Couch has been a cornerstone of Stirchley’s cool credentials since it opened its doors in 2019. Having helped the area flourish into one of Birmingham’s most exciting neighbourhoods, this trendy yet friendly bar is now not just the Second City’s, but the UK’s best cocktail bar.
From London to Edinburgh, this Brummie bar has beaten them all to be named the top of The Top 50 Cocktail Bars. Having first entered the list in 2022, Couch has been slowly climbing up ever since—reaching 4th in 2024, when it was also crowned winner of Bar Team of the Year. But this year it’s finally reached the top.
The neighbourhood bar is beloved for its unique, out-of-the-box thinking when crafting its cocktail menus. In the past, it’s taken inspiration from iconic pop culture references, such as women in music, TV and history—a Grace Jones-inspired vermouth blend and grapefruit, or a nod to EastEnders’ Dot with a lapsang tea gin.
But Couch’s menus remain fresh. The latest, from January, is a curveball focused on all things it loves about English boozers. “The Pub Concept encapsulates so much of what we are at Couch, taking a laid back friendly pub atmosphere and putting it into a cocktail bar. Where Neighbourhood is best represented.”
Because at its simplest, Couch is a hangout spot—with even a sun-trapped garden to relax in on summery days—with a relaxed, welcoming vibe and some of the most talented bartenders in Birmingham and beyond. Couch’s owner, Katie Rouse, was even named CLASS Awards’ Bartender of the Year in 2025.
Elsewhere, on The Top 50 Cocktail Bars, the only other Birmingham bar to feature on the list was Passing Fancies at 16th. Quite the achievement when you consider it’s been closed for over half a year (don’t worry, it’ll be back soon, opening in the Jewellery Quarter for PF2.0).
To see The Top 50 Cocktail Bars head here.