George Street’s annual Gin & Jazz festival returns for an evening of shopping, music and drinks on Friday 4^th October.

From 6pm to 11pm, resident businesses will open their doors for late-night shopping and line the picturesque street with pop-up drinks stalls. Throughout the evening an assortment of gin blends and flavours alongside other tipples and non-alcoholic drinks will be on offer to enjoy to the sound of live Jazz music provided by Take 3 Jazz and New River Dixie.

Supporting local distilleries, Galio Jewellers will be hosting Black Bridge Gin and Christopher Wharton Goldsmith have partnered with Spirit of Hertfordshire Gin who produce gins inspired by the county including the Alban Gin range.

Made with honey from their on-site beehives, George Street Cafe will be offering an opportunity to try out their honey gin which is produced with Hertfordshire based Puddingstone Distillery. They’ll also be hosting a DJ in their courtyard. Next door, Earley’s will have a bar and entertainment in their fashion boutique.

For this year’s event, Flower Box are bringing back their popular flavoured Polish Vodka shots and Atelier Ferrari + Monti will once again host Mally’s Gin Bar, whilst neighbours Dylans at The Kings Arms are serving sustainable spirit brand 58 and Co, Hepple Gin and Victoria Málaga beer. Italian restaurant Locanda Bagutta are also offering beer on the night as well as freshly made pizzas and cocktails.

New businesses on the street will also be celebrating their first Gin & Jazz night. Mambo Tattoo Studio will have a Mambo Brambo cocktail and providing customers with temporary tattoos. Whilst across the street, new cocktail bar No Nuisance will have a selection of cocktail filled mugs.

The popular event is organised by St Albans City Centre BID and George Street Retail Association.

Vivien Cannon, Manager at St Albans BID, says: “Come along and enjoy a unique evening in the heart of St Albans’ historic George Street.  Independent businesses showcase their wears  and services whilst playing host to an evening of gin tasting and live jazz music.”

Sponsors this year include Sofas & Stuff, KP Waste and Wagada Digital. Claire Booker of  Sofas & Stuff St Albans Showroom, says: “We’re delighted to be supporting Gin & Jazz again and are really looking forward to this year’s event. We’ve partnered up with South Saxon Spirits Gin who will be offering a range of their gins as well as Molasses Vodka and a Spiced Rum. We’ll also be hosting a unique photo opportunity in our store, so pop in and capture a fun photo of your night out with us.”

The British furniture brand will also be offering one lucky visitor to their store that evening the chance to win a Sofas & Stuff chair and a £100 St Albans Gift Card. Simply head in-store on the night and complete an entry form.

Also joining the festivities on George Street, St Albans based marketing agency Wagada Digital will be selling Wagada Towers Gin made using foraged botanicals from the banks of the River Ver. Proceeds will be donated to local mental health charity Youth Talk.

At the end of the day the street will return to its usual self-courtesy of KP Waste who remain St Albans City Centre BID’s preferred commercial waste service.

To find out more about Gin & Jazz and see a complete list which businesses are participating visit: www.enjoystalbans.com/event/ginandjazz2024 @EnjoyStAlbans and @ShopStAlbans