Prison Themed Bar in Spalding: Cocktails in Real Cells

If you're looking for a prison themed bar, The Cell Bar in Spalding, Lincolnshire, is one you can book yourself into for real. It's a reservation-only, prison-themed cocktail bar and private hire event space set in the original Victorian holding cells on the ground floor of The Sessions House, so the cells are the genuine article and every visit is booked in advance.

The Cell Bar opened in July 2026 inside The Sessions House, a Grade II listed former Victorian courthouse built in 1843 on Sheep Market in Spalding. It has five cells, each holding up to 12 guests, and is open for private bookings seven days a week until midnight.

So if a themed bar in Lincolnshire is on your list for a birthday, a date night or a group celebration, here's what a sentence with us looks like.

What is a prison themed bar?

A prison themed bar takes the look and language of life behind bars and turns it into an evening of fun: cell doors, a dash of mischief and cocktails with names that would make a magistrate raise an eyebrow. Nobody is really in trouble, of course. You're simply booked in for the night.

At The Cell Bar the theme stays playful and rooted in Victorian history. These rooms were once the courthouse's holding cells; today they hold groups of friends, couples and colleagues, all waiting on nothing more serious than their next cocktail.

What makes The Cell Bar different from other prison bars in the UK?

If you've been searching for a prison bar in the UK, here's what sets ours apart: the cells are the genuine Victorian article, and so is the building around them.

• Original Victorian holding cells, on the ground floor of a Grade II listed courthouse built in 1843.

• Five cells, each holding up to 12 guests, so a group can have a cell to itself.

• Reservation-only: every visit is booked in advance, so your cell is ready when you arrive.

• Signature cocktails curated in house, each served in themed glassware.

• Prison jumpsuits to try on, if you fancy getting into character.

• Open for private bookings seven days a week, until midnight.

Which cocktails can you order in the cells?

Our signature cocktails are curated in house, and each one arrives in its own themed glassware. Among them are Lethal Injection, Gas Chamber, Hard Time and Long Stretch: names with plenty of mischief, drinks made for sipping and savouring.

Here as a couple? Look out for our couples' cocktails, Firing Squad and Conjugal Visit. There are classic cocktails too, along with white and red wines, so there's something for every taste in the cell. Pace yourselves and enjoy it: this is a sit-back-and-savour sort of evening.

Who books a cell at a jail themed bar?

Anyone over 18 with something to celebrate, or simply a good excuse to get the gang together. We take private bookings for birthdays, celebrations, date nights, group gatherings and private events. With up to 12 guests in each cell, it suits a birthday crew, a team outing or a reunion of old friends.

On Friday and Saturday nights you can also book a place in a shared cell, handy if your group is smaller than a full cell. Planning something bigger? Read our guide to private hire in Spalding.

How do you book a cell at The Cell Bar?

Simple: every visit is booked in advance on our reservation page. Pick your date and your cell will be waiting for you.

The Cell Bar is for over 18s only, and ID checks may be required, so bring yours along. Questions before you book? Email officers@thecellbar.co.uk or find us on Instagram at @thecellbar_tsh.

How do you get to The Cell Bar in Spalding?

You'll find us inside The Sessions House, Sheep Market, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 1BB. We're under 250 metres from Spalding station and around 30 minutes by car from Peterborough, which makes us an easy trip if you've been hunting for cocktail bars near Peterborough. From London, the train takes about 1.5 hours.

Curious about the building's past? Discover the story of The Sessions House, the former Victorian courthouse that the cells belong to.

Got questions before you do your time?

Is The Cell Bar a real prison?

No. It's a reservation-only, prison-themed cocktail bar set in the original Victorian holding cells of The Sessions House, a former Victorian courthouse in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The cells are real; the sentence is just for fun.

How many people fit in a cell?

Each of our five cells holds up to 12 guests.

Do I need to book?

Yes. The Cell Bar is reservation-only and every visit is booked in advance at thecellbar.co.uk/reserve-a-place.

Is there an age limit?

The Cell Bar is for over 18s only, and ID checks may be required.

When is The Cell Bar open?

For private bookings seven days a week, until midnight. On Friday and Saturday nights you can also book a place in a shared cell.

Ready to get locked up? Gather your accomplices, pick your date and reserve a cell at The Cell Bar. We'll have the keys ready.

The Cell Bar