A Gin Palace Comes To Covent Garden

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 132 months ago
A Gin Palace Comes To Covent Garden


London's had a rum old time with gin over the centuries, from the moral panic of the 1700s (summed up in the well-known Hogarth print, seen right) to the gin palaces of the Regency era, following a period of relative decline, to its current position as the fashionable drink du jour (witness the popularity of Sipsmith and other new gins).

Celebrating the drink's storied heritage, from 27-28 March the Tanqueray Gin Palace will pop up on Floral Street, Covent Garden, in the old Aubin and Wills store.

The occasion is the birthday of Charles Tanqueray, founder of the eponymous tipple, and a bevy of mixologists will be on hand to knock together the drinks, but perhaps the most interesting part is that actor Idris Elba will (at least according to the Telegraph) be among those manning the bottles at the launch event. If you ever fancied Stringer Bell fixing you a Martini, now's your chance.

Last Updated 26 March 2013