SOMETIMES there is nothing better than heading out to a bar or pub to spend time with our friends. 

Weekends are a great time to let our hair down once the working week has finished and catch up with our friends. 

North Cumbria's nightlife scene is bustling with places like Carlisle, Whitehaven, and Workington offering great venues to truly enjoy the weekend in style. 

Whilst everyone has their favourite tipple that they enjoy, no one can argue that gin is England's premier drink. 

Gin has been enjoyed by people here in blighty for centuries and has seen a sharp rise of increasing popularity in recent years. 

Many of us enjoy our gin topped up with tonic, whilst others may prefer to drink it with lemonade or juice. 

However you enjoy your gin it's fair to say that it seems to be more popular than ever, with so many bars and pubs selling all kinds of varieties of the tipple. 

Some popular brands include Gordon's, Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, and Brockman's. 

But many smaller names are beginning to make their mark on the gin market. 

Here at Newsquest, we wanted to show you some of the best places to enjoy a gin in North Cumbria according to Google reviews. 

The Lane Bar 

This venue has a 4.6-star rating on Google reviews. 

One review said: "Pleasantly surprised to find this hidden gem in Carlisle. Great cocktails, lovely staff and clientele. It's got the speakeasy vibe about it."

It is located on 18 Fisher Street. 

Yellowjacket

This Carlisle venue is another high scorer with a 4.7-star review. 

One review by Leo said: "Great cocktails, and lovely staff, my partner tried a cocktail that they didn't like and we were offered either a free shot or a discount."

2 Bar 

This Workington venue has a 4.7 rating on Google. 

One review said: "Very pleasant atmosphere on a Friday evening. New pub but traditional interior with lots of room."

The Mad Scientist

This venue came away with a 4.6 rating on Google. A recent review by Will said: "Good place for cocktails in Workington, one of the few upmarket venues in town."

The Twisted Tongue

This West Cumbrian club is a popular venue located in Whitehaven town centre. 

It has a five-star rating on Google. 

Live bands often perform and it is popular on the local nightlife scene. 

The Yellow Earl 

This alternative music venue has a rating of 4.5 stars on Google. 

One review said: "Excellent beers and excellent service continues, definitely my favourite pub."