Sip-and-paint without the booze: the rise of alcohol-free leisure
Muslim-owned activities are opening across the country, providing halal versions of pastimes traditionally associated with drinking
Inside the sun-filled terrace of a hotel on the outskirts of Bradford, a group of 29 people are applying bold brushstrokes to their canvases as a tutor explains how to paint the perfect sunset using blue, orange, red and white acrylics. These painters, ranging in age from their early 20s to 60s, pause from time to time to take sips from their wine glasses — as is practice in a sip-and-paint class. But instead of wine, they’re drinking a raspberry mocktail.
The alcohol-free nature of this event is what has drawn the attendees to spend their Sunday afternoon with secondary school art teacher Nahim Akhtar. Akhtar has been leading monthly sip-and-paint classes like this for the past six months. His halal art company, Mr Canvas, runs pop-up events across West Yorkshire allowing Muslims in the region to take part in an activity they say was previously off-limits due to the “sip” part of the event — meaning drinking alcohol.
“What drew me to Nahim’s events was the fact it’s halal and alcohol-free,” says Ra’eesah, 31, from Batley. “I’ve been tempted to go to sip-and-paint events in the past, but was worried about potential mishaps, like alcohol spilling on me. The fact this is halal means I can bring family with me, as my cousins won’t go somewhere where alcohol is being served.”
In the past year, a number of non-alcoholic sip-and-paint events have cropped up across the country, from M Artistry, who runs events in Bradford and Huddersfield, to Sneha Sceneries in London. Akhtar says he is filling a niche for activities that are normally associated with booze-fuelled stag or hen dos, particularly in towns and cities where there aren’t many organised halal leisure activities beyond restaurants or shisha cafes.
The move towards alcohol-free leisure goes beyond sip-and-paint. Friends Fiaz Raja and Mubeen Khan opened their axe-throwing business, Axeperience in east London, in June 2021. While they follow the motto of “axes and alcohol don’t mix”, Raja says the real reason behind the booze-free venue is that serving alcohol would compromise their Islamic beliefs.
“Everyone just wants to come, let their hair down and get it out of their system. And we provide a halal form of that,” says Raja. They recently opened their second branch in Birmingham.
An Eid-event organised in collaboration with Halal Tourism Britain last year sold out — all the tickets snapped up by women. “We have had sisters turning up saying, ‘Can I put a picture of my husband on there, so I could throw an axe at it?’” Raja laughs.
The absence of alcohol doesn’t appear to have deterred Axeperience’s non-Muslim clientele. On weekend mornings, groups of people begin their stag and hen dos at Axeperience before moving on to bars elsewhere.
Raja says if Muslim entrepreneurs don’t recognise the demand for booze-free leisure venues and take that opportunity, non-Muslim businesses will. “As Muslim businesspeople, we should be taking the lead. We need to be looking at what our community wants: leisure activities that are non-alcoholic and family-friendly.”
In 2024, Manchester welcomed a halal version of snooker rooms run by former footballer Ahmed Ali. He founded Fomo Lounge with entertainment rooms decked out with snooker tables, darts and gaming consoles. No alcohol is sold on the premises and customers aren’t allowed to bring their own.
“The thought of selling alcohol has never crossed my mind,” says Ali. “I’d rather run my business the halal way, even if it means its success is more gradual. People see that and they appreciate that.”
Part of Ali’s vision for FOMO was providing a space where Muslim youth, particularly young men, could socialise safely. He did not expect the venue to be just as popular with Muslim women and families, with the entertainment suites getting booked up for birthday parties and bridal showers.
“When you go out in the evening for a meal, you finish your meal and the restaurant expects you to leave. You can’t just be taking your friends or family to go window-shopping in Manchester city centre,” says Ali. “With our lounge, you now have somewhere else you can go.”
After three hours, Akhtar’s clients huddle behind him, proudly holding up their finished Mughal-inspired paintings as he takes a group selfie. The feedback is always the same — they feel relieved at not having to experience the discomfort that comes with being surrounded by alcohol while trying to have fun.
“It’s about coming out and using art to express yourself and creating a community of like-minded people,” says Akhtar. “With the current racial tensions in the country, it’s never been more important to have wholesome experiences with people of all backgrounds to remind us who we are.”
