A historic West Midlands venue which has hosted parties dating back to the 14th century has partnered with an acclaimed Warwickshire distillery for a special one-off gin tasting evening.

St Mary’s Guildhall in the heart of Coventry’s cathedral quarter has joined forces with The Warwickshire Gin Company to host The Tales of Tea Gin Tasting Experience on Friday, June 21 – with expertly made drinks using locally-made spirits set to be served up in one of the oldest, most atmospheric parts of the Grade I-listed building. 

The experience, which will take place under the historic vaulted ceilings of the Tales of Tea restaurant in the guildhall’s undercroft, will even feature live vintage, swing and jazz music from Jess Hudson, who has performed on the One Show and Britain’s Got Talent.

Guests will be treated to a welcome drink as part of their visit, with Dave Blick, founder of the Warwickshire Gin Company, talking through the gin making process.

They will then sample seven small batch products from the Leamington-based distillery, and learn about the inspiration behind them, before trying three handcrafted drinks to suit their taste along with a selection of nibbles and a Q&A.

Dave, who founded the company in 2018, uses a traditional copper pot still to craft each spirit, with each one taking its cue from local history – including the Peeping Tom Gin, named after the Coventry tailor who caught a glimpse of Lady Godiva as she rode through the streets and was later struck blind.

Dave said: “Our business is inspired by Warwickshire’s deep and fascinating tales of our rich history. To be able to host an event in this stunning building is a perfect match, and one we are very much looking forward to.”

The Tales of Tea bar will also be open to keep the party going after the tasting.

Abi Moore, heritage and venue manager at St Mary’s Guildhall said: “There is so much history to explore throughout Coventry and Warwickshire so joining forces with The Warwickshire Gin Company was a natural fit for us. 

“Our Tales of Tea restaurant lends itself perfectly to this kind of occasion, with the unique surroundings helping to make all kinds of experiences extra special, and that will be no different with our gin tasting evening – we can’t wait!"