Alcotraz launches its first outdoor cocktail experience – The Yard

Since opening its doors in Liverpool in 2022, Alcotraz has firmly established itself as one of the city’s most distinctive and immersive cocktail experiences, welcoming thousands of guests – or more fittingly, “inmates” – each month.

Now, for the first time, Alcotraz is expanding beyond its signature cell block setting with the launch of Alcotraz: The Yard – a brand new, open-air prison yard experience available exclusively in Liverpool this summer.

Running for a limited time only, The Yard offers visitors the chance to step into an entirely new chapter of the Alcotraz narrative. Hidden behind an unassuming tool shed lies the bar’s most covert operation to date – a creative contraband cocktail service set within a fully themed outdoor prison yard. Guests can expect signature drinks served in cleverly disguised containers, including repurposed oil cans and modified prison-issue boots.

More than just an outdoor venue, The Yard delivers a fully immersive experience where visitors can interact with characters, explore the setting, and become part of the unfolding story. Activities include a makeshift gym, a basketball court, and bleacher seating where guests can scheme with fellow inmates and engage with the storyline. It’s a one-of-a-kind environment that blends theatre, storytelling, and hospitality.

Inspired by popular film and television portrayals of prison life – including Shawshank Redemption, Orange is the New Black, and Prison Break – Alcotraz has become a cultural phenomenon, now operating across six UK locations. However, The Yard marks the brand’s first foray into outdoor immersive experiences and is available exclusively in Liverpool.

Located in the heart of the city, Alcotraz: The Yard is free to enter with an advance reservation. Drinks and light snacks are available for purchase using themed tokens in the form of contraband cigarettes, adding to the immersive narrative. The space is suitable for small and large groups and is available for both public bookings and private hire.

This latest development comes from Inventive Productions, the UK’s leading immersive hospitality group and creators of Alcotraz. Known for its other innovative concepts such as the Wild West-themed Moonshine Saloon in Liverpool and the futuristic Avora in London, the company continues to redefine the boundaries of experiential entertainment.

Sam Shearman, creator of Alcotraz ‘The Yard’ and founder of Inventive Productions says:

“We are so excited to be opening our first ever outdoor experience, especially in such an amazing city as Liverpool. We’re thrilled to be able to grow the Alcotraz brand further and this new Liverpool site sees us experiment with really ambitious expansions to our unique storyline.”