The most fun you’ll have behind bars!
Walking along Brighton seafront you’ll notice the pebble beach, the historic hotels, the famous Brighton Pier… but hidden below unsuspecting footsteps is a bar behind bars, Alcotraz Brighton.
A immersive prison, BYOB experience, if you haven’t been to a BYOB before, this means Bring Your Own Booze. These bars come in all shapes and sizes, some masquerade as speakeasies, then there’s others, like Alcotraz. You bring the booze, they make the drinks, and no alcohol is sold on site! Instead you pay a entry ticket fee for the experience and the genius mixologists to transform your simple liquor into wonderful cocktails.
A immersive experience that starts from the moment you arrive outside. The guards convict you upon entry, once convicted you are given your classic orange jumpsuit to put on, you are a prisoner after all! Luckily the jumpsuits fit over clothes, even dresses and skirts.
From the moment you first meet the guards you are immersed into a exciting, underground world with corrupt prison guards, a notorious bootlegging gang and of course.. the dreaded warden!
Once inside, we find out that the guards are, fortunately for us, CORRUPT and we are informed of how to smuggle in liquor to make unique, delicious cocktails! All designed and made using the spirits you brought in, by other ‘Inmates’ (bar staff in character, don‘t worry other customers arnt making your drinks!) There is no drinks menu, you are in jail after all, but you can say if you like sweet, sour, strong, weak… and every drink we enjoyed was different, strong and delicious.
Once convicted, ready in your prison jumpsuit and liquor hidden ready to smuggle in, you are escorted to your cell. The cells fit a fair size group, 7 of us were in 1 cell and it was absolutely fine. In your cell you find a fake toilet, for the real prison cell effect, and metal bench seats. Metal bars surrounding your cell and plenty of other cells for different groups which kept the atmosphere super lively and fun.
Throughout the evening the characters come to life… the corrupt guards and the feared warden! Telling tales of previous prisoners, bribery and corruption. Warning us of what would happen to us if we break to rules of the prison and how we will be it to work if we act up, and through the experience I found this out the hard way!
I was mopping, had to do push ups which it turns out, I AM TERRIBLE AT… and then we got our line up photos taken and allowed to take our ‘1 phone call’. This was probably one of my favourite moments of the whole experience to be honest!!
Each group are taken one by one to get their photos taken by the line up wall and where the prison phones were. The fact the groups are taken cell by cell means you can get all the photos you’d like uninterrupted and without wait. More time to drink in your cell!
Through the evening you are constantly entertained.
The storyline and characters are fun, engaging and interesting, you find yourself laughing the whole night while also being put to task.
I actually found it very freeing being in a orange jumpsuit HA… not caring if my outfit looked ok, it I looked fat or something was unflattering. I KNOW THATS NOT something which you may care about but for me it was part of the fun. Fancy dress is FUN… its a real immersive activity to do with friends or as a date night where you can laugh, make memories for a lifetime and everyone can feel super involved. Whether you are the quiet one who doesnt like to be too involved or someone who wants to get involved in everything! It’s perfect for the whole group.
I never thought I would be recommending my readers to go to jail but I really am! It’s a truly fun, unique experience which I guarantee you wont forget. There are 2 alcotraz locations – Brighton and London.
Thanks for checking this out and if you liked this one then you’ll LOVE my piece on Bottomless Brunch @ Ballie Ballerson!
Stay safe, love you lots
This sounds like a great experience! Hopefully once lockdown is over you’ll get to go there again x
This looks so much fun! I really like Brighton, I had a really fun weekend there a few years ago. And now I’ve got a great reason to go back so I can try this, it looks great! Thanks for sharing.
This experience sounds like a memory for a lifetime! Love the bursting photos you share; I have never tried anything like this but would love to one day. Your thoughts on feeling free in the jumpsuit connected with me too; you have to love a little bit of freedom. 🙂
This sounds like so much fun!! I’ve done an escape room in Brighton before and I’d love to do more! I love that you get to wear fancy dress and bring your own booze 😀 xx
Haha this looks like a lot of fun- hopefully you’ll be able to go back there one day when everything is back to normal 🙂 thanks for sharing your review of this place, I’ve never done anything like this x
I wanted to get this for my man for his Birthday but lol, lockdown and all that. It looks like you had the best time. I am so ready for some more drunken girl times very soon”
Rosie
It sounded like you had great fun Rachel! It sounds like something to try when we get back to normal and bring some friends for a different night of fun! Thanks for sharing x
This looks incredible and so much fun. That line up photo is iconic. I miss the quirky, trendy bars the most when it comes to living in the UK. Hopefully we get back to normal soon so we can have fun night outs like this x
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I’ve always wanted to go to the Alcotraz bars, they look like so much fun! Great photos – I’m glad you had a fab time xx
Oh this looks like so much fun! You really gave us a great description on what happened during your time “in jail” and I’m sure you’ve made some great memories. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much!! Xx
I’d absolutely love to try this! It looks incredible and gives me all the fomo of times when we were able to go out and do things x
This looks like loads of fun. Would love to give it a try. Thanks for sharing and really well written. If you have time please come over to World Complete and take a read of my latest blog post https://t.co/2VXbpFBzRo
Oh it is SO fun. Iv just been over to your blog and love it, such a brilliant blog.
This looks and sounds so fun! I haven’t come across anything like it in the USA, yet! I hope you’re able to go back once life has some normalcy 💞 I agree on how the jumpsuits made you feel!
Omg really, I would’ve expected there to be lots of fun things like this in the US. I’m over there in April (well… that’s the dream anyway) and ill try and find something haha.
This sounds sooo cool! I wonder if they have something like this in the states? otherwise, I know where I’m going when I can travel again. lol.
This looks amazing, so much fun! It’s a shame they don’t have one up north. I love the orange jumpsuits, it all looks like a fantastic night out.
Thank you for sharing your experience, such a good post and I loved reading about your time in jail ha ha xx
Zoë – MammafulZo 💕
I love the look of this! Can’t wait to be able to do fun things again 🙂 looks like you had a fab time
This looks so much! I love going to fun experiences with a bunch of girlfriends. I hope to do this soon and to travel! I think in San Francisco I might’ve been offered to do an Alcatraz tour but declined haha wish I said yes!
x
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
This looks like great fun. When we can travel again and I visit Brighton I’ll have to check it out!
Kayleigh x
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What an interesting idea, I had no idea these places existed!
I remember seeing this on your feed a few weeks back. I told a few of my mates about it as I want to bring some of them down to the coast when life resumes back to normal. It looks brilliant. I’m a bit reckless when I drink (although not violently!) so I best behave otherwise I could end up behind real bars the next morning!
Joking aside – I’m just missing the weekend nights out. Let’s hope it won’t be much longer until we all get wasted again.
Omg this honestly looks like so much fun! I was really curious about how they’d make it interesting but this looks like a perfect night out. Hope I can visit one day and do this!
Omg this sounds like a right laugh! I defo need to check this out asap! 😀 xx
This sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait for covid to be over so I can visit the U,K. again! This is going on my list of things to do!
This sounds like such a fun experience! I wish I’d known about this when I went to Brighton x
this place sounds so much fun! I miss the quirky bars back home xx
mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com
This looks so much fun! Once we are allowed out again think I’ll be recommending this to my friends!
This sounds AMAZING!!!! Why have I never heard of this before?! Guess what I’m adding to my bucket list!!! Xx
This is so cool and unique, I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about this before. I’m enjoying the recent boom in popularity of things like this or escape rooms where you can enjoy a good narrative whilst you’re entertained by something else, and alcohol is always a plus
It looks good fun. I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves. 😀
This looks like so much fun and a very different night out! 😂😂
Alcotraz is so fun! I went to one in London last year and it was really great. Didn’t realise there was a Brighton one too! 🙂 can’t wait to go out again and do some more immersive experiences.