It’s time to face it: summer.is.over. Before you start to sob into a cupboard of unused suncream, take refuge in the fact that October is packed with awesome things to do. There’s a gigantic cocktail festival happening in Liverpool, London’s world-famous ball pit bar has a new pop-up where you can swing above a blue lagoon of balls, and there’s a brilliant brunch with bottomless tacos and margaritas for less than £25. To ensure you don’t miss out on a thing, here are DesignMyNight’s top October picks.

Cocktails in the City - Liverpool

15 of Liverpool’s best bars are huddling under one roof this October, all in the name of Cocktails in the City. Taking place on 12th and 13th, this boozy pop-up will have you wandering through immersive tasting rooms, sipping signature serves and getting involved in espresso martini masterclasses. With the likes of Berry & Rye, El Bandito, Furnival's Well, and Red Door taking part, you’re guaranteed a cracking time.

Drive-In Cinema - Brighton

The humble drive-in cinema is turning 85 years old this year, so if you’ve got your license, make Cinestock’s screening of Back to the Future an excuse to put your tires to the tarmac. Taking place at Brighton Racecourse, you’ll have top dog views of the city and although you can’t bring your own food (sob), they’ll have a fully stocked bar and hot food on the night.

Bingo Academy - London

Put your gran to shame on your next date night and head to Bingo Academy. This raucous and anything goes night out will teach you all the tricks of the trade, including advanced dabbing skills. Hosted at Kitty Hawk, they’ve created a special menu with Kellogg’s fried chicken and cheesy nuggets; but don’t get distracted by only shovelling food into your face - like any great bingo night, there are some ace prizes up for grabs.

Ballie Ballerson: The Enchanted Forest - London

That world-famous ball pit bar? It’s had a massive makeover. Ballie Ballerson have changed their look, turning their space into an Avatar-inspired wonderland, and it’s bloody brilliant. They now have a blue lagoon ball pit complete with a neon waterfall and swing, alongside a gigantic Tree of Life that’s lit up with hundreds of LED lights. Cocktails have had a revamp too, with three new additions now on the menu. Have a thing for gin? Make sure you order Wake Me Up Before You Glow.

Twisted Bar Pop-Up - London

If you didn’t already know, Twisted is an uber popular Facebook channel for unique and crazy cocktail creations, and they’re bringing their libations to life this October in London. Twisted Bar Pop-Up will have a menu of colour-changing mojitos, cookies and cream white Russians, rich black forest negronis, alongside apple pie sangria sharers, but the fun doesn’t stop there. They also have piña colada and strawberry daiquiri slushies that are more than worth the brain freeze.

HarvestFest at Skylight - London

It was a long hot summer, but Skylight have moved onto bigger and better things at their rooftop in the sky. HarvestFest is embracing all things Autumn this month with a heap of fun games; think pumpkin draughts, hay bale skittles and horseshoes. Fun activities aside, they’ve got cherry spritzes and spiced apple crumble cocktails to keep you warm, alongside grilled cheese toasties and every kind of raclette imaginable.

Bottomless Margarita Brunch - London

Bottomless prosecco with your brunch? Been there, done that, have the t-shirt (and the daytime hangover). But bottomless margaritas? Now that’s a game changer. Benitos Hat have a boozy brunch every weekend with endless tequila-laced cocktails and unlimited tacos, and it lasts for an entire two hours. With eight tacos to choose from, including the bacon and avocado and the cowboy, it’s definitely worth the £24.99 price tag.

Brixton Oktoberfest - London

Dust off your lederhosen. Brixton Oktoberfest is back and there’s a tonne of reasons to grab a ticket. Taking place on the 13th and 20th, you can look forward to oompah bands and DJs, a Berlin-themed club room, Bavarian games (hello bier pong), massive steins of beer and steins of cocktails, if you’re not a big beer lover. They’ve got food covered too with bites from Herman ze German and Freewheelin’ Pizza, just in case you lose very badly at bier pong.

For more info on what’s on in London and across the UK, visit DesignMyNight and follow them on Instagram and Twitter; @DesignMyNight.

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