Recently, I interviewed Laura Gallagher of Arvon Ale House all about a new and exciting event happening in the town of Llandrindod Wells very soon.
llandrindodlife: What is the event?
Laura Gallagher: The event we have planned is the first ever Mid Wales Gin Festival!
Laura Gallagher: The event we have planned is the first ever Mid Wales Gin Festival!
When and where is the Mid Wales Gin Festival being held?
It is on Saturday 27th May 2017, at Pavilion Mid Wales in Llandrindod Wells.
Who can attend? Where can the tickets be purchased?
Anyone over 18 can attend. The tickets cost £8 and can be purchased from Arvon Ale House, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells or online from Eventbrite (online booking fee applies). If you want to be sure of your place at the event then buy in advance but this is a big venue so we hope that there will be some tickets available at the door. The ticket price also includes a complementary commemorative gin glass and a gin bottle.
What will be happening at the event?
Well firstly there's the gins. We have sourced all the gins available from across Wales and the bordering counties. So a selection of 38 gins from 19 producers. There will be producers there too, to answer any questions you might have about gin. And believe me they love talking about gin and how they make theirs.
Then there’s the party! We have made the theme Swing Time (1930’s, 1940’s). There will be a 6-piece swing band called Donnie Joe’s American SwingBand, playing at both sessions. MidWales Jive and Aber Swing are coming along and will be providing a free swing-dance workshop. So lots of music from the swing era and lots of dancing.
Snack plates will be available - all the things that people on Facebook told us went well with gin.
There will also be a full bar at the event serving hot drinks and a range of soft and alcoholic drinks.
What is the sell out feature of the event? Why will people want to attend?
Local and lovely gins! Swing music and dancing! Beautiful costumes! Beautiful venue!
What's so special about gin? Why a gin festival?
All of these gins are artisan products, made in small batches and are not readily available. Some of the gins have been specially made with the festival in mind. At our festival they will all be available under one roof. The producers use local botanicals picked from the surrounding area, even from their own farms and gardens! Each gin is made in a slightly different way and this results in them being different from each other. Each gin capturing the essence of where it is made and the passion of the people that make it. We thought that deserved a celebration.
Will there be a particular dress code for the festival?
There isn’t a dress code; people can wear what they feel comfortable in. However lots of people are dressing up to match the swing theme of the event. So 1930’s/1940’s/swing style and there are prizes for best dressed. So dress casual or smart, or dress like you’ve just walked out of a black and white movie! Or somewhere in between - add a hat or just wear a feather in your hair! It’s up to you.
How do you think the Mid Wales Gin Festival will benefit the community of Llandrindod Wells?
We want to make sure that Llandrindod Wells is recognised for all the wonderful things that happen here. We hope that bringing the gin revolution out of the cities and into our town will help with that. Also we want to see the beautiful Pavilion building in full swing!
Can you describe the event in three words?
Gin. Swing-time. Party.
This sounds like a tremendous new exciting event that the community of Llandrindod Wells should feel very lucky to have a chance to be a part of. So get yourself down to Pavilion Mid Wales on 27th May to see for yourself what the Mid Wales Gin Festival is all about; just another shining example of just one of the brilliant events happening here in #llandrindodlife!
With thanks to Laura Gallagher for her time and the pictures included in this blog post.
