For when there's still a few weeks left till pay day, but a midweek catch-up with friends is calling, there's a host of great happy hour deals to quench your thirst on a budget at pubs and bars across Gloucestershire.
From two-for-one cocktails to discounted craft beers and ciders, wines and prosecco, SoGlos rounds up 14 of the best happy hours currently on offer in the county.
And for when you're having a few drinks after work, why not catch the bus home – with Stagecoach's handy journey planner helping you find the best route, wherever you live in Gloucestershire.
The Airs and Graces in Cheltenham
Located in a prime spot for after-work drinks, The Airs and Graces on Cheltenham's Prestbury Road offers a relaxed atmosphere, tempting pizzas and burgers and all the charm of its popular sibling pubs run by owner, The Dodo Pub Co.
Its happy hour runs every Tuesday to Friday from 5 till 7pm, with house pints and wine for just £4.50 and cocktails available for £6.
The Airs and Graces has several nearby bus stops for services heading north of Cheltenham, like the D to Bishops Cleeve and A to Prestbury; while it's just two minutes from the Malden Road stop for getting to the town's main bus hub, Cheltenham Promenade, on the A for onward connections.
Oliver's Bar in Gloucester and Cheltenham
Offering a great range of cocktails along with Gloucester Brewery and guest beers on tap, Oliver's Bar is the successor to the former Tank taproom at Gloucester Docks – with a second venue now open on Cheltenham's Regent Street, too.
In Gloucester, take advantage of 'mega' discounted beers on offer Monday to Friday, from 5pm till 7pm, while there's also two-for-£14 cocktails available all night on Wednesdays and until 8pm Fridays and Saturdays; as well as all day Thursdays and Fridays and until 8pm on Saturdays in Cheltenham.
Services stopping on Spa Road – a three minute walk from Oliver's at Gloucester Docks – such as the 10 will get you to Gloucester Transport Hub for making connections, or to Tuffley in the south; while the Cheltenham venue is just around the corner from the Promenade.
The Drunken Duck in Gloucester
Proudly Gloucester's smallest pub, The Drunken Duck just off Westgate Street is well known for its beer, with four carefully selected real ales on its hand pulls and six keg lines including guests from around the world, earning it a place in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2026.
Its happy hour is on every day of the week, with pints of lager, cider and ale for £3.50 and two cocktails for £12, from 5pm till 6pm.
The Drunken Duck is an eight minute walk away from Gloucester Transport Hub, through the city centre.
The Town Owl Taphouse in Stroud
Set in a modern, no frills bar space in the centre of Stroud, The Town Owl Taphouse features a rotating tap wall, with a variety of lagers, pale ales, IPAs, stouts and ciders, as well as a selection of wines, spirits and alcohol-free options.
For one hour only from 4pm till 5pm on a Friday, all pints at the taphouse are £5 – and cocktails, ranging from old fashioneds, to Aperol spritz and mojitos, are two-for-one.
The Town Owl Taphouse is a four minute walk from Stroud's main bus hub, Merrywalks.
The Vine in Cheltenham
A traditional Victorian pub on the upper High Street, The Vine stocks a range of craft beers sourced from Gloucestershire and its surrounds – and also serves authentic Thai food, seven days a week.
For its happy hour deal from Monday to Friday, 4pm till 6.30pm, drinks are on offer for just £4.50, with organic prosecco and house red, white and rosé by the glass; pints of local cask ale, house cider and lager; and house gin and tonic, rum or vodka with a mixer.
Cheltenham Promenade, where you can pick up any of the town bus services as well as those going further afield, is an 11 minute walk from The Vine.
The Bow Bar at Gloucester Guildhall in Gloucester
Though maybe not your first thought for after work drinks, The Bow Bar at Gloucester Guildhall is not only in a central location close to the city's transport hub, but its happy hour offers some of the best value around.
From 5pm to 7pm Wednesday to Friday, enjoy draft beer or a 125ml glass of wine for just £3, with all soft drinks available for £2, too.
Gloucester Guildhall is a five minute walk away from Gloucester Transport Hub.
The Botanist in Cheltenham
From cocktails inspired by the best of botany to a choice of draft beers, there's a wide selection on offer for happy hour at The Botanist in Cheltenham's Brewery Quarter.
Available Monday to Friday from 4pm till 7pm, you can get two cocktails for £15, draught pints for £4.50 – and a bottle of prosecco for just £15!
The Brewery Quarter to The Promenade is a nine minute walk, while for Bishops Cleeve or Prestbury you can catch the A or D just after Boot's Corner.
Planet Caravan in Cheltenham
With 16 craft beers on tap along with creative cocktails and street food, Planet Caravan on Bath Street is one of the coolest spots in town for post-work drinks.
Every Thursday from 4pm till 7pm, or sell-out, there's a 'Cheap Margaritas' deal, with picante margaritas – with chilli syrup – for £3.50; caravan classic margaritas for £5; and its OG 'lageritas' for £5, too.
From Planet Caravan, you can walk to Cheltenham Promenade in nine minutes.
The Stroud Hotel in Stroud
Reopened after a £2 million makeover in 2024, The Bucknell Bar at historic hotel The Stroud blends rustic charm with modern features, making for a great spot for relaxed drinks.
There's two cocktails for £15 during happy hour at The Bucknell from 8pm till 10pm Fridays and Saturdays; and from 6pm till 9pm on Thursdays along with live jazz – and there's also 25 per cent off bubbly on a Friday.
The Stroud Hotel is just a three minute walk from the town's bus hub at Merrywalks.
Brasserie Blanc in Cheltenham
A relaxed, modern French restaurant and bar on Cheltenham's Promenade, Brasserie Blanc is another great spot for after-work drinks in the centre of town.
In its happy hour, running from Sunday to Friday, 5pm till 7pm, a variety of its seasonal drinks are two-for-one, including selected cocktails, wine and beer.
Just a four minute walk from the bus stops at the Promenade, turning left out of Brasserie Blanc will also get you to Rotunda – a key stop for buses heading through west Cheltenham including the 94 towards Gloucester – in three minutes.
The Suffolk Arms in Cheltenham
One of Cheltenham's oldest pubs, The Suffolk Arms in Montpellier has a special 'After Work Club' deal for midweek evening drinks.
From Wednesday to Friday between 5pm and 7pm, you can get two cocktails for £10 or a bottle of fizz for £15 – with three homemade small plates available for £12, too.
Rotunda is a seven minute walk from The Suffolk Arms, for reaching Cheltenham Promenade or for catching westbound services.
Brewhouse & Kitchen in Gloucester and Cheltenham
With venues at both Gloucester Quays and Cheltenham's Brewery Quarter, Brewhouse & Kitchen offers a great selection of craft beers brewed on site, along with its own twist on classic pub food.
Both venues offer pints of freshly brewed cask ale or a 175ml glass of house wine for only £3.50, from Monday to Friday until 6pm.
In Gloucester, the 10 stopping on Spa Road – a four minute walk from Brewhouse & Kitchen – will get you to Gloucester Transport Hub or Tuffley southbound; while The Brewery Quarter to Cheltenham Promenade is a nine minute walk.
The Strand in Cheltenham
Another of the upper High Street's popular foodie pubs, The Strand offers 20 rotating taps of beers from British independent brewers, along with local favourites.
Serving up casual food like burgers, pizzas, pies and loaded fries, every Tuesday at the bar is 'Cask Club', with all of its cask beers costing just £4.
Just across the street from The Vine, The Strand to Cheltenham Promenade is an 11 minute walk.
Turtle Bay in Cheltenham
Offering a vibrant atmosphere with colourful interiors, Turtle Bay is a destination for Caribbean-inspired food and cocktails, just off Cheltenham High Street.
From its raspberry reggae and tropical spritz, to a Tommy's margarita and classic daquiri, cocktails are two for £13, all day everyday!
Catch the A or D just after Boot's Corner – a minute's walk away from Turtle Bay – to get home to Bishops Cleeve or Prestbury; while the Promenade is just a six minute walk away.
