Sitting proudly at the top of Guildford’s bustling High Street, MKB is a cocktail bar housed within the Radisson Blu Edwardian; a slice of metropolitan chic in the heart of beautiful Surrey. Boasting a newly refurbished bar that demands your attention from all parts of the room, it is certainly a place to keep your eye on. Perfectly placed between the G Live theatre and the majority of the town’s restaurants, MKB is ideal for a quick drink to start or end your evening during the week.
On the weekends however, the bar creates a much more upbeat vibe with a roster of experienced Hed kandi and Gatecrasher DJ’s, climaxing with a jubilant Saturday night where you can dance the night away. Don’t let that fool you though, it certainly is a classy affair, with the striking modern décor of the building leaving a great impression before you’ve even come in the door.
However, MKB’s reputation lies in its impressive signature menu of cocktails. The trained bar staff, therefore, have an extensive knowledge of the classics and the ability to create and tailor drinks to suit your taste; meaning you are sure to find a perfect liquid companion for the night. One noteworthy drink is their signature Surrey Spritz – an alluring mix of Tanqueray Gin, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, pomegranate juice and Prosecco which will leave you dreaming about for days after.
It’s not all shaking and stirring though, with beers, wines and a large backbar of spirits also on offer. Featuring a team trained by the likes of the Blue Bar’s Salvatore Maggio and Mike Scott of Bourne and Hollingsworth, as well as their own award winning bartender and manager, Aaron Hibbert; these certainly are some bartenders you can put your trust in. Recently, MKB was named as one of the Top 5 cocktail bars in Surrey by Essential Surrey, as well as winning Experience Guildford’s Customer Service Award.
As with everything else in the bar, the interior is full of elegance and class. Long sofa’s adorn the edges of the mezzanine lounge, rounded off by corner booths and a covert dance floor in the centre of the bar becomes lively later on. The lower area down by the bar is a darker, more intimate affair, perfect for couples getting to know each other, or for a relaxed drink with a few friends. There is of course, the option to sit at the luxurious bar and sip at a few creations whilst chatting to both the bartenders and those around you, which is always an enjoyable experience.
MKB is open 16.00-23.00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 16.00-00.30 Thursdays, 16.00-2.00 Fridays and 17.00-2.00 Saturdays. Remember the bar is also strictly over-21s only.
Tom Byrne