What the organiser has confirmed for 19 to 28 February 2027, how to choose between a central and an out-of-town base, and how to plan taxis, late-night fares and the morning after.
The last cocktail is easier to enjoy when your ride home is already sorted. Inverness Cocktail Week 2027 runs from 19 to 28 February, and the event organiser says wristbands cover all 10 days. You can plan a short break within that window rather than stay for the whole event.
Choose your accommodation around the evening you want. A central room can shorten the walk home. A self-catering stay outside the centre needs a transport plan. Below, you'll find the confirmed event details, how to plan the journey home and the checks that make getting back simpler.
Event details, taxi tariffs and guidance checked on 14 October 2026.
What is confirmed for Inverness Cocktail Week 2027?
The organiser confirms 19 to 28 February 2027, wristbands valid across all 10 days and signature cocktails from £5. The 2027 venue line-up and wristband collection points were still awaiting announcement when checked on 14 October 2026. Treat any 2026 venues still displayed as historical examples.
Inverness Cocktail Week is a city-wide promotion across participating bars and restaurants. A wristband unlocks selected offers; you still pay for drinks and food. Unlimited wristband use means repeated access to eligible discounts, not unlimited drinks included in the ticket.
Keep last year's details out of your booking plan
The organiser's site names Scotch & Rye, The White House and The Malt Room among its 2026 venues. Their appearance on the current website doesn't confirm participation in 2027. Wait for the new list before building an evening around a particular offer.
The organiser's page doesn't state an age policy, and venues serving alcohol set their own entry rules. Ask the organiser before you plan around anyone under 18. A wristband shouldn't be treated as a table reservation either. Ask the venue about dinner bookings, access needs and alcohol-free options before making it your main stop.
Illustrations are conceptual, not photographs of specific venues or of Mardon.
Where should you stay for Inverness Cocktail Week?
Stay in the city centre if walking between venues and your accommodation is your main priority. Choose a self-catering base outside the centre if kitchen space and separate living areas matter more. Compare the room cost with the return journey before deciding.
| Stay option | Main advantage | Evening transport check |
|---|---|---|
| City-centre hotel or guesthouse | Potentially shorter journeys between bars and bed | Check the actual route, distance and late-entry arrangements |
| Self-catering accommodation near Inverness | Kitchen facilities and space to spend time together | Include booked transport in the total cost |
| Mardon in Milton of Culloden | Two self-contained units with kitchens and gated parking | Plan a car or taxi journey to and from central venues |
A central postcode alone doesn't guarantee an easy walk. Compare your final venue with the accommodation entrance, not just the hotel name. Check steps, lighting and the route if anyone has limited mobility.
What does a stay at Mardon involve?
Mardon is at Milton of Culloden, Inverness, IV2 7NU, beside the A96. We're outside the city centre, so plan transport rather than assume you can stroll home from the bars. The city centre is about 15 minutes by car, depending on traffic; taxi waiting time is extra.
The Main House sleeps up to five, while the Annex sleeps up to three. Both have a kitchen, living space and gated parking. Booking both units together can accommodate up to eight, subject to availability, but they remain separate properties.
Parties and events aren't allowed at Mardon, and quiet hours run from midnight to 7am. A stay here needs to fit those rules, including when you return from an evening out.
How should you get home after an evening in Inverness?
Book a licensed taxi or private hire car before going out if you're staying beyond a comfortable walking route. Confirm the pickup point, time, passenger count and destination. Use a bus only after checking the return timetable for your exact date and stop.
Give the driver the full address
For Mardon, use the property name, Milton of Culloden and IV2 7NU. Share the arrival instructions from your booking with the operator. Don't ask for a journey to "Culloden" and leave the driver to guess the entrance.
A private hire car must be pre-booked; a licensed taxi can also use a taxi rank. Confirm which service you've arranged. Agree on a pickup place the driver can legally reach, and keep the booking reference on your phone.
Tell the operator if you need an accessible vehicle or space for more than four passengers. Eight guests don't fit in a standard four-passenger taxi. Confirm a suitable vehicle or separate cars, and nominate one person to coordinate the pickup.
Don't make the final bus a guess
Check Stagecoach's timetable or journey planner for the date, direction and stop you need. A daytime service towards the Culloden area doesn't establish a late-night journey to Mardon's entrance. Public transport options right at our entrance are limited.
Leave enough time to reach the stop before departure. Keep a separate taxi plan if the bus no longer suits your evening, and save the operator's number before you need it.
What should you budget for wristbands and taxis?
Budget separately for accommodation, the wristband, drinks, food and transport in both directions. Compare the final ticket total, including fees, before paying. Ask your transport operator for a journey quote or charging basis; a headline cocktail price doesn't describe the cost of your evening.
Ticket sellers display different offers and booking fees, and the organiser can list several ticket tiers. Check the final purchase screen and collection instructions rather than assume one advertised wristband price applies to every seller or release.
Late-night taxi fares can differ from daytime fares
Highland Council's published taxi tariffs, effective from 9 February 2026, apply Tariff 2 between 9pm and 7am, throughout Saturday and Sunday, and at any time when five or more passengers are carried. The distance summary is £5.90 for the first mile, then £2.70 for each additional mile, plus applicable extras.
As an illustration, a three-mile distance-only calculation is £11.30 before extras or waiting time. That's arithmetic from the current tariff, not a fare quote to Mardon. Larger groups can fall under higher tariffs, and the published rates may change before February 2027.
Get the price or charging basis for your actual pickup, destination and vehicle. A lower room rate can lose its appeal once you add two journeys per night.
How can you plan a winter evening without rushing?
Check in before going into town, keep the venue plan short and arrange your return journey first. Pack a warm outer layer and practical footwear for February. Save tickets, pickup details and accommodation access instructions so your evening doesn't depend on finding them later.
Follow this order:
- Choose nights within the confirmed event dates.
- Check accommodation availability, arrival times and house rules.
- Read the latest wristband collection instructions before travelling.
- Choose venues from the confirmed 2027 list when published.
- Book dinner and the return vehicle where needed.
- Save the pickup location and agree on a time with your group.
For a late airport arrival, agree check-in arrangements before making evening plans. Check-in at Mardon is from 3pm, and we ask for your expected arrival time in advance; a later arrival needs confirmation.
Pack for the journey as well as the venue:
- A warm coat and scarf.
- Shoes you can comfortably walk in.
- A charged phone and power bank.
- Your saved ticket barcode and pickup details.
Planning for Inverness in winter also means leaving room for poor weather to change your route. Don't cram an extra venue into the minutes before your booked car arrives.
What should you plan for the morning after?
Keep the next morning flexible, especially if your plans involve driving. Breakfast at your accommodation and a later start can fit a self-catering break. Alcohol can remain in your body the following day, so don't assume that sleep alone makes driving safe.
Scottish Government guidance says alcohol can take up to 24 hours or longer to leave your body. Avoid alcohol if you'll drive, and arrange another way to travel if you're unsure the following morning. A cocktail count can't establish fitness to drive.
Buy breakfast food before your evening out. A small grocery shop near Inverness lets you start the day without another errand. Leave a long driving day out of the plan after a late night.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Inverness Cocktail Week 2027?
Inverness Cocktail Week runs from 19 to 28 February 2027, according to the organiser. Wristbands cover the full 10-day event.
Are the 2027 participating venues confirmed?
The organiser hadn't published the 2027 line-up when checked on 14 October 2026. Its displayed 2026 list is historical, not a confirmed 2027 programme.
Where do I collect my wristband?
The 2027 collection points were still awaiting announcement on 14 October 2026. Follow the organiser's current instructions and bring the barcode for each ticket.
Does the wristband include free cocktails?
No, it gives access to selected discounts, including advertised signature cocktails from £5. Drinks and food remain separate purchases.
Can I walk back to Mardon from central bars?
Plan a car or taxi journey back to Mardon. The property is in Milton of Culloden outside the city centre, rather than a central nightlife location.
Can a group stay at Mardon for Cocktail Week?
Groups can use the two units for up to eight guests if both are available and the stay fits the house rules. Parties and events aren't allowed.
Is Cocktail Week suitable for under-18s?
The organiser's page doesn't state an age policy. Don't assume children can use a festival wristband or enter every participating venue; check with the organiser and each venue first.
About the author
Bushra
Host, Mardon Holiday Home
Bushra hosts both self-catering units at Mardon in Milton of Culloden and answers every direct enquiry herself. These guides come from questions guests actually ask before booking.