The Launch of DRINK IT IN Festival in London

If you’re looking for a unique festival experience to round off the (so-called) summer, look no further than DRINK IT IN, which opens to the public on 7th September in Southeast London for the very first time! Here’s why it sounds like an absolute feast for the senses.

When it comes to food and drink, festivals are often dominated by bigger brands, but DRINK IT IN is designed by tastemakers for tastemakers, celebrating exceptional and distinctive smaller producers. You'll have the chance to sample and support everything from beautifully crafted alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to artisanal spirits and mood-enhancing cocktails. Check out the full list at their website link down below – there are too many to mention here!

An enchanting selection of drinks isn’t all, however. With so many drinks available, you’ll want to line those stomachs and that’s where the food comes in. An exciting variety of street food will be available, ensuring a wonderful culinary experience to complement your drinks. Senegalese soul food, luscious Korean wings and baos, as well as festival favourites like pizzas and burgers that pair perfectly with our wide range of drinks – it’s all there and more. Again, there are so many options so have a look and see which draws you in.

Where is all this taking place then? Well, what once was a multi-storey car park is now an artistic and cultural hub, hosting unforgettable experiences for Londoners and visitors since 2017 - Peckham Levels. It offers a dynamic blend of theatre, music, comedy, talks, and events, combined with the vibrant nightlife, food, and bar scenes of London. So, whilst there’s all this food and drink to get stuck into, there’s also local art everywhere, kids’ activities, music from DJs and live bands, cocktail-making competitions with Pritesh Mody from Sunday Brunch, sustainable fashion collections from All Saints founder Stuart Trevor and the opportunity to get professionally photographed as a model! Like we said, a feast for the senses.

Stuart Coleman, founder of DRINK IT IN and co-founder of non-alcoholic cocktail brand HAELU, comments: "We can’t wait to welcome people to the festival. It’s been a real team effort between the independent brands taking part, and our goal from the very start is to put smiles on the faces of everyone who joins us on the day. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a day full of flavour with friends and family."

With any festival, sustainability is a big challenge too, and DRINK IT IN has done their best to put on a great event without harming the environment by reducing waste, minimising single-use items and donating a portion of ticket sales to impactful organisations like The Drinks Trust, Equal Measures and Goal 17.

If you want to get involved, all the details are below:

When: Saturday 7th September: Afternoon session 12-5pm, Evening session 5-10pm
Tickets: Adult £17, Family £38 (two adults, two kids), Child £5.50 (under 5s free)
(And if you do fancy it, save yourself some money with our 15% discount code AIDY-DRINKITIN-15)
Where: Peckham Levels, 95a Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
Buy your ticket here.

Snoop Dogg & Dr Dre Bring Gin & Juice Cocktails to the UK

When you have a hit song called Gin & Juice, it’s surely only a matter of time before you join the pantheon of celebrity drinks. It’s been 30 years since Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg released the tune on their album Doggystyle, and after launching in the US, the ready-to-go cocktails inspired by it are making waves in the UK.

The new Gin & Juice comes in four refreshing flavours: Citrus, Melon, Passionfruit, and Apricot. Each flavour boasts an all-natural blend, ensuring a unique and delightful experience. The Citrus option is described as a citrus-forward blend, balanced by rose and other soft botanicals, while Melon offers a smooth melon taste, with complexity evoked via crisp citrus and lush hibiscus. Apricot presents a mellow flavour with a hint of honey and aromatic bergamot, and Passionfruit delivers a tropical punch with refreshing pineapple notes.

Each can of Gin & Juice is naturally low in sugar and calories, with only 2 grams of sugar and 95 calories per 250ml serving. Made with real fruit juice, the drinks contain no artificial colours or flavours and are subtly carbonated with a 5.9% ABV – perfect for light and breezy summer drinks.

The packaging, designed by the renowned artist and industrial designer Ini Archibong, reflects the West Coast lifestyle that Dre and Snoop are famous for. Fans can find these premium gin-based cocktails at nearly 1000 UK independent retailers, on-premises locations, summer music festivals, and online at www.bydreandsnoop.com and Amazon.

Snoop and Dr. Dre have both mentioned how they’ve been involved from the ground up, taking their passion and friendship in music and applying it to drinks, but they also had help from Patrick Halbert, Andrew Gill, and Rocco Milano, the creators of On The Rocks Cocktails.

As you might expect, the launch party was quite the event. Hosted at Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace in London on July 18, 2024, all the founders and team were present alongside a host of stars such as Idris Elba, footballers Jude Bellingham and Virgil van Dijk and many more stars, including a surprise performance from Eminem.

Ready-to-drink cocktails are increasingly competitive, but with two of the biggest names in hip-hop behind it, as well as a legendary song and some delicious flavours, Gin & Juice looks set to be another hit for the iconic duo.

Danilo Frigulti Wins Britain’s Best Bartender at Diageo World Class GB

From hundreds of bartenders to just one, it was Danilo Frigulti from Viajante87 bar in Notting Hall who was crowned the winner of Diageo’s World Class GB final in June. Since establishing himself as a barista in the south of Italy where he’s from, it was a move to London that kickstarted a bartender path, first at The London Edition, then The Nomad Hotel where he progressed all the way to Head Bartender.

Competing against 22 other finalists over a couple of days in London, Frigulti shone in a series of challenges such as The Don Julio, an outside the box challenge using Don Julio tequila and a mystery box of ingredients, and The Walker of the World which challenged bartenders to become inspired by a particular country using Johnnie Walker. Once the group was whittled down to 10, an intense four cocktails in four minutes speed round took place and then the winner was finally announced.

Speaking after his victory, Frigulti said, “Wow, this is incredible; I’ve worked in this amazing industry for 5 years now and I’m so proud to be recognised like this for a career and industry I feel so lucky to be part of.”

So, what now? Well, Frigulti will fly the fag for Great Britain at the prestigious Diageo World Class Global Final in Shanghai from the 9th-13th September later this year. If he’s successful, there’s every chance he’ll be back at the British finals next year because Matt Arnold, 2023’s winner was in attendance dishing out his Dinosaur Food cocktail with Johnnie Walker Black Label front and centre.

If you want to follow this journey or perhaps even put yourself forward for next year, find more information on the @worldclassgreatbritain Instagram or website.

A Celebration of London’s Urban Wineries with Aidy Smith

The Urban Winery scene in London has exploded over recent years, first with London Cru, who were then joined by Renegade, Vagabond and Blackbook, who are now all combining for a first-of-its-kind collaboration event featuring fascinating winemaking insight, beautifully paired dishes, a charity raffle, our very own Aidy and of course, plenty of incredible wines.

If you’re not familiar with urban wineries, they’re probably not a million miles away from what you’re picturing; compact vineyards and wineries that occupy corners in a city as opposed to the rolling hills of the countryside. By their stand-out nature, they also tend to particularly entrepreneurial with a focus on embracing different methods of winemaking.

These four wineries are coming together for a celebration of this movement on Sunday 15th June with two different events suitable for novices, enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. First, the Winemaker’s Lunch between 1PM and 3PM, hosted in the beautiful garden oasis of Renegade’s winery. Guests will enjoy a summer feast and of course, a wine pairing with each winemaker curating the perfect wine to match. 

And the best bit? Our own Aidy Smith will be hosting! Joined by the Evening Standard Food & Drinks Editor, Joanna Taylor, there will be a charity raffle for PrideWide and the ADHD Foundation with plenty of exquisite wines from the wineries going to the lucky winners.

The fun continues between 3:30PM and 8PM with a walkabout tasting where attendees can get up close and personal with the wines of the day and the people behind them, all in the perfect setting of Renegade’s stunning set-up. The bar and kitchen remain open all evening with a seasonal menu curated to complement the wines… which will be important for lining those stomachs if you want to get a real taste of every winery.

It's a great event at the heart of London’s dynamic urban wine scene, while also raising some money for great causes – particularly during Pride Month. If you want to be part of this exciting occasion, we’ll leave the key details and ticket links below!

Date: Saturday 15th June 2024
Time: Winemakers Lunch: 13:00–15:00 / Walkabout Tasting: 15:30 - 20:00
Location: Renegade Urban Winery Garden, Unit 7, Lockwood Way, E17 5RB
Travel: Nearest Tube - Blackhorse Road, Victoria Line (10min walk to event)
Tickets: Winemakers Lunch (£60-£65), Walkabout Tasting (£15-£20)

42 of The Best Gin Distillery Tours in Britain & Ireland

Image credit: Ed Adams

If you're a gin lover, you will have noticed the rise of many new gin brands that have cropped up across the British Isles in recent years. With so many options available, the choices can be overwhelming. To make their brand stand out and share their story, many gin distilleries are now offering what we like to call "gin tourism".

Many distillers are finding innovative ways to attract new customers by opening their doors and offering tours of their distilleries and gin schools. By allowing the public to witness everything that goes into the finished product, these distillers can deepen their customers' relationship with their brand. This is particularly true for gin lovers, who are often curious and eager to learn more about the distillation process. A gin distillery tour or experience should be a feast for the senses, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.

In celebration of gin tourism, we’ve compiled a list of 42 of the best distillery tours and experiences in the British Isles. Whether you're looking for a lovely day out close to home or travelling in the UK or Ireland, adding a distillery tour to your itinerary is a must. Every visit is a unique experience that provides an opportunity to add a memorable sensory experience to your gin journey.

When it comes to locally made craft gin, the unique flavour profile is often influenced by the terroir of the region's botanicals. By enjoying a glass of holiday gin back at home, you can savour the memories of your trip (and as a bonus, it’s way less calories than other treats like sticks of rock, mint cake, clotted cream fudge, or shortbread!)

And remember, if you’re not going yourself, then most also offer a way to give a distillery tour or experience as a gift. Click the distillery names for more detailed information and links to their website as we go. Let’s explore…

London

(1) City of London Distillery, Home of Whitley Neill Gin

Whitley Neill Gins, most famous for their rainbow array of coloured bottles and popular flavoured sips was voted The UK's Most Loved Gin two years in a row 2021/2022. On this distillery tour you’ll discover the history of gin in London and learn about gin-making techniques. You can also distil your own personalised gin. Or simply visit the bar for an array of flavoured cocktails.

Tours:
Distillery Tour & Gin Tasting £25
Make Your Own Gin £125

Address: City of London Distillery, 22-24 Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8DT

2/ Beefeater Gin Distillery

Produced since the 1860s, Beefeater has become one of the world's best selling and most iconic gins. For the first time in 150 years, you can see how the world’s most awarded gin is made, take a stroll through the history of London Gin, smell and touch the botanicals that make Beefeater Gin unique and taste the finished product. The Beefeater Distillery features original Victorian pot stills and a botanical room where the fresh ingredients are stored.

Tour & Experience:
Distillery Tour £25
Exclusive VIP Experience £45

Address: 20 Montford Place, Kennington, London SE11 5DE

3/ Hayman’s of London

Repeatedly voted by Trip Advisor as London’s favourite gin distillery, visitors are Repeatedly voted by Trip Advisor as London’s favourite gin distillery, visitors are taken behind the scenes to look into how this award-winning gin has been distilled in the same way since 1863. Meet the team, see the stills, nose the botanicals and receive a tutored tasting of the gins.

Tour & Masterclass:
Distillery Tour £25
Cocktail Masterclass £35

Address: 8 Weir Road, Balham, London SW12 0GT

4/ Sipsmith Distillery, Chiswick

Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice of 2023. Learn how Sipsmith came to be, and how they led the charge that led to the modern gin boom that’s reverberated around the world since 2009. See their three copper ladies Prudence, Verity and Constance and learn how their award-winning gins are crafted.

Tour & Masterclass*:
Weeknight Distillery Tour and Tutored Tasting £25
Ultimate Gin Cocktail Masterclass £65
*both experiences include a gift bag to take home

Address: 83 Cranbrook Road, Chiswick, London W4 2LJ

5/ The Ginstitute Experience, Notting Hill

Similar to other distillery tours but a more in-depth 3 hour experience which will result in creating your own gin. Your Ginstructor will give you an in-depth journey through gin’s colourful and chequered past, then guide you through the blending process as you nose your way through a range of botanical distillates, choose your favourites to create your own bespoke blend of gin. It’s rated a 5* experience by Trip Advisor, which explains why you must have a pre-booked session to attend!

Experience:
3-hour award-winning gin tasting and blending experience. 
£120 per person

Address: 186 Portobello Road, London W11 1LA

South of England

6/ Greensand Ridge Distillery, Kent

Greensand Ridge is an award-winning, carbon neutral micro-distillery located in a beautifully converted Victorian coach house that’s part of a historic hunting estate, overlooking the fields and forest in the heart of Kent. The intimate gin experience includes a tour and cocktail before you distil your own full bottle of gin on an individual copper pot still. Take home your own handmade 700ml bottle of gin.

Experience:
2-3 hours £100 per person

Address: Dene Court, Shipbourne Road, Shipbourne TN11 9NS

7/ Gin Kitchen, Surrey

The Gin Kitchen is another award-winning artisan distillery at the heart of the Surrey hills. Luxury gins and signature spirits found in the world’s top luxury stores, five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice 2023. Gin Kitchen has outdoor seating, serves great cocktails, and offers live performances and a selection of gin experiences.

Tours/Experiences include:
Gin Tasting & Distillery Tour £35
Bottomless Brunch £55
Cocktail Masterclass £55

There's also a Gin Distilling Experience, Afternoon Tea and Meet The Maker.

Address: Punchbowl Lane, Dorking, Surrey RH5 4DX

8/ Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire

Laverstoke Mill is a state-of-the-art sustainable distillery which produces every drop of Bombay Sapphire gin. The Victorian and Georgian buildings set astride the crystal clear River Test and the two intertwining botanical glasshouses, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, grow specimens of the tropical and Mediterranean plant species used in the gin’s distillation process. 

Tours:
Choose from one of many tours and bespoke events priced from £20 to £175

Address: Laverstoke Mill, London Road, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7NR

9/ Brighton Gin, East Sussex

Brighton Gin is a handmade craft gin brand that started in 2012 at Kathy Caton MBE’s kitchen table and is now sold internationally and stocked in bars and restaurants across Europe, Asia and beyond. Learn all things Brighton Gin, meet the makers or become a master gin maker with a hands-on experience. Develop your own recipe from a range of botanicals, bottle and label your 50ml creation to take home and enjoy. 

Tour & Experience:
90min Distillery Tour and hands-on experience £35
Gin School £90

Address: 35a Vale Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN41 1GD

10/ Conker Spirit Distillery, Bournemouth Dorset

Established in 2014 as Dorset’s first copper pot gin distillery, Conker is located in the seaside town of Bournemouth. Their gin contains unique Dorset notes of samphire, elderberries and gorse flowers from across the Dorset coast and New Forest. Learn how the Conker team handcraft Dorset Gins and Conker Coffee Liqueurs or celebrate Friday evening cocktails in the Tap Room. 

Tours:
2 hour distillery tour on Fridays/Saturdays £25
Private group bookings also available

Address: Unit 2, 163 Stourvale Road, Southbourne, Dorset BH6 5HQ

11/ Plymouth Gin Distillery, Devon

One of the South-West’s best kept secrets, Plymouth Gin Distillery is set in an impressive, historic setting and is England’s oldest working gin distillery. Plymouth Gin has been made here according to the original recipe since 1793. Offers include a variety of tours, cocktail experiences, shop and Refectory Bar cocktail lounge.

Tours:
Classic Distillery Tour £15
Gin Conoisseur’s Tour with dedicated tasting £35
Master Distiller’s Tour £55
Smeaton’s Tower Experience £195
Plymouth Gin Staycation £850 for two people

Address: 60 Southside Street, Black Friars Distillery, Plymouth, Devon PL1 2LQ

12/ Tarquin’s Cornish Gin Distillery, Cornwall

Tarquin’s Gin was the first new gin to be crafted in the South-West of England in over 100 years when production began in 2012. They do things a little differently. Every bottle famously leaves the distillery hand-waxed and stamped with a puffin, giving it it’s own unique personality. Nestled on a windswept hilltop overlooking the wild Cornish coast, they offer an intimate behind-the-scenes tour and chance to get hands-on with their traditional small-batch spirits production.

Tours:
Distillery tours from £18
Also available: Gin Schools in Padstow & St Ives, Shops and Tasting Rooms

Address: Higher Trevibban Farm, St Ervan, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7SH

13/ The 6 O’Clock Gin Distillery, Avon

6 O’Clock Gin is a range of strikingly smooth artisan gins made on copper pot still Kathleen. Known for their stunning Bristol Blue glass bottles that pay tribute to the city’s rich heritage, the 6 O’Clock Gin Distillery is situated close to the English side of the Severn Bridge at Thornbury. 

Also available: 6 O’Clock Gin at The Glassboat, an iconic boat in the heart of the city of Bristol, bringing an exciting retail, waterfront gin bar and event space offering tastings, cocktail masterclasses, and gin blending sessions.

Tours:
Saturday Distillery Tour £25
Cocktail Masterclass £35

Addresses: 
Gin Distillery, Unit 6, Ashville Park, Short Way, Thornbury, Avon BS35 3UU
6 O’Clock Gin at the Glassboat, Welsh Back, Bristol, Avon BS1 4SB

14/ Piston Gin School, Cheltenham or Worcester

Inspired by precision engineering and a love of all things automotive, handcrafted Piston Gin has been awarded prestigious double-gold, gold, silver and bronze medals at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Their immersive gin schools are located across two sites. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire is HQ where the gin is distilled. Their second gin school is at the flagship store in Worcester. Offering experiences to indulge your senses, ignite creativity and deepen your understanding of craft spirit, they give you insight into the artisan distilling world.

Experience: 
Cocktail Master Gin School £115 per person or £150 for two sharing a still.
The price includes one bottle of your own hand-crafted gin.

Addresses: 

HQ, Unit 2, Bamfurlong Industrial Park, Staverton, Cheltenham GL51 6SX
Flagship, Danks 2, 62 Diglis Road, Worcester WR5 3BW

Wales

15/ Hensol Castle Distillery, Mid Glamorgan

Located in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan, you’ll find South Wales’ first full-scale gin distillery, visitor experience, gin school and bottling plant, all distilling nicely in the cellars of the beautiful 17th century Hensol Castle.

Tour & Experience:
Gin Distillery Tour and Tasting £25
Gin Making Experience £99 per person or 
£150 for two (sharing a still and one 70cl bottle of gin.)

Afternoon Teas are also available in the luxurious surroundings of the castle atrium.

Address: Hensol Castle Park Cellars, Hensol, Pontyclun CF72 8JX

16/ Penderyn Distillery, Llandudno

Brecon Gin is a small-batch, premium Welsh Gin brand that is multi-award winning. Penderyn has three distilleries. The original distillery (making predominantly whisky) is in Penderyn in the Brecon Beacons. Other sites are at Llandudno and Swansea Copperworks. Brecon Gin and Brecon Botanicals are newer products that have been added to their range of spirits in recent years.

Please note, tours are geared more toward whisky enthusiasts than gin but may still be of interest if you have drinkers with different tastes in your party.

Tours:

£13.50 online
£15 on the door
Discounts for groups of 10 or more, OAPs, students and children 14-17 years

Addresses: 

HQ: Penderyn Brecon Beacons Distillery, Pontpren Llwyd, Aberdare CF44 0SX
Lloyd Street, Llandudno, LL30 2YG
Hafod Copperworks, Swansea, SA1 2LQ

Midlands & North of England

17/ Sky Wave Distillery, Bicester Oxfordshire

Named The World's Best Contemporary Gin at the 2024 World Gin Awards and winner of the 2023 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award two years in a row. Learn about the fascinating beginnings of this independently owned artisan craft small-batch gin brand.  Tour the distillery and try the different gins and botanicals.

If you plan to enjoy plenty of drinks and prefer not to drive, consider an overnight stay with a difference in the Crew Rooms at this historic former WW2 RAF base.

Tour/Experience:
Distillery Experience and Gin Tasting £25

Address: The North Tanker Sheds, 105 Bicester Heritage, Buckingham Rd, Bicester OX27 8AL

18/ The Only Way Is Spirits, Essex/Hertfordshire

Although this distillery makes flavoured gin, vodka, rum and tequila liqueurs in a unique range of beautifully coloured bottles, when it comes to Gin School, The Only Way is Gin. 

Tour & Experience:

Distillery Tour and Tasting £20
3 hour Gin School Experience £95 or £125 for two sharing a still and one 70cl bottle

Address: Unit 8, Crumps Farm, West Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0LJ

19/ Adnams Distillery, Norfolk

Known for gin brands: Adnams Copper House, Smidgin, Fishers, Quince, Sloe,  and First Rate Triple Malt Gin, all are distilled with high levels of juniper and big and bold flavours. Various experiences are offered including a Distillery Tour and a ‘Make Your Own Gin’ experience. Several shops across East Anglia.

Tour, Taste and Make in Southwold, Norwich & Bury St Edmonds. 

Tour & Experiences:
Distillery Tour £25
Cocktail Discovery Masterclass £55
Make Your Own Gin £95

Address: Most Southwold Distillery Tours depart from The Swan Courtyard, Market Place, Southwold, IP18 6EG but check website for details.

20/ Shakespeare Distillery, Warwickshire

Shakespeare Distillery is an artisan gin producer that takes inspiration from the tudor garden. Tour the distillery and visit Gin School to distil your own gin on a mini copper still. 

Tours:
Distillery Tour and Taste £20
60 min Gin Cruise £30 per adult
Gin School £99 per person or £125 for two sharing a still.
Other tasting and cocktail experiences - see website.

Address: Unit A, Drayton Manor Drive, Drayton, Stratford-Upon-Avon CV37 9RQ

21/ Nelson’s Distillery, Staffordshire

Experience the finest in premium craft spirits. Experiencing the thrilling world of craft spirit production is officially the best thing to do in Staffordshire according to Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards 2024. Gin, Vodka and Rum School. 

Tour & Experiences:
Tour, Talk and Taste £25
Single Still £115 per person
Shared Gin & Vodka Making Experience £155

Address: Unit 5a, Grindley Business Village, Grindley, Uttoxeter ST18 0LR

22/ The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, Greater Manchester

Home of Manchester Gin, the signature product range inspired by the city where it all began. Dandelion and Burdock root is a nod to the Northern heritage that distinguishes these gins that are some of the most highly awarded in the world.

Voted Manchester’s #1 thing to do on TripAdvisor, your hosts guide you through spirit tasting, and teach you how to make your own gin.

Experiences:
Gin Tasting from £30
Gin Making experience from £95
Gin Making experience for two from £135

Address: 10-15 Watson Street, Manchester M3 4LP

23/ Hotham’s Gin School, East Riding of Yorkshire

Voted Yorkshire’s Number 1 Visitor Experience in 2020 and 2021. Multi award-winning Gin School Experience (also Rum School and Vodka School) in a purpose-built distilling room. Hear about the Hotham’s history, brand, try the gins and be guided on how to make your own using botanicals of your choice.

Experience:
Masterclass £125 per person or £150 for two

Address: 2nd floor, Hull Gin School and Distillery, 55 Whitefriargate, Hull HU1 2HU

24/ Whitby Gin Distillery, North Yorkshire

A family-run distillery on the rugged North Yorkshire coast, crafting award-winning coastal spirits using ocean-inspired botanicals from the coast and moorland close to Yorkshire. Make sure you try the Bramble & Bay, Wild Old Tom and Navy Strength Whitby Gins. The Original Edition is a true taste of the region distilled with locally foraged sugar kelp, heather and honey for a bold, balanced flavour.

Tour:
One hour distillery tour £25

Address: 8 Botany Way, Whitby YO22 4QX

25/ Shed One Distillery, Cumbria LA12 9AU 

Situated on the outskirts of the Lake District, Shed One was Cumbria Tourism’s Experience of the Year in 2022 and Visit England’s Experience of the Year Silver Winner in 2023. First to offer Make Your Own Gin experiences in Cumbria and the Lake District.

Tour & Experiences:
Distillery tour and tasting £22.50
Afternoon G&Tea £29
Make your Own Distilled Gin Experience on selected Sundays. Enquire online.

Address: The Old Calf Shed, North Lonsdale Road, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 9AU

26/ Durham Distillery, Durham

This distillery offers a real sense of place. Situated in the heart of a cathedral city close to the world-famous UNESCO world heritage site, visitors get to learn about craft spirits in this special place. Good honest spirits made with the finest locally sourced ingredients.

Experiences:
Distillery Experience £17.50
Cocktail Classes £35
Gin Making Class from £85

Address: Prince Bishops Place, 30-31 High Street, Durham DH1 3UL

Scotland 

27/ Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh

Sip your way through the award-winning Height of Arrows Gin range with this relaxed, interactive, conversational gin-tasting experience and sample behind-the-scenes future projects accompanied by a delicious gin chocolate truffle. 

Tours & Experiences:
Stills & Staves Highlights Tour £18
Self-Guided Tasting Flight £20 (choose between whisky and gin)
Whisky and Gin Distillery Tour £28
Gin Tasting Experience £28
EH Evenings (free to attend for anyone with an EH postcode) 

Address: 19 St Leonard’s Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9SH

28/ Lind and Lime Gin Distillery, Leith

Lind and Lime say this: “We’ve been to a lot of tours at a lot of distilleries. When it came to creating our own tour, we decided to put all of our favourite things into the single best experience that we could create.”

So they offer Tour, Tasting, Bottle Filling and Cocktail Making on their 75-minute tours on Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sundays.

Tour:
Gin Tour and Tasting £25

Address: 24 Coburg Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6HB

29/ Crossbill Distilling, Glasgow

If you want hands-on, in-depth gin experiences, Crossbill is the place to go. Start by learning about the history of gin making, then tasting, then distil your own in the distilling class. Free flowing gin and you get to take your own bottle home, what’s not to love?

Experiences:
Tasting Experience £15
Gin School Blending Experience £60
Gin School Distilling Class £110

Address: Unit 1, BAaD, 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow G40 2SB

30/ Stirling Distillery, Stirling

In the shadow of Stirling Castle, Stirling Distillery offer daily gin and whisky experiences. Voted the number one thing to do in Stirling on TripAdvisor.

Experiences:
Distillery Gin Experience £27.50 (Driver’s experience for those not drinking £12.50) 
The Old Smiddy Gin School £90 per person or 
The Old Smiddy Gin School £140 for two sharing a still

Address: 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling FK8 1EN

31/ North Uist Distillery

Bursting with island charm, this distillery is situated on a historic island steadings, right by the beach on North Uist where Bonnie Prince Charlie once sheltered.

This 1700s home has played a long and dynamic role in the island’s history. Some Downpour Gin will ultimately go down well too, amongst its many awards, it won Overall Spirit of the Year in the London Spirits Competition 2023.

Experience:
Downpour Gin Tasting £25

Address: Baile Nan Cailleach, Nunton Steadings Benbecula HS7 5LU

32/ City of Aberdeen Distillery

Hidden within a historic railway arch in the heart of the city you will find Aberdeen’s first distillery for over 75 years and its first ever gin school. All tours start with a double G&T, include tastings from the current range of demijohns and are led by the head distiller.

Tour & Experiences:
Discovery Tour from £27
The Flight of Fancy £30
Gin Tasting Masterclass from £54 
Gin School Experience from £120

Address: Arch 10, Palmerston Rd, Aberdeen AB11 5RE

33/ Kinrara Distillery, Aviemore

Award-winning distillery, tasting experience and shop located just outside of Aviemore in a beautiful remote setting in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park beside the beautiful River Spey. Fun and engaging hosted gin-tasting experience that goes beyond a standard gin tour. 

Experience:
Tasting Experience £15 

Address: Linwilg Farm Steading, Aviemore PH22 1PZ

34/ North Point Distillery, (home of Crosskirk Bay Gin), Thurso

Overlooking the picturesque Crosskirk Bay, North Point Distillery is the most northerly distillery on the British mainland on the site of the former U.S. Navy base in Forss. One of the most sustainable distilleries in Scotland and multi award-winner of the Gin Guide’s awards for sustainability in 2021, 2022 and 2023, North Point advocates responsible procurement, carbon-neutral production methods and fully recycled and recyclable packaging. 

Tour:
30 min Copper Distillery Tour £10
Weekend Cocktail Events 

Address: Forss Business & Energy Park, Thurso KW14 7UZ

You can find other Gin Distillery Experiences and Tours in Scotland here:

IRELAND AND THE Isle of Man

Getting there:

Cross to the Isle of Man from England by Manx Ferry from Heysham, Liverpool, and Birkenhead from 2hrs 20mins. 
The island is also accessible by air from many UK domestic airports.
From/to Ireland, ferries and flights operate from Belfast and Dublin. 

35/ Fynoderee Distillery

Home of the Spirits of Mann, enjoy a ‘fyn and tonic,’ learn about the beginnings of the distillery, fascinating Manx folklore, meet the stills and learn about the crafting process of Manx gins, vodka and rum. Substitute drink for drivers and 5cl ‘fyniature’ bottle to take home.

Tour:
Fri/Sat Distillery Tour and Tasting £21

Address: Parsonage Road, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 2EE

36/ Seven Kingdom Distillery

A small distillery specialising in ultra-smooth, delicately balanced spirits. 

Tour:
Gin tours and tastings in the distillery can be arranged by appointment.

Address: Banks Circus, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 4LN

For more inspiration about visiting the Isle of Man, click here:

37/ Copeland Distillery

Situated on the coast directly opposite the Copeland Islands, 20 miles outside Belfast, sample the gins, rum and whiskey this special place has to offer, walk around the historical distillery which was once a picture house dating back to 1915 and hear stories of smuggling and seized contraband in the local area.

Experience:
One Hour Distillery Experience £22.50

Address: Manor Street, Donaghadee BT21 0HF

38/ Echlinville Distillery

Experience excellence with a tour and tasting at Ireland’s first farm distillery, home of some of the country’s best known whiskeys, gins and poitin crafted in the heart of County Down. Gin distilled here includes Echlinville Single Estate Irish Pot Still Gin, Weavers Irish Gin, Jawbox and Feckin Irish Gin. 

Tour:
Tour and Tipple from £23 (includes two drinks)

Address: 62 Gransha Road, Kircubbin, Newtownards BT22 1AJ

39/ The Boatyard Distillery, Fermanagh

Located on the banks of Lough Erne, close to Tully Castle and next to the Marina, meet the team and stills and discover the secret behind the famous ‘Erainn’ copper still. Excellent tour in a beautiful setting.

Tour:
90 min tour, tasting and two cocktails £55 (price includes a bottle of gin)

Address: 346 Lough Shore Road, Drumcrow East, Enniskillen BT93 7DX

40/ Still Garden Distillery

Small but perfectly formed Garden Distillery. TripAdvisor Travellers Choice for 2023. Wide range of options include Gin School and Distilling Academy, Tastings, Cocktail Masterclasses and Tours

Tours & Experiences:
Distillery Tour from €15
Premium Distillery Tour from €20
Gin Tasting Masterclass from €30
Cocktail Masterclass from €35
Afternoon Tea and Gin Tasting from €55
Gin School from €95

Address: Goldenbridge Industrial Estate, Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 D08 EWK2

The Channel Islands

Getting there:

Flights operate to the Channel Islands archipelago in the English Channel off the French coast of Normandy. Main routes are to Jersey and Guernsey from Dublin, Belfast and many other UK airports including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, East Midlands, Bristol, London Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and Southampton.
Daily ferries also cross from Poole and Portsmouth to Jersey and Guernsey.
Once you’re in the Channel Islands, you can island hop using ferries.

For more information about this beautiful part of the British Isles visit here:

41/ Channel Islands Liquor Co, St Helier Jersey

Located in the Old Sail Loft at the historical French Harbour in St Helier, Channel Islands Liquor Co produces award-winning gins and rums that are exported all over the world. Private tastings usually happen in the evenings. The Old Sail Loft Distillery in Jersey hosts one hour ticketed tastings without having to book a private party. 

Tasting:
£40 for a 2-hour tasting 
Minimum numbers apply

Tour:
£30 per person, no minimum numbers.

Address: South Pier Harbour, S Pier, St Helier, JE2 3NB Jersey

42/ Wheadon’s Gin, Guernsey

Wheadon’s is a small batch distillery in the atmospheric cellar lounge of Guernsey’s Bella Luce, known as ‘The Gin Hotel’ - the perfect bolthole for a long stay or a few days away. A historic Norman manor house on Guernsey’s stunning south coast. The perfect destination for those travellers for whom experience is everything.  Book gin experiences in advance via the website.

Experiences:
The Gintroduction £25
Breaking Down The Botanicals £35 per person (min 4 people)
Design Your Own Distillation £50 per person (min 6 people)
Gin and Dine, includes gin-tasting and 3 course set menu dinner for £50 per person. Booking essential.

Address: La Fosse, St Martin’s, GY4 6EB Guernsey 

So there you have it, a lip-smacking taster of just some of the amazing gin schools, experiences, tours and more being offered by just 42 out of hundreds of gin distilleries up and down the UK and Ireland. You began in London, the Gin Capital of the World and ended up in The Gin Hotel in Guernsey. Having worked your way all around the British Isles, which take your fancy? Go and explore the United Gindom!

By Robbie Jerram

The UK’s Best Adults-Only Soft Play Centres

Most of us have memories of soft play centres from our childhood, whether it was a rainy weekend or a birthday party but save the young parents that might get involved themselves with their own kids, it’s a world we say goodbye to forever as adults. Or is it?

We all like passing the time in restaurants and pubs, but boozy soft play bars like these are bringing back the silliness to adult life. Not only are they nostalgic, with the retro games, ball pits, slides, nets and tunnels we remember, but you also get the grown-up bonus of drinks. Suddenly those climbing walls don’t look as straightforward!

Take a look below to find your nearest adults-only soft play centre – they each offer something different, but they all offer a turn back in time.

Howlers, Newcastle

Image credit: Howlers

Howler’s is Newcastle’s only ball pit bar, but as a £1m project, it’s much more than that. There’s also karaoke, stag and hen events, bottomless brunches, corporate events, and all kinds of parties. It promises the bizarre and bonkers, and whilst we would say it rolls back the years to your childhood, this will likely be very, very different.  And if you’re worried about sharing a ball pit with that many people (many of whom will be tipsy to say the least, let’s face it), then take comfort tin Howlers’ fancy cleaning machine that gobbles up 10,000 balls over the hour and spits them out clean. On top of that, the entire pit is emptied and cleaned ready for the weekend!

Location: 28-32 Collingwood St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE11JF
Entry Fee: The Howlers Bottomless Bonkers Ball (£12+) The ChachaBuchi Bottomless Brunch (£29.99+)
Website: https://howlersnewcastle.com/

Wonderland: Adult Soft Play, London

Image credit: Wonderland: Adult Soft Play

If you’ve seen any adult soft play centres online, it’s most likely to be this TikTok hit. Situated in Palmers Green and open most weekends, it’s a three-storey mystically themed retro style soft play centre with slides, ball pits, swings, tunnels, DJs, boozy slushies as well as a fully-fledged arcade and bar games area. ‘Never Grow Up’ is the motto and the aim of the game here!

Location: 220 Green Lanes, London N13 5UD
Entry Fee: £22
Website: https://www.kbo2.co.uk/adult-events/27

Big Fun, Hull

Image credit: Big Fun, Hull

By day, Big Fun is full of children playing, but on Friday Nights, it’s Adult Night! The Bar is open all evening serving legendary drinks like the Double Vodka Slush, including BOGOF Happy Hour 8pm-9pm. There’s even private rooms for £60 if you don’t fancy waiting for the slide. It’s not a small recreation of a play centre, because it literally is one, so you get the entire colourful labyrinth to crawl, slide and jump through – and all for under a tenner.

Location: 335 National Ave, Hull HU5 4JB
Entry Fee: £8.95
Website: https://www.big-fun-hull.co.uk/adult-nights/

Ocean Adventurers, Bristol

Image credit: Ocean Adventurers

South of Bristol and east of Weston-super-Mare lies Ocean Adventurers Soft Play. This is another genuine children’s soft play that hosts adult only nights called ‘Adventurers After Dark’. Three stories of laser tag, karaoke, interactive games, and full soft-play arena await. And if you’re wondering whether everything will be too small for you, think again, because they’ve installed a giant games area where everything is oversized. There is so much to do here for £10 if you’re fancying something different from a bar or nightclub.

Location: Ocean Adventurers, Unit 11, Cheddar Business Park, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3EB
Entry Fee: £9.95
Website: https://bookings.oceanadventurers.com/book/adventurers-after-dark---adult-only-nights/327

Pirates Play, Nottingham

Image credit: Pirates Play

This Nottingham play centre is a slightly different offering. You can pre-book a private adult party with them, where their party hosts lead your group through games across the three stories of soft play. Think tag rugby and shot relay which is perfect for any competitive groups out there. Alternatively, you can be left alone to do as you wish – it’s up to you. You’ll get to blast your own playlists through the speakers too! And get this, you can even bring your own booze, snacks, and nibbles – how good is that?

Location: 41 Rowley Dr, Nottingham NG5 1GD
Entry Fee: £295 for up to 25 people / £10pp thereafter (Laser Tag added for £35)
Website: https://bookings.oceanadventurers.com/book/adventurers-after-dark---adult-only-nights/327

Ballie Ballerson, Edinburgh, London, and Cardiff

Image credit: Ballie Ballerson

With bars in England, Scotland and Wales, you’re never too far away from a chaotic ball pit with Ballie Ballerson. Their giant glowing ball pits are famous with an insane number of balls. Whilst they don’t have the slides and tunnels too, they are very much proper bars in their own right. Cocktails are served by champion bartenders, bottomless brunches, hen dos, and all kinds of entertainment are a constant. If you’re after a classic chaotic bright ‘n’ busy bar experience with a touch of fun and games, this is for you.

Locations:
London - 97-113 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3BS
Edinburgh - 14 Forrest Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2QN
Cardiff - Unit 6-7 Brewery Quarter, Cardiff CF10 1FG
Entry Fee: £4.50-£12.50 depending on date and location (more for brunch, karaoke etc.)
Website: https://ballieballerson.com/

If you’re looking for more drinks related group events, then a distillery tour is always worth looking into. Here are a few to get you started!

What is Masturbitter?

No, that isn’t a typo or a new niche style of German beer, it’s a limited-edition craft beer with one aim in mind – to break down the taboos of male sex toys and sexual wellness.

Over recent decades, there has been an increase in women’s confidence and comfortability to discuss sexual pleasure in an open way, but for many men it remains a private no-go topic. Or rather, the topic itself is spoken about, but with a layer of humour or irony.

Luxury sexual wellness brand LELO has conducted research which shows almost 60% of men don’t feel comfortable talking to their friends about these topics, despite nearly half admitting to using them. But when discussing matters over a pint, men said they did feel more inclined to open up. This sparked a stigma-breaking idea.

Teaming up with the Great Beyond Brewing Company in Hoxton, London, LELO created this bold, new craft beer, and with the intriguing name, stand out sexual design and statistics on the can itself, there’s no escaping the topic when sharing these with your mates.

It might just be a beer, but by triggering conversations like these, forward steps are being taken towards a deeper, modern understanding of masculinity and more honest, open relationships between men. After all, the humble chat over a pint has been the precursor to so many intimate conversations between men, but there’s one kind of intimacy that’s been missing.

If you want to get yourself a Masturbitter (we never thought we’d been saying that), then they’re available directly from the brewery here for £4.29!

GŎNG: Western Europe’s Highest Hotel Bar

Nothing gets you in the mood for an incredible bar like grand surroundings, and that’s precisely what GŎNG, the sophisticated Asian-themed cocktail bar nestled on the 52nd floor of The Shard, offers. Looking out from one of the most iconic buildings in the world, the Shangri-La in The Shard is London's tallest hotel, and it houses GŎNG, Western Europe's highest hotel bar.

Designer André Fu drew inspiration from 'dougong,' an ancient Chinese architectural element featuring interlocking wooden brackets. This concept marries the historical and the modern, much like London itself, resulting in a stunning, oriental-inspired interior. Rich cinnabar red lacquer panels, bespoke mauve carpets, and antique bronze cabinets come together to create a unique, visually striking yet intimate atmosphere.

Competing with the easy-on-the-eye interior however is, of course, that perfect river-facing view. The setting is unrivalled for both sunset admirers and late-night revellers, whether at the champagne bar, the cocktail bar, or even the dramatic infinity skypool, mesmerizing views of the city below are everywhere.

But what's a remarkable setting without extraordinary concoctions? GŎNG Bar has recently introduced its "Hues of Culture" cocktail menu, a celebration of colour’s significance in history and culture. You can choose from ten carefully curated cocktails, each representing a unique artistic expression inspired by colour psychology and history, for example, Vermilion Sling capturing the red of the Forbidden City, or Silent Blues inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Hokusai’s Kanagawa Wave.

The cocktail menu is guaranteed to pique your curiosity, with various innovative and charming servings like miniature hot air balloons, vintage bottles, and even previously crushed Peruvian ants as garnish!

GŎNG provides an unforgettable and definitive luxury cocktail experience, bringing together stunning interior, glistening sky-high views, art, culture, gastronomy, and mixology to continuously impress and surprise.

Visit the website here
Level 52, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London