On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March Smugglers Cove is taking the lead on the first Albert Dock Rum Festival!

There will be live music and performance by Brouhaha International at the Dock Traffic Office at 3pm on Saturday. The entertainment includes drummers from Batala and up to four carnival puppets.

Smugglers Cove are offering seven rum tastings throughout the weekend, each with a space for up to ten people so you can bring your friends. Don’t miss out on the steel drum performance in the bar on the Saturday too.

If you like a bit of carnival with your rum head along to Circo where they are offering rum packages and offers on their booths and weekend dinner shows.

In the evening at Circo, enjoy club classics from Radio City’s DJ Lee Butler and Leanne and Dave from the Breakfast Show, alongside their usual circus entertainment.

Circo’s cocktails for the weekend are Mai Tai, Sirens Grog and Pina Coloda all at £5 each or two for £8. They will also be holding rum cocktail masterclasses at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm: they have 20 places available on each class priced at £15 per head.

At Vinea you can expect a Mango Fandango – pureed mango, blended with fresh lime juice and Bacardi White Rum, topped with Prosecco and garnished with pineapple, coconut and lime. Gusto will be getting in on the action too with Zombie and Orange Daiquiri cocktails.

Meanwhile, both Costa Britannia and Costa on The Colonnades are offering Caribbean themed coolers including a Lime Mint which is similar to a non-alcoholic mojito – delicious.

If you’re shopping then Nauticalia is where you want to be for their Spiced Pusser’s Rum samples. Enjoy browsing the offers on their Crew Tankards, Round Hip Flask, Pusser’s Rum itself and much more besides.

If you’re looking for a meal, look no further than Revolution who are offering a 2 for 1 deal on pizzas and hotdogs – they’ll be getting in on the dressing up action too!

What’s Cooking? will be serving up very on-trend Kraken Wings over the weekend alongside their Mai Tai and Caribbean Kiss cocktails.

Fancy something sweet? Then La Crêpe Rit have delicious rum flavoured flambés for you in a variety of choices including banana and chocolate and strawberry and cream, c’est magnifique.

Each of the venues will also be holding competitions to win cocktail masterclasses, goody bags, rum tasting and plenty more.  Check out @thealbertdock on Twitter for more information and Facebook.

Oh! Look out for pirate costumes, as several venues are dressing up and to get into the Rum Festival spirit!