Gin is huge, a multi-million pound industry, there’s distilleries popping up all over the place so when I was invited to the Gin Festival which was held at Castlegate, Newcastle I was eager to see what it was all about.
A little unsure of the venue I trusted Google Maps which took us down Pilgrim street across the 55 degrees roundabout (who knew there was an underground there?!) and across down towards the Quayside past some gorgeous architecture, arriving at Castlegate we entered the doors we were greeted by a large Gin glass each with the festival branding and event partner Fever Tree.
The glass was full of information about the hundreds of different gins on offer with a synopsis and a tasting card on each. Armed with the necessities we headed into the large hall where fairy lights twinkled overhead.
A massive crowd had assembled as people mingled and sipped on their gin and tonics we stopped for a minute to take in the atmosphere. Despite hundreds of avid gin fans, the crowd weren’t booming it was relaxing and the atmosphere added to the charm of the event.
Why you Need to Buy Tickets to the Best Gin Festival in the UK
Gin Festival for Gin Fans
If I’m honest, I’m not a massive Gin fan. I’ve had a few amazing gin cocktails and I’m partial to a Gin Fizz, but I wouldn’t run to the bar and Gin be my first choice. You know what they say though, when in Rome…having opened my mind up to the Gin phenomenon that is sweeping the nation we headed to the left-hand side of the room to view the four bars that had been set up specifically for the event.
The first bar, named A was host to dry gins, Bar B was full of British gins, Bar C included a delightful selection of international Gins and finally Bar D was the home of fruit gins like your Sloe Gins.
Heading to Bar A we asked what was good and sweet and the lady behind the bar recommended the Pinkster. This deliciously dry botanical blend was teamed with tonic water and garnished with mint and raspberry. The gluten-free juniper fusion was sweet yet strong and perfect for introducing us into the festival as novices. It was delicious and a perfect start to the afternoon.
Gin Cocktails
Having stood and enjoyed our first drink we moved on to Bar B, where a Sir Robin of Locksley was paired with an Elderflower Tonic and Grapefruit garnish.
As we decided to take a walk around the room to see what the festival had to offer we headed past the stage where the band were warming up for beginning their set at 3pm. The room was absolutely jam packed and I likened it to The Boiler Shop steamer which used to be a favourite of mine.
Heading passed the food stall cooking potatoes braves and other delicacies on offer it was a nice touch and a change from the average sandwiches and crisps on offer. We moved on and passed the Pinkster stand, who were extremely vibrant, knowledgeable and enjoying themselves suitably.
Big Gin
We then chatted with the lovely Poetic License team where we tasted their Fireside Gin, which was just what the Gin Doctor ordered after our day out in the cold bidding farewell to the Snowdogs before they headed off to their new homes.
The eye catching Brockton’s stand was next and the bartender was absolutely faultless, chatting away he took my glass of my, emptied and cleaned it and then proceeded to tell me he was going to make me the best Gin & Tonic I’ve ever had in my life as he prepared my glass, the ice and but so much attention into creating something, which I have to admit was indeed true to his word.
I had attended the event with my Mum after my Grandma and Granda, both avid Gin fans had failed to agree who was allowed to come with me (they come as a pair) so whilst we were talking to Mike, he also removed my Mum’s glass to create her a Brockton’s Blackberry Bramble based on what she liked in a drink.
This was without a doubt the standout Gin of the entire festival and rightly so, Brockton’s were set apart by their attention to detail and their ability to understand the differences between their customer’s tastes, their stand was eye-catching and of course, Mike just added to the experience taking the time to listen to the tastes of those chatting to them and recommending something that would suit the visitors based on what they told him. It really added to the whole Gin Festival experience
The Gin Festival
The band began playing, beginning with a jazz rendition of one of my all time favourite songs, Dolly Parton’s classic, 9-5, a smile beamed upon my face, we strolled past the ‘off license’ selling all of the festival’s favourite Gins and some quirky memorabilia including slogan tees that made us laugh and Gin and Tonic ‘flavoured’ candles in the bottom of Gin bottles.
Finishing up our fantastic Brockton’s we headed to Bar C where a Pink Pepper with Tonic and Grapefruit garnish was served. Enjoying classic tunes with a jazz twist we sipped on our gin and tonics as my Mum and I tapped our feet in time to the beat.
Taking in the atmosphere, the mix of crowd and the fine Gins on offer we headed finally to Bar D where we were greeted by a JJ Whitley Elderflower gin and tonic with lemon garnish. The favourite of the day (after the Brockton’s of course) we finished our drinks, a little light headed we headed home.
I couldn’t recommend the The Gin Festival enough, even as a non-Gin fan. The event had been organised perfect, and was suited to for all tastes and the eclectic mix of people who were in attendance.
After 5 strong drinks on a Saturday afternoon and endless tasters of other gins we were truly struggling and our photographs began to become even more angled than usual! I’m not sure how on earth you could sample them all, unless you spread yourself across the four days!
The festival is hosting events all over the country if you’ve missed out you might get to catch it as it heads to different cities up and down the country into next year
Gin Festival Dates are as follows:
London – 17th-19th February
York – 24th-25th February
Glasgow – 3rd-5th March
Blackpool – 10th-11th March
Manchester – 24th-2nd April
Torquay – 14th-15th April
Nottingham – 22nd-23rd April
Swansea – 28th-30th April
Bournemouth – 5th-6th May
Bristol – 11th-13th May
Ipswich – 2nd-4th June
Newcastle – 9th-10th June
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