A World of Gin
7th June 2023
7th June 2023
This week we’ve been celebrating a world of gin at The Pantiles. Thousands of people from Tunbridge Wells and beyond were treated to a fizz-filled weekend of sunshine, tasty tipples and top tunes at The Pantiles Gin & Jazz Festival on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th May.
With over 150 gins from local and national producers, glasses of bubbles were clinking all weekend! The free-to-attend event saw thousands of visitors enjoying over 30 local and national producers offering up samples, sparkling wine, Champagnes and street food. Plus, live jazz music and DJs performed on the iconic bandstand at regular intervals over the two days.
Attendees to the event included Mermaid, Mayfield, The Rum Company, Birch Gin, Cantium Gin, Fever Tree and Charringtons.
Jason Vickers, Head of Marketing & Events at Cordis – organisers of the Gin & Jazz Festival – said: “The weekend at The Pantiles was incredible and we were delighted with the turnout! The weather was on our side once more and the historic streets were a hive of activity. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to such a great weekend, especially our sponsors EnergyPal, Enotria & Coe and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together. We’re now looking forward to the Antiques and Vintage Fair on 10th and 11 June, and the Harvest Food Festival in September.”
Along with our popular Gin & Jazz Festival, Saturday 10th June 2023 marks World Gin Day, a global celebration of all things gin! The idea of the awareness day is simple – celebrate and enjoy the popular juniper spirit.
Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its flavour from juniper berries. The spirit originated as a medicinal liquid made by monks in Europe, especially in Italy and the Netherlands. Gin became widespread after 1688 and the Glorious Revolution led by William of Orange and the restrictions that followed on French brandy. Gin then emerged as the national alcoholic drink of England.
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is toasting World Gin Day this Saturday by revealing that Brits continue to explore the world of gin, with sales in shops at a record high.
The UK’s spirit sector is made up of many SME businesses and supports around 230,000 jobs across the supply chain. The WSTA is confident that, owing to the continued popularity of gin, the spirit proves just the tonic to aid our resilient hospitality’s recovery since covid, and is encouraging drinkers to head out and raise a glass this World Gin Day.
Miles Beale, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said: “Hospitality’s closure during the covid pandemic didn’t dampened enthusiasm to enjoy the vast array of gins now on the market. Sales of gin have never been this high in our shops and supermarkets before – but this is encouraging news for our hospitality industry too – some of these sales have shifted over to pubs, bars and restaurants.”
The interest in British gin, which has been dubbed the ‘ginaissance’, has helped to fund new forays into spirit-making, with high-quality English and Welsh whisky and rums coming onto the market in recent years.
Whether you’ll be at The Pantiles raising a glass to World Gin Day or indulging at home, always drink responsibly.