A Douglas cocktail bar has cemented its place among Britain’s elite drinking venues after climbing 21 places in the prestigious Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.
Kiki Lounge, based on North Quay, was ranked 28th in the 2026 edition of the annual industry guide, rising from 49th position last year.
The ranking, unveiled at a ceremony at London’s Underglobe on February 10, is voted for by bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and hospitality experts.
For a small, independent operator on the Isle of Man, the recognition carries particular weight.
Co-founder Drew Fleming said: “To climb 21 places in a single year is something we genuinely never thought possible.
“Being located on an island means many of the voters don’t regularly pass through our doors, so recognition like this has always felt like a long shot. To now be sitting at No. 28, alongside bars we’ve admired for years, is surreal.”
Tropical Escape
The bar, which opened during the pandemic as a “tropical escape from nearly two years of closed borders”, relocated to its current site in 2023.
It has since accumulated a string of accolades including 1 PIN Excellent status in The Pinnacle Guide and Bar of the Year at the Spirits Business Awards.
Co-founder Jamie Lewis added: “It’s been relentless graft. Two years ago we made a deliberate decision to change trajectory – our site, our systems, our training, our ambition. This result tells us that the work matters. Hospitality is not easy right now. Margins are tight, costs are rising, and independent operators are under real pressure. So to see a small Manx business climb to No. 28 in Great Britain means more than we can properly articulate.”