A Gin Lover’s Guide to Newcastle: Where to Sip & Shop

Colonel Porter's, Dean Street

Soak up the cosy and quirky vibes at Dean Street favourite Colonel Porter's whose lengthy list of gin includes all the usual suspects - Beefeater to Bombay Sapphire, Gordons to Hendricks - alongside bottles from around the world and gins made nearby in Durham and Northumberland. Gin is well represented on Colonel Porter's cocktail menu too, with classics Gin Fizz and Negroni and signature concoctions like the Easy Peasy and the Botanical Garden that are sure delight.

City Tavern, Northumberland Road

Award-winning pub City Tavern boasts a fantastic selection of over 80 botanicals including locally-distilled libations from the likes of Poetic License and Steampunk Spirits and a welcoming bar perfect for relaxing with a tipple or two. They even have their very own gins - an Old Tom and a Clemtentine & Bay option - which are available to purchase via the City Tavern website.

The Gin Bar, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Forth Street

A bit of a hidden treasure, the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s intimate gin bar specialises in locally-sourced premium spirits and shaking up delicious gin-based cocktails. There's tempting selection of tapas plates to enjoy and piano music from 5pm to 7pm on Mondays - so why not make a night of it with a tipple or two?

Bealim House, Gallowgate

Nestled away behind St. James' Park in a former printworks, Bealim House is one of the classiest joints in the city and home to its very own gin distillery. Naturally, its bar serves a lovingly curated menu of G&T varieties and gin-focused cocktails and the venue also hosts regular gin-tasting experiences led by their in-house "Ginthusiasts" where you can learn all about the fascinating history of the spirit, learn how to make perfect G&Ts and gin-based cocktails and sample some great gins too. Their very own award-winning Newcastle Gin is obviously a must-try and available to buy online or in person at Bealim House and Barluga on Grey Street.

Pleased To Meet You, High Bridge

As one of the city’s most notable and hippest gin palaces, Pleased To Meet You is widely known for its pick ‘n’ mix G&Ts and delicious food, which make it the perfect place to spend a leisurely evening. Their bar boasts over 100 gins and they’re always adding more, with tonnes of choice from fruity numbers to stronger "Naval" gins and several "Secret Ingredient" options. Add to that a wide range of tonics and garnishes and you've got the recipe for gin lover's heaven.

WC Gin Closet, High Bridge

Boasting the claim of being the UK’s smallest gin bar, WC Gin Closet may be petite but their gin menu is perfectly formed. As you’d expect, there’s a wide selection of gin to enjoy - from classic London Dry gins to bold and contemporary botanical blends - and with a 2 for £10 offer running on a wide selection of G&Ts from Sunday to Thursday until 8pm, it's ideal for a post-work drink or two.

The Botanist, Monument Mall

A Newcastle crowd pleaser and a favourite any night of the week, The Botanist is a great place for lovers of gin – not least because of that beautiful view of Grey Street! The impressive bar’s décor is matched by an extensive drinks menu, featuring plenty of gins and gin-based cocktails. Opt for a classic G&T with Cambridge Dry Gin and Fever-Tree Indian Tonic or try a fruity concoction like the tempting Cherry Blossom Martini made with Roku Gin.

Or why not grab a bottle for home…

John Lewis, Eldon Square

If you’re looking for a treat for your gin-loving friend (or yourself, you deserve it!), John Lewis’ superb range of gin-related gifts will be just the ticket. Aside from a great range of the spirit itself, they also stock cocktail recipe books and gift sets from the likes of Sipsmith and Fever Tree, as well as a range of elegant glasses to serve it all in.

Fenwick Food Hall, Fenwick, Northumberland Street

As you might expect from a shop as well stocked as Fenwick, their Food Hall features a massive variety of top quality gins including regional favourites like Durham Gin, Newcastle Gin, Poetic License and Alnwick Gin. Don't miss out on their very own No. 39 Fenwick Northumbrian gin which boasts a London dry gin base fused with juniper, coriander, angelica root, citrus peel and cacao nibs to result in a drink full of Northern soul, distilled in Northumberland.

Moonshiner's Institute, Blandford Street

A relative newcomer to Newcastle, Moonshiner's Institute set up shop on Blandford Street in late 2024.The micro-batch, multi-spirit distillery already has a number of spirits available to purchase via its website - including a punchy London Dry Gin named "Vamp" - and in the future, they've got plans to host make-your-own academies where gin and other spirit enthusiasts can make their very own concoctions.

No matter how you choose to imbibe this most celebrated of spirits, Newcastle has a plethora of ways for you to contribute to this year’s gin sales - so get sipping and shopping!

Main image: Bealim House