Spooky Halloween Gin Tasting & Ghost Story Reading : York Distillery. Special Event

Special Halloween Event

Boo! Get into the Halloween spirit with this spooky gin tasting and ghost story reading event with York Gin & local ghost story writer Ben Sawyer.

(£35 per person) 

The setting is the the beautiful York Distillery, within the City Walls, with low lighting and spooky drinks.

Local author Ben Sawyer pairs his latest novel with York Gin.

Ben is launching ‘The Masque of the Mummers’, the third book in the ‘Holly Trinity and the Ghosts of York’ series just in time for Halloween, and will be reading selected excerpts paired with some of York Gin's award-winning range. 

Set in York, this urban fantasy series follow Holly Trinity, supernatural defender of our very own city, who fends off the forces of darkness with just an umbrella, an arsenal of seventeenth century swear words, a Kate Bush mix tape, and a little help from her best friend Mira.

The Holly Trinity stories feature a supernatural twist on many locations around York. This new adventure sees Holly and Mira faced with a cursed play, a phantom highwayman, a horde of theatrical spectres, and sinister forces unleashed on a historic festival.

Gin tasting to match

Meanwhile, the York Gin experts add to the spine-tingling atmosphere with a selection of our sensational gins - including the ghostly Grey Lady. Inspired by one of York’s most famous ghosts, who reputedly still haunts the dress circle of York Theatre Royal.

Here's what this special ghostly tasting includes:

- A full Halloween themed G&T on arrival

- Ghost story writer Ben Sawyer will read passages from his urban fantasy novel, ‘The Masque of the Mummers’ -  and each of our gins will be paired with a character from the novel.

- York Gin's experts will provide info on each of the three gins you try as you enjoy generous tasters

- Towards the end of the tasting, you’ll choose your favourite York Gin for another full G&T to round off the evening

- Signed copies of the book will be available to buy  and you can get 10% off any bottles or gift packs you buy after the event too

About the Author

Ben Sawyer has lived in and around York for over fifteen years. This ancient and unique city has grown very close to his heart so he decided to give it the hero it deserves.

Signed copies of the books will be available to buy.
Hosted at York Distillery, in the City of York, in the grounds of Middleton's Hotel.

Dates & Times

Thursday 30 October 2025 at 7pm

All prices are inclusive of VAT.

Information about bookings

Please note that cancellations are at our discretion.

Please contact us if you have any issues or are likely to be late, and we'll do our best to accommodate. You can email us on distillery@yorkgin.com or call us on 01904 463213

You have a couple of gins to enjoy during your tasting experience included in your package.
We have a bar available with different cocktails should you wish to buy any.
After the event, if there isn't another session planned, you may stay to use the bar.

Middleton's have a lovely restaurant and bar that we encourage guests to use. You can book with them here. Please mention you are booked into the York Distillery. You get 20% discount at the restaurant as thanks for being a guest at York Distillery.

Information about York Distillery

How to find us:
Go along Skeldergate - it's not the main entrance to Middleton's hotel
The entrance is through the small raised bed garden on Skeldergate, (shared with Emperor's Gym).
Go through the garden and turn immediately to your left.  We are just down the steps.

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Map

Parking: There is no parking at Middleton's Hotel (UNLESS you are a Middleton's Hotel guest). The nearest car parks 5 minutes away and are St George's Field (over the river) or Nunnery Lane. There is also an NCP car park on North Street.

Accessibility & toilets: The building has steps, with a railing. . The Distillery doesn't have its own toilet facilities. We share the facilities with Middleton's hotel. The toilets are just past reception (just up the steps from The Distillery). We have a hearing loop available.

Dogs / pets: Well behaved dogs are welcome at York Distillery. When booking we ask your thoughts on dogs in the room - please answer honestly and we'll try to accommodate.

Ts&Cs
Tastings start promptly. We can't re-start for late arrivals.
Cancellations at our discretion.

Events will run with a minimum of 4 tickets sold. We reserve the right to withdraw events and refund if minimum capacity not reached up to 6 hours before the start time.

Certain discounts and vouchers are not applicable on our special events