We can’t be alone in recoiling every time a barman tells us there’s no happy hour on. With that in mind, here are five that just can’t be beaten.

Back Yard Bistro

Happy hour in England usually lasts for precisely 60 minutes, and not a second more. Often you’ll find them held on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 3pm, as well, when precisely no-one is able to check it out. So when Brits get to a bar such as Back Yard Bistro and find the happy hour lasts from noon until midnight every single day, it can be a bit overwhelming. The quirky venue is a big hit with the capital’s partygoers, and with deals like that we can see why. Pints of hops start from Dhs21, bottles from Dhs19, grape is Dhs22 and mixed drinks Dhs30. Great value for a long, long time.

Happy hour: Daily noon-midnight. The Hub, The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi (050 114 3666).

Captain’s Arms

This pub is a classic on the Abu Dhabi nightlife scene. In fact, it celebrated its 21st birthday last year. Every day you can make the most of its eight-hour happy hour from noon. House drinks are Dhs25 until 8pm.

Happy hour: Daily noon-8pm. Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiya (02 644 6666).

Cooper’s Bar & Restaurant

Do we have enough space to talk about all of Cooper’s deals? Our Pub of the Year has some kind of offer on from opening until closing. Happy hour is officially from noon until 8pm, when pretty much all drinks are discounted. Then, from 8pm until midnight, it’s Crazy Hour time, when you can get bottles of hops for Dhs19 and eight mixed drinks for Dhs119. From midnight to closing, buckets of hops are Dhs99. Like we said, Pub of the Year.

Happy hour: Daily noon-2.30am. Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park area (02 657 3325).

PJ O’Reillys

There’s a happy hour deal on every day at this Irish pub (which has just had something of a revamp) but it’s the Monday offer we’re here to talk about (called Happy Mondays, after the legendary Madchester band). From noon until 1.30am Tuesday morning drinks start at Dhs24. With a hearty menu filled with Irish favourites and entertainment most days, this is a no-brainer.

Happy hour: Tue-Sun noon-8pm; Mon noon-1.30am. Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Street (02 674 2020).

Velocity

The reigning Time Out Abu Dhabi Best Sports Bar has some cracking deals on to complement the 70-odd screens showing live games. It’s one of the city’s favourite post-working week hangout, thanks to its Dhs12 pints from 4pm to 7pm. Wednesdays see the deal but on short drinks and on Monday the offer is applicable to grape. That’s not to forget the actual daily happy hours, which run until midnight every day and offer house drinks at Dhs24.

Happy hour: Sun-Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu-Sat noon-midnight. Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7777).