Tonic for gin fans as festival comes to town
A THREE-DAY gin festival is taking over Upper Campfield Market as part of this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival programme.
The grade II-listed Victorian market hall will be filled with dozens of gins to try, all under one magnificent glass and wrought iron roof, at the event, which takes place over MFDF’s opening weekend from September 28 to 30.
Visitors will be armed with a tasting glass to taste their way around some of the world’s best gins, and gin cocktails and mixology masterclasses will also be on offer.
There’ll also be the chance to learn more about the drink - from its botanical beginnings to the perfect mixers and garnishes - at workshops and meet the maker events hosted by master distillers Desmond Payne (Beefeater) and Charles Maxwell (Thames Distillery).
There will even be the opportunity to create your own, bespoke gin at special workshops, where visitors can choose the botanicals and flavourings to craft their perfect drink.
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.
All the gins at the bar will also be available to buy to take home from the festival shop.
The festival, held in partnership with The Gin Lounge, is split into four sessions across the three days: Friday September 28, 6-9pm; Saturday September 29, 12-4pm and 5-9pm; and Sunday September 30, 12-4pm.
Tickets include entry to your chosen session, a programme, a commemorative glass, gin sampling from dozens of distilleries, plus entry to gin masterclasses and workshops.
Early bird tickets are on sale now on a first come first served basis priced at £22.50 each or two for £40 for Friday’s three-hour session. Tickets to the fourhour sessions on Saturday and Sunday cost £25 each or two for £45.
Two-hour taster tickets are also available for the daytime sessions priced at £15. Visit manchesterfoodanddrinkfestival. nutickets.com/gin-lounge