Red Light cocktail bar returns to the Northern Quarter on Tariff Street

An award-winning Northern Quarter cocktail bar is back. Red Light, the LGBTQ+ cocktail bar founded by Deana Ferguson, returned to the Northern Quarter this October in a new home on Tariff Street, next door to The Whisky Jar.

The new Red Light has a fresh look to match its name. There is booth seating, a bar and club-style space, red lighting and an outdoor terrace, which stays open until 11pm. The walls also showcase work by queer local photographers Jen Melia, Sara Carpentieri, Nick Priestley and Harmeet Singh.

Regulars will spot some old favourites on the drinks list. Cocktails returning from the original menu include the Pink Picante and the Pomme Verte, the bar's take on an appletini, along with the Belfast Coffee, the spicy pickle martini Especiado and the Pornstar Chic, made with homemade passionfruit sorbet.

There is now more to eat, too. A new snack menu brings boquerones, pickled guindilla peppers and Gordal olives, alongside Mini Croissant Butter Blondies from Pollen and a homemade salted popcorn ice cream.

Music and performance are at the heart of the relaunch. Red Light is introducing a regular events programme spanning Italo disco, French house and live performance, with Live-Jazz Sundays every week, drag and burlesque shows, late-night DJ sets and themed promoter nights. More events are planned once the downstairs club space opens later in the year.

Founder Deana Ferguson said: "Red Light has always been about bringing people together over exceptional drinks in an inviting, unpretentious environment. Our new location gives us the space to realise that vision fully, with the same soul and now a proper home for cocktails, food, and great music."

The bar works mainly on a walk-in basis, with table service throughout, and the venue is also available for private hire. Red Light describes itself as a cocktail bar and boutique club, and its listed hours run from 4pm Wednesday to Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed.

You will find it at 12 Tariff Street, M1 2FF. The menu can be downloaded from Red Light's website, and the bar shares news and event updates on its Instagram account, @redlightmcr. With autumn evenings drawing in, a cosy booth and a well-made cocktail sound like a fine plan.