Manchester’s gin lovers have the opportunity to indulge themselves this weekend as the UK Gin Festival returns to the city for the second year running.
The event will take place at the Grade II listed Victoria Baths, commencing on Friday at midday with sessions running up until 11pm on Sunday.
Originally only four sessions long, tickets for both Saturday sessions ran dry in November so organisers were forced to add Friday afternoon and Sunday evening slots to satisfy Manchester’s Gin-craze.
Naomi Good, the festival’s event manager, explained that the high demand for tickets was unexpected and recommended some unique tastes on offer.
“We were surprised by the high demand, but everyone loves a gin,” she said.
“We have some really unusual gins on offer.
“Don’t forget to try our Gin-Fused Strawberry and Mint gin which are exclusive to the festival.”
Over 100 varieties of ‘Mother’s Ruin’ will be on offer and all drinks will be served in large Spanish-style coppa glasses, which the guests can keep after the festival to make homemade G&Ts.
To help make the ‘Needle and Pin’ a little easier to swallow, the festival will be hosting a range of live entertainment, including classical guitarist The Classical Den and the electric swing four-piece Night and Day.
Naomi added that a number of gin experts will be on hand to provide useful information to attending punters.
“This weekend we have some industry experts offering free master classes to our festival attendees,” she said.
“These include [experts from] Fever Tree, Brockmans, Sipsmiths, Sir Robin of Locksley, Marblehead, and Batch Premium.
“They will be giving information on the history of the gin and tonic, the distilling process and the perfect [way to] serve.”
There will also be talks from gin industry experts, live entertainment and food to soak it all up with.
The Gin Festival is organised by husband and wife Jym and Marie Harris, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, who have been putting on events all over the country since spotting a gap in the market in 2012.
Naomi revealed their passion for the spirit and why they decided to set up the event.
“[They] wanted to experience a festival dedicated to their much loved tipple,” she said.
“They discovered no-one else was doing it so they embarked on their Gin Festival journey, which has led them to today having a full calendar of events spread across the UK.”
Tickets for the Friday and Sunday sessions can still be bought online at just £7 each by clicking here and guests will be given a free brochure and glass on entry.
Image courtesy of the Gin Festival via YouTube, with thanks.
