Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Experience

An evening experience in Cardiff. Exact meeting point, inclusions and cancellation terms are confirmed on the booking page before you pay.

Overview

Alcotraz Cardiff turns a night out into a prison sentence, minus the actual crime. You arrive at the venue, get kitted out in an orange jumpsuit, and are then briefed by bootlegging inmates on how to smuggle your own sealed bottles of alcohol past The Warden and the guards. Everything is played by actors, from the warden's office to the laundry room, and the set comes with a prison radio and enough detail to feel like a film. The whole thing runs about 1h 45m.

How much you join in is up to you. The listing invites you to smuggle liquor, try an American accent, and take on secret missions, and one reviewer described the performers as hilarious and engaging while staying in character throughout. If plotting is not your style, you can simply hand over your smuggled liquor to the resident mixologist, who builds three personalised cocktails around it using liqueurs, bitters and homemade syrups.

It suits anyone who enjoys interactive theatre with a drink in hand. You buy the Rookie Ticket, which covers entry, the jumpsuit and the cocktails, but not the alcohol itself. Bring a bottle you actually like, since it forms the base of every drink you are served.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arrive at Alcotraz CardiffMake your own way to the venue. Latecomers who arrive more than 20 minutes past the start time will be refused entry.
2. Suit upYou are given an orange jumpsuit to wear, and there are photo opportunities throughout the set.
3. Meet the inmatesCharacters including Inmate Cassidy brief you on smuggling your sealed alcohol past The Warden.
4. Smuggle your liquorGet creative hiding your contraband, or rely on the guards who have their own system for looking the other way.
5. Explore the setMove through the prison set, including the warden's office and the laundry room, while the story plays out around you.
6. Serve your timeHand your alcohol to the serving mixologist, who makes three personalised cocktails for you to drink behind bars.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the difference between a smooth sentence and a wasted one.

• Bring sealed bottles. The listing is clear that your alcohol must be unopened and sealed, and it is not included in the ticket. Whatever you bring becomes the base spirit for your three cocktails, so choose something you enjoy drinking.
• Dress for the jumpsuit. You change into an orange jumpsuit on arrival, and the listing notes photo opportunities around the set.
• Join in or watch. The experience invites you to smuggle liquor, try an American accent, and take on secret missions, though sitting back and enjoying the drinks is also an option. One reviewer described the performers as hilarious and engaging, and another group said they laughed the whole way through.
• Mind the language. One reviewer found the fast, colloquial English a challenge to follow. If English is not your strong language, be prepared for that possibility.
• Arrive on time. Entry is refused if you show up more than 20 minutes after your start time. Build in a buffer, since there is no pickup or transfer involved.
• Go as a group. One reviewer booked it for a hen do with a large group and said they are already planning return trips to other Alcotraz locations.

Common issues. The alcohol for your cocktails is not included, so budget for a bottle on top of the ticket. One reviewer noted that the fast, colloquial English used by the cast can be a challenge if English is not your strong language. The experience also invites some participation: if you sit back entirely, you will still get drinks and a show. Note as well that a booking through the listing is not final until Alcotraz sends over official tickets, so keep an eye on your email after booking.

Common Questions