Londoners have always celebrated, commiserated, meditated or self-medicated over an alcoholic drink or three. At this special event with Conway Hall, we drink in London's rich and boozy culture (responsibly, of course), looking at the history of London’s beer and gin life; and touching on pubs past, present and future.
Not only will you be able to fill your ears with tasty titbits and trends, there'll be a bar of London-based brewers and distillers serving up top brews from 6.30pm. Sample the wares of Five Points, Brew By Numbers, Wild Card, Hop Stuff and more.
Joining us is Pete Brown — a Stoke Newington-based writer who specialises in making people thirsty. He is the author of five-and-a-half books, mostly about beer, as well as the annual Cask Report, and numerous articles in the drinks trade press and consumer press. He appears regularly on TV and radio, and is a judge on the BBC Food and Farming Awards and the Great Taste Awards.
We'll also hear from author, journalist, broadcaster and sommelier Melissa Cole. Her début book Let Me Tell You About Beer has been hailed as the perfect beginner’s guide to beer, and has now been launched not only in the UK, but France, Brazil, USA and Canada.
Finally, there's Richard Barnett — a writer, teacher and broadcaster, mostly on the cultural history of science and medicine. His books include The Dedalus Book of Gin and Medical London: City of Diseases, City of Cures.
Learn and be entertained — with a glass in hand, of course.
London Is Drinking, 30 November, 7.30pm-9pm (the bar is open from 6.30pm, and then after the event until about 10pm), Conway Hall. Tickets £8, £5 concessions available here.
