“I believe every drink has a story, and I’m here to make sure you get both in good measure.”

I’ve always believed that drinks taste better when they come with a story. From gin’s wild and wayward past to the women who raised the standards of booze, I love bringing history to life in a glass. My tastings aren’t lectures, they’re lively, generous and full of laughter, with just enough facts to impress your friends at the next round.

I host public and corporate tastings and talks all over the UK and beyond. I live for good conversation over a martini. I’m also an experienced spirits judge, lending my time and taste buds to Great Taste Awards, Spirits Business ‘Ginmasters’, The Gin Guide and Scottish Gin Awards.

Sometimes I pop up in a radio show or newspaper talking about the history of drinking. I also curated and hosted the London Craft Gin Cruise, and founded a gin subscription service. Neither of which exist at present, but I had a lovely time and met delightful people so consider them a success. l live in Greater Manchester with a brilliant wife, a charming cat and, at time of writing, some fruit flies

A man with a gray mustache and salt-and-pepper hair wearing a shirt with a bright floral pattern, standing behind a bar or counter, holding a cocktail shaker, with a cocktail glass in the foreground and bottles of drinks in the background.

Testimonials

  • Simon hosted an evening for us and our clients, one word, fantastic ! From the planning stages to the evening it was seamless and he was very knowledgeable and great fun on the evening itself ! Highly recommend!

    Ryan T, Umbrella Furniture

  • Simon hosted a highly engaging tasting for us, and we couldn’t have been more delighted. Full of fun, adventure and of course gin; we discovered the surprising evolution of gin through highly interactive storytelling and tastings. A fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable experience; all hosted by a true expert and enthusiast. A must try adventure!

    Marcus N, Live Group

  • The Captain's nights are just fabulous. His storytelling is so entertaining and he surely has the best moustache countrywide. Highly recommend his evenings.

    Tracy R, Mad Chair Co

  • If you haven't been to a Nautilus Gin Experience then you are definitely missing out. Simon is an amazing host with a wealth of knowledge. He is entertaining and absolutely keeps the customers engaged. Can not recommend enough"

    Owner, Time Coffee

  • I would definitely recommend Simon's services. He hosted a gin tasting for our residents and the event was held to the highest standard. it was very engaging for every resident and everyone felt welcome. At the end of the event each resident left happy.

    Agata S, Affinity Living

  • We had a fab evening and enjoyed tasting a carefully curated range of gins that we may never have had the opportunity to try anywhere else. The Atmosphere was top notch and we would definitely attend again in the future.

    Tasting Guest

Get in touch

If you’re ready to host or you just have a few questions, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

FAQs

  • Typically about 75 -90 minutes for a story-driven event, and 3 hours for a socially-driven event. Head to Experiences to understand the difference.

  • Just get in touch here

  • No. The drinks are dictated by the theme and themes can be bespoke. Set sail for The Experiences for more information.

  • It depends on size of group, location and event type.
    Each event is priced with two parts:
    1) A fixed hosting fee for planning and running the session
    2) A separate stock cost that scales with your group size.
    That way, your event can scale without my profit jumping. If that’s too vague for you, then get in contact for a quick quote.

  • I can and do travel anywhere in the UK and EU. Location is factored into the hosting fee. I’m UK based.

  • For longer events, I recommend that your guests are fed. If you don’t have caterers, I have a few chefs that I work with as well.