Annual drinks festival ceases trading days before Swindon event
For years, The Gin To My Tonic has been held at various venues around the town to celebrate craft gin and spirits.
It usually featured hundreds of craft spirits, distiller meet-and-greets, live music, and food.
The 2025 event was due to be held at the Town Gardens Bowl on Saturday, July 6 – but on June 30, the business' management team announced that it can no longer continue and that all upcoming events will be cancelled.
The difficult economic circumstances of the last few years and recent government policies made it impossible for the team to keep it financially viable.
Be the first to know with the Swindon Advertiser! 📱 💡 Our flash sale brings the latest local happenings directly to you. Save over 50% on an annual subscription now. 🔗https://t.co/ayrpkI5pr6#KnowYourCity #SpecialOffer pic.twitter.com/9PFJMulLvW
— Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) July 4, 2025
A spokesperson said: 'It's with deepest regret that The Gin To My Tonic is to close with immediate effect.
'Since our launch in 2017 we've worked tirelessly to bring you the very best events, completing seven nationwide tours.
'The Gin To My Tonic is more than just a business, it's a passion, a community full of honorary family and friends, and one we've poured our hearts and souls into creating…
'However, since March 2020 we've had to navigate challenge after challenge, and through some of the toughest times in modern business history.
'We know we are not alone in this, it's something that's effecting all businesses, but for us personally (with so many variable event costs) navigating COVID, Brexit, rapid inflation, cost of living and tax increases has gradually chipped away at what we've built to the point we no longer recognise it.
'The change in government, continued alcohol duty increases and tax rises, has been the final nail this year.
'We know that many of you will be affected by this news we are deeply sorry.
'Our aim has always been to celebrate craft distillers and create a fun experience for all, but it's come to the point that continuing to operate will only cause more damage than good.
'We've done everything - and we mean everything - to avoid this outcome and have now exhausted all avenues.
'Please know, we are beyond devastated by this, we are real everyday people who genuinely care, and we are so sorry to have to end things on this note.
'Your support has been invaluable and we wish we could have offered a different ending to our story.
'We kindly ask all customers to claim through their bank/card providers.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Who could lead Apple after Tim Cook
There are no indications that Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook is planning on leaving his role anytime soon. But the company's underwhelming AI developments have some questioning if it's time for new leadership. Yahoo Finance Tech Editor Dan Howley takes a closer look at some of the potential contenders. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination. Related videos £50k in savings? Here's how to unlock up to £4.5k in passive income overnight Down 55% in 5 years, but this FTSE stock offers a 9.5% dividend yield for income investors! How will the Lloyds share price be affected by today's Supreme Court ruling? Meet the 75p dividend stock with a higher yield than Legal & General shares Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'Oldest' pasty maker in the world donates more than £10k to good causes
A bakery has given more than £10,000 to good causes over the past two years. Warrens Bakery, believed to be the oldest pasty maker in the world, has supported charities, community groups and sports clubs through donations and fundraising. The Cornish bakery, which has more than 47 shops across the South West, said the contributions reflect its long-standing commitment to the communities it serves. Louise Batty, marketing manager at Warrens Bakery, said: "As a business that's very much rooted in the West Country, Warrens Bakery is committed to supporting local fundraising, charities and sporting initiatives in the region, and look forward to continuing to help these inspirational people and organisations where we can." READ MORE: Aftermath of three huge fires in three days at Cornish beauty spot Everything '1 rated' chip shop had to change to become a '4': full inspection report Cornwall Council backs bold new priorities to reshape region's future During Cornish Pasty Week, the company donates 5p from every pasty sold to the Cornish Pasty Organisation, which promotes and protects the iconic food. Similarly, during UK Coffee Week, 5p from each coffee sold goes to Project Waterfall, a charity bringing clean water and sanitation to coffee-growing communities. These two campaigns have raised more than £4,000 in the past two years. Festive giving also features in the bakery's efforts, with sales of its Christmas pasty raising more than £2,000 for Wooden Spoon, the children's charity of rugby. Warrens Bakery's support extends beyond financial donations. The company regularly donates pasties to Dive Project Cornwall for students on its marine education programme, and to Children's Hospice South West for fundraising events. Other donations have included scones to hedgehog charity Prickles and Paws and doughnuts to the Plymouth Blood Donor Centre. The bakery has also raised more than £600 for Purple Angel, a dementia support charity. Through this partnership, all Warrens Bakery shops have become dementia-aware. Warrens has also supported regional rugby, football and cricket clubs, as well as events including the Dart Music Festival and the St Just Lafrowda Festival.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Terra Firma Energy Welcome UK Government Consultation on Hydrogen Blending into Great Britains Gas Transmission Network
Future-Proofed and Hydrogen-Ready LONDON, August 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At Terra Firma Energy, we welcome the UK Government's consultation into the blending of Hydrogen into Britain's Gas Transmission Network as a timely and positive step forward for both the UK's decarbonisation goals and the future of flexible power generation. All our projects are engineered to be hydrogen-ready from the outset, ensuring long-term operational flexibility and resilience in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. By anticipating changes in fuel supply and regulatory frameworks, we have future-proofed our generation assets to adapt quickly to low-carbon solutions like hydrogen blending. The ability to support hydrogen integration, even at early-stage blend levels, reinforces our commitment to sustainable innovation and positions our portfolio to contribute meaningfully to a net zero grid. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a new consultation exploring the potential for blending low-carbon hydrogen into Great Britain's gas transmission network. Following previous consultations on hydrogen blending into local distribution networks, the government is now seeking views on whether introducing hydrogen at the transmission level - the high-pressure National Transmission System (NTS) - could offer strategic and economic value. A Step Toward Net Zero Hydrogen is seen as a key player in the UK's push to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Blending low-carbon hydrogen with natural gas could offer a transitional path, supporting early-stage hydrogen production while reducing the carbon intensity of the existing gas network. DESNZ is currently evaluating whether to enable blending of up to 2% hydrogen by volume into the NTS. This small percentage could act as an "off-taker of last resort" for hydrogen producers, providing a backup market when dedicated customers are not available. Balancing Innovation with Risk The consultation outlines both the potential benefits and challenges. While hydrogen blending could support the growth of the hydrogen economy and help manage electricity system constraints, it also raises concerns for industrial users connected to the transmission system. Many of these users rely on stable, high-quality gas supplies, and even a 2% hydrogen blend could affect equipment performance, increase costs, or require infrastructure upgrades. Terra Firma Energy have been proactive in ensuring all our projects have been built utilising hydrogen ready generation sets that can accommodate a 20% blend of hydrogen into the network. Studies cited in the consultation show that most transmission-connected users could technically handle a 2% blend with minimal changes, though feasibility studies and equipment modifications may still be necessary. At higher blends (5% or 20%), the risks and costs escalate significantly. Cross-Border Considerations The UK's ability to blend hydrogen is also influenced by developments in the EU. Under the EU Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package, Member States can blend up to 2% hydrogen by volume, but are not required to do so. This creates potential interoperability issues with the UK's gas inter-connectors to Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands - especially if hydrogen blends exceed that threshold. View source version on Contacts Terra Firma Energy LimitedHelen AletrasHead of PR and +44 (0)203 890 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
