STAINDROP’S Scarth Memorial Hall is to play host the first gin festival to be held in the village – possibly even Teesdale.
Planned for this summer, the day-long festival has been guaranteed to introduce people to gin varieties they have never encountered before.
A spurt in the popularity of the traditional alcoholic beverage in recent years led the hall’s new barman Les Blair and hall chairman Morris Race to put their heads together to host the event.
Mr Race said: “It has been on the back of our mind for years – now Les has got off his bottom and made it happen.”
The former police witness care officer took over the bar at the hall about four months ago, after years of caring for his father who lives with dementia.
The 67-year-old said: “Gin has become just the drink over the past few years and we thought it would be a good idea. Michelle Mclean, of the Ginstitute, and her helper will talk about the types of gin and what is best to go with them.”
The Ginstitute shop, in Durham, is renowned for its wide selection of gins and 20 of those will be on offer at the festival.
Mr Blair added: “We will have four pods around the hall, each with four gins.
“In the middle of the hall we will have all the mixes then people can have a bit of an experiment.”
Festival goers will be given a scorecard which they can use to make notes and afterwards they can place orders for their favourites.
Mr Race said the festival ambience would be enhanced with a live ukulele band and music shown on the cinema screen between performances.
Festival admission is expected to be £5, with each person being given a engraved Copa de Balon glass to commemorate the occasion. Gin cocktail menus will also be offered.
The festival is planned for June 23, from noon until 11.30pm. It is hoped it will become an annual event.
Mr Race said: “With it being our first year it has been trial and error, but Les has done a lot of research.”
