Drink & Draw: Paint A Masterpiece

Drink & Draw turns a Dublin art class into a social night out. You paint a themed canvas, buy a drink, and listen to upbeat music while an instructor keeps the room moving. The speed painting round is the oddball highlight: you paint along with a song, often at a frantic pace.

I like that all materials are supplied, including the canvas, apron, and paint, and that you leave with something you made. I also like the open approach, since you can bring real art skills or none at all. The main concern is practical rather than artistic: two customers arrived to find confusion over the start time or booking, so check the details before setting off.

Key points at a glance

• A paint party, not a quiet lesson: Expect loud music, drinks for purchase, and a lively room rather than a hushed studio.
• A different theme each night: Your canvas subject depends on the evening you book.
• Everything needed is provided: Canvas, apron, and paint are included.
• The final speed round changes the pace: You paint to a song, with little time to overthink the result.
• Small maximum group: The event allows up to 20 people, which keeps it more manageable than a large workshop.
• Convenient city-centre meeting point: Start and finish at This Must Be The Place, 42 Arran Quay, Smithfield, Dublin 7.

A paint class with a Dublin night-out mood

Drink & Draw is best understood as a creative social event with paintbrushes, not a traditional art lesson. You will not be sitting in silence while an instructor gives a long demonstration. Music plays loudly, drinks can be bought at the venue, and the emphasis is on having a go.

That distinction matters. If you want careful instruction on perspective, colour theory, or brush technique, this may feel light on teaching. If you want a relaxed excuse to make something with friends, it fits much better. The instructor offers useful art tips, but also helps keep the mood easy and good-humoured.

The event lasts about two hours. That is long enough to complete a canvas without taking up your whole evening in Dublin. It also leaves room to continue elsewhere afterward, though the exact pace will depend on the theme and the group.

Arriving at This Must Be The Place in Smithfield

The meeting point is This Must Be The Place, at 42 Arran Quay in Smithfield, Dublin 7. The activity begins and ends here, so you do not need to work out a second drop-off point after painting.

The venue is near public transport, which makes it a practical choice if you are staying elsewhere in central Dublin. I would still check your mobile ticket carefully before leaving. Two booking problems involved mismatched times or uncertainty at the venue, including one case where the printed ticket showed 6pm and another where the expected time was 7pm. Those are serious problems when you have arranged an evening around the event.

A quick call or message to confirm the date and start time is sensible, especially if your ticket was booked well in advance or if the details look unclear. It is a small precaution, but it can save a wasted trip.

Getting set up with canvas, apron, and paint

Once the session begins, the practical work is already handled for you. A canvas, apron, and paint are supplied, so you do not need to pack art materials or worry about bringing clothes you can sacrifice.

The apron is useful because a social painting session can get messy, especially once the music speeds up. You still may want to wear comfortable clothes that can tolerate a stray mark. The point is to paint freely, not to spend the evening guarding your sleeves.

A different theme is offered each night. That gives repeat customers a reason to return, and it also means you should check the theme before booking if the subject matters to you. The available information does not identify every nightly theme, so do not assume you will paint one particular scene unless it is confirmed for your date.

How the teaching works when no art skill is needed

No previous experience is required. The instructor gives art tips and helps you make progress, but you are not expected to copy a perfect professional example or produce a gallery-ready canvas.

I like this low-pressure setup. You can follow the suggested theme closely, change the colours, or take the painting in your own direction. One of the strongest features is the openness to personal creativity. A confident painter can experiment, while a beginner can simply keep building colour until the canvas begins to look like something.

The instructor’s role seems to be part teacher and part host. That suits the format. You need enough guidance to avoid staring at a blank canvas, but you also need room to laugh, chat, and make your own decisions.

If you are painting alone, you can still take part. The format gives you an activity to focus on, and the group setting may make it easier to meet people. Still, the social side is likely to be strongest with a friend, partner, or small group. The event is not designed as a solitary, silent studio session.

Loud music and the speed painting finale

The regular painting is accompanied by upbeat, loud music. This creates much of the event’s character, but it is also the clearest reason not to book if you want a calm evening. You should expect a party atmosphere rather than gentle background sound.

The speed painting round comes at the end. You listen to a song and paint in response to it, with the music setting the tempo. This may mean changing your subject, adding bold marks, or simply working faster than feels comfortable.

It is a funny way to finish because it removes the pressure to make every brushstroke sensible. A song such as Don’t Stop Me Now has been used for the round, turning the room into a frantic burst of colour and movement. You are not trying to create a carefully planned masterpiece in that moment. You are reacting to the music and enjoying the silliness.

This section also reveals what the event is really selling. The painting matters, but the shared experience matters just as much. You may like your finished canvas, but you will probably remember the sudden switch from relaxed painting to fast, playful chaos.

What you take home at the end

You keep your painting. That improves the value of the session because you are not paying only for two hours of entertainment. You also leave with a physical reminder of the evening, even if the result is more personal than polished.

Do not judge the value by whether your canvas looks like a professional artwork. The instructor provides help, but the event is built around participation and creativity. A beginner’s painting may have uneven lines, unexpected colours, or a speed-round section that looks deliberately wild. That is part of the charm.

The supplied materials also remove several small costs and hassles. You do not need to buy a canvas, paint, brushes, or an apron before arriving. Drinks are separate, however, so budget for any alcohol or other purchase you want during the session.

Group size, timing, and the social feel

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is small enough for the instructor to offer some assistance and for the room to feel like a shared activity rather than a crowd. It is also large enough to create energy during the music and speed round.

The two-hour length works well for a casual evening plan. You get a clear start and finish, and the activity ends at the same location where it began. Since the event takes place in Dublin city centre, you can pair it with dinner, a drink, or another evening plan, but allow enough time to arrive before the stated start time.

The atmosphere will suit people who enjoy a bit of noise and movement. It may not suit anyone looking for quiet concentration, detailed one-to-one teaching, or a polished art-school setting. The title gives you a fair warning: this is Drink & Draw, not a formal painting course.

Is the price good value?

The current price is not provided in the available details, so I cannot make a precise cost comparison. I can still explain what you are paying for.

Your booking covers about two hours of organised entertainment, the canvas, apron, paint, instruction, music, and the finished painting to take home. You also get the convenience of arriving without equipment and the novelty of a themed activity in central Dublin.

Drinks are not described as included. You should expect to buy alcohol separately if you want it. That may be a modest extra cost, but it changes the final bill, especially if you are booking for a group.

For value, I would compare it with a casual evening activity rather than with a serious art workshop. It makes sense if you want a memorable social night and like the idea of leaving with a handmade object. It is less convincing if your main goal is technical improvement, since the teaching is supportive but the event is built around fun and pace.

Who should book Drink & Draw?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Friends looking for a different Dublin night out
• Couples who enjoy hands-on activities
• Beginners who feel nervous about formal art classes
• Solo people who are comfortable joining a social group
• Anyone who likes music, drinks, and a relaxed party mood
• Repeat visitors who want to see a new theme

It can work for a solo booking, but go in expecting a group activity. If you are shy, the canvas gives you an easy focus while the instructor and music keep the evening from feeling stiff.

I would be more cautious about booking it for someone who dislikes loud music, alcohol-centred settings, or messy creative activities. It is also not the best choice for a person hoping to learn advanced painting methods in a structured way.

Booking checks worth making before you go

Confirmation is sent at the time of booking, and the ticket is mobile, which keeps things simple at the door. Bring the ticket on your phone and check the date, time, and meeting point before you set out.

Because of past confusion involving start times and bookings, I would confirm directly with the provider if anything on your ticket looks inconsistent. The provider is Alternative Dublin, and the venue is This Must Be The Place. This extra check is especially wise if the event is tied to a birthday, Christmas present, or a trip with limited spare time.

The activity is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The provider also notes that a minimum number of participants is required, so an event can be cancelled if that number is not reached. In that case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted. The cut-off follows Dublin local time.

Should you book this Dublin paint party?

Book Drink & Draw if you want a cheerful, hands-on evening where the finished canvas is a bonus and the atmosphere is the main event. The supplied materials, friendly art help, small maximum group, and unusual speed painting finale give it more personality than a standard craft session.

I would not book it expecting a quiet masterclass or guaranteed faultless organisation. Confirm the start time before you travel, allow for drinks to cost extra, and choose it only if loud music and a party setting sound appealing.

For beginners, friends, couples, and creative people who do not take their brushwork too seriously, this is a good way to spend two hours in Smithfield. Go ready to make something imperfect, laugh at the fast round, and carry your own slightly wonky masterpiece home.

FAQ

How long does Drink & Draw last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours.

Where does Drink & Draw take place?

It starts and finishes at This Must Be The Place, 42 Arran Quay, Smithfield, Dublin 7, Ireland.

Is the activity offered in English?

Yes, the activity is offered in English.

Are art supplies included?

Yes. A canvas, apron, and paint are provided.

Can I take my painting home?

Yes. You take your painting home at the end of the session.

Do I need previous painting experience?

No. The activity is suitable for people with all levels of art experience, including complete beginners.

Can I buy alcohol during the activity?

Yes. Alcohol can be purchased while you paint. The available details do not state that drinks are included in the booking.

What is the speed painting round?

At the end of the event, you paint while listening to a song. The music sets a faster, more playful pace.

How many people can attend?

The maximum group size is 20 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.