Leeds gin lovers rejoice as new festival for the city is announced

Leeds Gin Fair is coming to the Corn Exchange.

A new festival of all things gin is taking place in Leeds for one night only.

Leeds Gin Fair is being created by two of the city’s most well known independent bar experts Samantha Fish and Bruce Lerman who, for the last few years, have been behind Leeds Rum Fest.

Fish said: “Gin is incredibly fashionable right now, but it is so much more than a fashion. We want to take gin-lovers – and even gin-haters – back to its roots, take a look at its history, and share our knowledge of the spirit.”

Making it different to other spirit fairs, they will be drafting in some of the city’s best bar tenders and teaming them up with a gin brand to create a bespoke cocktail.

There will be around 100 free samples of gin and gin cocktails, but this event is not just about quaffing booze, as Lerman and Fish will be teaching consumers about what they’re drinking and even how to drink it as well as allowing people to try something new without spending too much.

Leeds Rum Festival garnered love on social media for its hashtag ‘#notgin’ – so why gin?

Fish explains: “That hashtag was never about being anti-gin, It was about bringing something new to the table and encouraging people to try the most diverse spirit in the world – rum. The Rum Festival isn’t going away, and neither is the hashtag. We still love our original festival, but we also love gin.”

Alongside the samples, speakers and masterclasses there will be a DJ, a bar with more than gin, and food that will complement the spirit.

It is at the Corn Exchange on Saturday April 13.

How to get tickets:

Tickets are on sale now priced at £15Book online at https://leedsginfair.eventgenius.co.uk/

Gin facts:

In the 1700s, the gin craze in London got so wild that in an effort to encourage Londoners to drink beer, William Hogarth created "Gin Lane" and "Beer Street". "Beer Street" depicted scenes of affluence and wealth whereas "Gin Lane" showed images of babies being uncared for, dead bodies and drinkers pawning their possessions.

London Dry Gin does not have to be made in London - instead it relates to the flavour and style in which the Gin has been made.

By law the dominant flavour in Gin must be Juniper but there can be any other number of botanicals in there.Spain is the largest consumer of Gin drinking more per person than anywhere else in the world