Warm and lovely July is the season for British summer festivals.
And for us Sipsmiths, that means gin festivals. Ranging from Leeds
and Liverpool to London and Cornwall, we'll be anticipating fine
weather, a celebratory atmosphere, music, and, of course, a good
deal of gin sipping. From Port Eliot to Christie's Lates to a
number of other ginful events, there's no better excuse to get out
and about in the open air.
To begin the month's gin events, it's that most timeless of
British traditions: the Henley Royal Regatta. Held this year from 1st - 5th
July, the summertime staple is especially splendid when paired with
gin. Luckily, we'll be returning once again with our
gin bar in tow.
Back in London, there are a number of dates to add to your July
gin diary. On the 7th, we'll make an appearance at Christie's Lates - guests can explore an
exhibition themed around 'The Great British Summer' with a drink in
hand. Next, 11th July brings the Barnes Fair, which
will be celebrating the Magna Carta's 800th anniversary with a
medieval theme this year (we don't believe they drank gin back
then, but luckily the hosts will allow for the anachronism in the
form of a lovely sipping garden). Then, on 12th July, we'll be
heading to the Battersea Reach Summer Fair - do join us for
lawn croquet, cocktails, and other garden games.
Once mid-July comes around, we'll be packing our gin with us and
heading up north. On 18th July we'll be found at the Leeds Gin Festival, held in the city's Town
Hall, before popping over to Liverpool for the Gin Festival at Metropolitan Cathedral on the
25th (there will be over 100 gins in attendance - plan your
sampling accordingly).
Then, finishing up the month, we're thrilled to be attending two
of our favourite British summer festivals: Port Eliot
in Cornwall and the CLA Game Fair in Yorkshire.
The former, a 'creative festival' comprising musical
performances, art events, gourmet dining and more will invite us to
join in the fun from 30th July - 2nd August. We'll have three
splendid bars on site: one in the walled garden offering games and
ice cream mocktails for younger attendees; one next to the estuary
and pouring summer cocktails; and one that will be totally
mobile: Mary's Bloody Ambulance, which will rove around the
festival grounds and 'rescue' those who may have overindulged the
night before.
For another celebration of the British countryside, the CLA Game
Fair, held on the grounds of Harewood House from 31st July - 2nd
August, will offer falconry demonstrations, fishing, camping, and
stalls from British food and drink producers; we'll be selling
bottles and hosting a bar with ginny tipples.
But that's not where our July events end. Do come visit us at
our newly debuted Sipsmith Sipping Garden at Le Méridien
Piccadilly, which will be serving up summer cocktails with gourmet
food pairings until September. And for the culture vultures, we'll
also be found at the Royal Academy on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
throughout the summer - come to sample our Courtyard Collins,
Summer Sling, and Piccadilly Punch!
Feature images © A_N/iStock/Thinkstock; Michael Bowles/Port
Eliot