WHAT a festival tonic! A three-day Gin Festival is coming to the city, courtesy of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival and the Gin Lounge.
The Upper Campfield Market, a Grade II listed, former Victorian market hall is a Mancunian icon with its magnificent glass and wrought iron roof. From Friday, September 28 to Sunday, September 30 it will be opened especially for MFDF and completely filled with gin brands.
Attendees can sip their way around the festival, trying spectacular gins, enjoying gin cocktails and learning about the botanical spirit at this brand-new festival dedicated to the nation’s favourite tipple.
There are four sessions across the three days. Tickets to these sessions include entry to the festival, a programme, a commemorative glass, gin sampling from dozens of distilleries, plus entry to gin masterclasses and workshops.
Visitors will be armed with a tasting glass to taste their way around the event, talk to exhibitors and explore the different gin styles, flavours and production methods face to face with producers. All the gins sampled will be available to buy from the festival shop.
Exhibitors at the MFDF Gin Fest include Bathtub Gin, Lakes Gin, Unicorn Tears Gin Liqueur and Whittaker’s London Dry Gin – with many more to be announced over the coming weeks.
Festival-goers can learn from the experts at ‘Meet the Maker’ events for example, hosted by master distillers Desmond Payne MBE (Beefeater) and Charles Maxwell (Thames Distillery).
Early bird tickets are first come first served and cost £22.50 or 2 for £40 for the 3-hour session on Friday and for the 4-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday cost £25, or 2 for £45. Taster Tickets cost £15 and allow access to the festival for two hours (available for daytime sessions only). Tickets are on sale now here. All ticket prices are exclusive of booking fee. Sessions: Fri Sep 28, 6pm-9pm; Sat Sep 29, 12pm-4pm and 5pm-9pm; Sun Sep 30, 12pm-4pm.