Calling all local lovers of Gin! Sussex Gin Fest is coming to Brighton this weekend, running all day on both Saturday 1st September and Sunday 2nd!
This ‘gintastic’ festival will be take place on Brighton promenade, on the brand new outdoor events terrace, which is directly next to the British Airways i360.
Supported by Brighton and Hove City Council, this exciting outdoor gin festival promises to be one of the hottest tickets in town this year! There will be a wide range of locally distilled Sussex Gins waiting for gin lovers to try, delicious hot and cold food from artesian food stalls, Laughton’s Bramble cocktail bar, a mixer stand, captivating gin and cocktail demonstrations, the famous Brighton Arches with the best boutique shops in the city, and a great live programme of entertainment all day!
With the sunshine and warm weather expected to return to the city this weekend, what could be better than a cold gin and tonic served with some local artisan food?
As Winston Churchill once said, “The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.”
Brighton really is the perfect location to celebrate all things gin, with there now being over 200 gin distilleries in Sussex alone. The county has become a hotbed for producing bespoke, small batch, and artisanal gins, and Sussex Gin Fest will be celebrating the rich gin culture that has erupted in Sussex since the ‘ginaissance’ began in 2014, which saw the launch of Brighton Gin in December of the same year.
To celebrate, Sussex Gin Fest will be showcasing all there is to know about gin, from production, to tasting methods, and cocktails. The festival will bring you the best gin that Sussex has to offer, and all of the gin partners will be operating a bar, which means you’ll be able to try all of these fabulous Sussex gins.
Below is a list and a brief description of the various Sussex gin brands the festival will be showcasing:
Brighton Gin – Small batch, super-premium, and distilled beside the seaside. Brighton Gin is made from 100% organic grain spirit, juniper, fresh orange and lime peel, and locally sourced coriander seeds and milk thistle.
Tomcat Gin – Tom Cat Gins are all made from a bespoke recipe, with Sussex mineral water added to the distillate. This creates a beautifully smooth and balanced gins, enhanced with locally grown coriander.
Slake Gin – Founded by a research chemist turned forager, Slake Gin is distilled at the crossroads of science & nature to best capture the seasons, Sussex & the South Downs. Distinctive spirits to sip, savour & share.
Harley House Gin – Harley House Gin is all about getting the balance of flavour right from the initial taste to the last. Your journey starts with one flavour, and travels through the botanicals to the last.
Generation Distillers – Bold juniper and fresh citrus complimented by zesty English coriander, upfront with warm spice from the cardamom and pepper. Subtle lavender brings elegance to Generation 11 Sussex Dry Gin – a modern classic.
Madame Jennifer – Madame Jennifer Distillery is a new urban small batch distillery in Poets Corner, Hove, created by biologist & a chemist. Botanical ingredients are distilled, macerated & vapour infused in different ways to carefully hand craft spirits
Chilgrove Spriits, – Chilgrove Gins are handcrafted using traditional methods and distilled with natural mineral water. Their gins marry the finest Sussex-grown botanicals together with a neutral spirit distilled from grapes. It is this unusual relationship which give Chilgrove Gins their sophisticated character & exquisite taste
Chichester Habour Gin – Founders Paul and Martin are passionate about Gin. They were inspired by the beautiful area of Chichester Harbour, where they both grew up, and have spent 2 years perfecting the recipe and incorporating locally sourced botanicals. They are now excited to announce that Chichester Harbour Gin is ready!
In the unlikely event that none of the above gins take your fancy, fear not! – There will be many many more gins!
Along with showcasing a variety of Sussex gins, Sussex Gin Fest will also be serving up the best hot and cold food that Sussex from local artisan food stalls.
To tempt you further, there will also be some great live entertainment on The McKenzie Main Stage. So while you sip those G and T’s on the West Beach Gin Terrace, you will be able to enjoy a range of musical styles which includes country, jazz, swing and the occasional ‘Diva’ moment too!
This festival really is the perfect cocktail for a great day! So what are you waiting for? Come on down, choose from a great selection of gins and let the fun beGIN!
Standard tickets cost £15 each and premium tickets, which will include a flight on the British Airways i360, cost £20 each. Once purchased, your ticket will grant you entry to one specific 3 hour session at a time of your choosing, on either Saturday 1st September or Sunday 2nd. On entry, each ticket holder will receive a Laugton’s Bramble – a spectacular gin-based summer cocktail!
Tickets can be booked online here. but hurry because there is a limited number of places per session and tickets are selling fast!
Featured Image via British Airways i360 Twitter account: @BA_i360
