week, added: “Coventry Cocktail Week has already proven just how much appetite there is for celebrating the city’s bars, restaurants and creative drinks culture.

“Last year showed us the potential, and this September we’re back with even more venues and exciting cocktails.

“I love how Coventry mixes its incredible history with a modern, vibrant hospitality scene, and Cocktail Week is the perfect way to showcase that to locals and visitors alike.” For more information, including a full list of signature cocktails and an official event guide, visit www.coventrycocktailweek.co.uk