I visited this colourful Nottingham bar and was left swooning over the banana butter cocktail

Sipping cocktails in the sunshine is one of my favourite things to do.

So when I discovered a Nottingham bar had reached the dizzy heights of top 100 in the UK for the World Class Festival Cocktails, I knew I had to visit.

I have heard of Pogo and had earmarked it as a place to check out. I couldn’t think of a better time to visit, than trying new Japanese-inspired cocktails by an up-and-coming mixologist in the East Midlands.

I made the journey from neighbouring Derby, jumping on the Red Arrow bus, and was at Pogo in 50 minutes flat. 

Pogo is not your typical bar. 

The exterior is painted Goblin green and inside, there hangs head-turning artwork including a poster of a very large tongue.

The venue may lull you into a comforting hug - it is after all a super easy space to chill out in.

But the cocktails will shake you up, awaken your senses, and leave you wondering ‘How greedy would I be if I ordered everything off the menu?’

But first… 

What are World Class Festival Cocktails?

Running from March 9 till the end of April, cocktail fans can enjoy the World Class Cocktail Festival hosted in 21 towns and cities across the country. 

From Edinburgh to London, bars will serve up a capsule collection of three brand-new cocktails on a limited-edition menu, made by the top 100 bartenders in the UK.

Pogo’s ‘bar hero’ Calum Hyett has made it through to the final 100 UK bartenders for this year’s Diageo World Class Competition. 

Calum has created three bespoke cocktails, which Pogo is running as specials to show off the drinks he has created for his entry. 

The menu says ‘It represents his passion for cocktails and his travels to Japan, where he decided to make a career out of the skills he had learnt.’

Now to the cocktails. 

I had Oriku with Singleton 12 year and banana brown butter.

I’m not a fan of bananas but I loved this drink as I couldn’t taste or smell much banana.

Instead, ripe fruit brought funk to the party, while coffee notes added dramatic earthiness and Palo Cortado Sherry a nice finish. 

My husband had Pogo Martini, from the regular menu, which I also tasted.

The rose-flavoured tipple was delicate but punchy. Imagine Marvel’s Hulk, a beast of a thing, giving you a hug that you can’t help but lean into, that’s the only way I can describe it - simultaneously strong, yet delicate as a flower. 

Service with a megawatt smile, friendly staff, and cocktails to die for (I’m not being morbid but Calum’s drinks are on my Last Supper List) means Pogo has leapfrogged into my top 20 bars of all time. 

Oriku £13

Pogo Martini £10.50

Address: Pogo, 25 Goose Gate, Nottingham NG1 1FE

For more information about Pogo visit their website by clicking here.