Alcotraz, the immersive prison-themed cocktail experience, is opening in Cardiff next month. Inspired by TV and film productions that have masterfully brought infamous prison stories to life, Alcotraz promises an immersive, one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.
The opening in Cardiff city centre on Friday, November 24, follows the sites in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton, and Alcotraz: Cell Block Nine-One will accommodate 46 inmates for public experiences or private venue hires.
Partygoers will have to complete tasks, wear orange jumpsuits and enjoy contraband cocktails in cells in the experience which will be found in the Brewery Quarter, with a cell block comprising of 10 individual cells. The size range caters from couples to larger groups for birthdays, stag and hen parties and any other occasion you can think of.
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Guests – or more appropriately ‘inmates’ – are tasked with smuggling liquor past The Warden and getting it into the hands of some of Alcotraz’s longest-serving inmates, who then transform the contraband into bespoke, delicious cocktails. In advance of visiting, guests will be able to create their own unique criminal record from the Department of Justice before being secretly instructed by 'bootleggers' on the inside to smuggle their liquor into Alcotraz.
Smuggling their spirit past The Warden, inmates will be led into Alcotraz Penitentiary and given their own unique inmate number and orange jumpsuit to wear for the duration of their sentencing to avoid escape. Once in their cells, they will encounter a cast of shady characters and the jail’s notorious bootlegging gang. Guests who manage to win the favour of the guards will gain access to explore otherwise unforeseen areas, such as the Solitary Confinement Block to do deals with inmates on the inside or the Warden’s Office to negotiate your parole.
This pioneering immersive cocktail experience, brought to life by Inventive Productions, originally debuted in London in 2017. With subtle references to cult American entertainment, such as Prison Break, Orange is the New Black, and Shawshank Redemption, guests have the opportunity to experience a fictitious narrative unfolding around them which they would only normally see on TV or cinema screens.
Sam Shearman, creator of Alcotraz, and founder of Inventive Productions said: "We are really excited to open our first Welsh location. Since opening in 2017 in London, Alcotraz has entertained audiences looking for a totally unique experience. Since London, we have opened three more sites around the country and cannot wait to launch Alcotraz in Cardiff. We hope that Alcotraz will become a great addition to an already thriving entertainment city."
The experience begins as soon as guests purchase a ticket. And you can do that at the Alcotraz webiste, here, where you can also book in to the experience, which starts on Friday, November 24.
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