The countdown is on for the hugely popular Gin & Jazz festival which will be held on Friday 6th October 6pm-11pm. Locals and visitors are invited to enjoy this free street festival which guarantees joy on historic George Street in the centre of St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Retailers and hospitality venues will once again open their doors for late night shopping and line the street with fabulous gin bars. With live Jazz music and great food, this fantastic street event is a brilliant buzz for all. St Albans BID and George Street Retail Association organise this popular festival which is now in its 5 th year.

Vivien Cannon, Manager at St Albans BID, says: “Live jazz music, late night shopping, and specialist gins… we’ve got it all! Join us for a unique evening in historic George Street, located in the Cathedral quarter of the city. This collaboration between George Street businesses and the BID delivers a popular annual social event for St Albans locals and visitors alike which showcases our vibrant independent businesses.”

Shop, sip & enjoy! Businesses will be setting up exclusive outside bars providing a variety of delicious gin blends and flavours alongside other popular tipples and non-alcoholic drinks- and will extend their special drinks and offerings inside for customers to enjoy whilst they shop.

George Street Canteen will be serving their own George Street Canteen Honey Gin in collaboration with Pudding Stone Distillery, Galio Jewellers is partnering with Blackbridge Distillery to create Galio Gin, Trinder Hair Studios is teaming up with Green Genie Spirits, and sponsors WAGADA Digital will be giving visitors a taste of Wagada Towers Gin created using the unique botanicals that surround their St Albans Office…plus much more!

Tony from Earley’s fashion boutique on George Street, says: “We are really looking forward Gin & Jazz, it’s a big one – our 5th year! We’ll have live Jazz in the shop with drinks for our lovely customers as well as a bar outside. So please come down and enjoy yourselves and have a great night.”

Feel good music! Expect fabulous solos and stunning duets from a wonderful collection of performers this year. Artists include the incredible ‘Enigma Duo’ with Pippa D. Collins and Matt Pallant, the fabulous singer, songwriter and jazz guitarist Chris Flegg and the Fitzrovia Jazz Trio with an exciting mix of jazz on guitar, trumpet and double bass.

Sponsors this year include Sofas & Stuff, KP Waste and Wagada Digital. Laura Deller, Sofas & Stuff St Albans Showroom Manager, says: “Sofas & Stuff is delighted to be sponsoring the George Street Gin & Jazz festival for the first time – we look forward to hosting jazz guitarist, Chris Flegg, at 7pm in our showroom and South Saxon Spirits. We will also be running a prize-winning competition too. It’s a fantastic community event to be involved in and brings thousands of people into St Albans.”

Find out more about this year’s event at www.enjoystalbans.com/event/ginandjazz/ @EnjoyStAlbans and @ShopStAlbans