Fancy trying parma violet gin? This Stowmarket pub plays host to range of wacky flavours, from Turkish delight to chocolate mint.
G&T fans unite – The Magpie Inn at Combs Ford will be transformed into a gin lover’s paradise next Bank Holiday weekend.
The pub’s second annual gin festival will take place from Saturday, May 26 until Monday, May 28, with a range of spirits, tonic, mixers and garnishes to try.
Since refurbishing its sports bar last year and introducing Stowmarket’s first ‘Gin Palace’, The Magpie Inn has increased its range of gins to over 230 different varieties from around the world.
The pub also stocks 50 different vodkas, 27 rums, and 17 single malt whiskies, together with over 20 draught pumps and six real ales.
Hot food will be available to purchase during normal kitchen hours, with the weekly ‘Surf and Turf’ night on Saturday and carvery on Sunday.
To top it off, the pub will host a karaoke night at its sports bar on the evening of Bank Holiday Sunday – complete with pool table, darts, jukebox and TV.
Publicans Malcolm and Jenny Cobb took over the freehold of The Magpie Inn in 2013, and have since invested a great deal of time and effort into making the pub a hub for the community.
Over the years they have hosted a number of themed nights, including Chinese New Year banquets, seafood nights, fancy dress parties, and regular live music events featuring local bands. This year’s gin festival is of special importance as it marks the Cobbs’ fifth anniversary as publicans.
Mr Cobb said: “This year we have nearly doubled the number of gins for people to come and sample and we have some of the best tonics, mixers and garnishes. We learnt recently that we probably have the largest range of gins in any pub in Norfolk and Suffolk, possibly East Anglia.
“Even if you have never had gin before I am sure you will be surprised at the different flavours available, from Turkish delight to chocolate mint. We even have an alcohol-free gin for non-drinkers, and a local gin from Bacton.”
Booklets produced with drinking notes and serving suggestions for each of the gins will also be available, and the pub will be running a ‘Gin Palace’ loyalty card sceme – with the opportunity to earn free gins.
Mr Cobb added: “We hope to see as many new faces as possible for the event and see the garden and patio filled with people discovering the huge range of gins available out there. Even if you thought you didn’t like gin, I am sure there will be something in the list to tempt you... Failing that we also have a menu of 50 flavoured vodkas.”
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