There are worse ways to spend a summer afternoon than sampling craft spirits beside the River Avon in Shakespeare’s hometown. The popular Stratford Gin & Rum Festival is back for 2026, and this year it’s moving to an exciting new location at the Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon, right on the riverside.
The festival brings together a hand-picked lineup of craft gin and rum distilleries, offering visitors the chance to sample, discover, and purchase a wide variety of premium spirits. But this isn’t just about drinking—there’ll be live music throughout each session, tasting and discovery seminars led by the distillers themselves, and a range of food options to keep you fortified. The result is a relaxed, fun festival atmosphere in one of England’s most picturesque settings.
“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing the Stratford Gin & Rum Festival into the heart of the town for 2026,” said Peter Monks, Director at Shakespeare Distillery, which organises the event. “The riverside setting at the Crowne Plaza provides a fantastic backdrop to showcase an outstanding lineup of craft spirits, alongside live music and guided tastings and talks with the distillers themselves. It’s shaping up to be our most vibrant festival yet—a true celebration of great drinks, great company and summer in Stratford.”
Festival tickets include a souvenir festival glass, a welcome drink on arrival, access to all live music and seminars, a festival brochure featuring distilleries and serves, and exclusive entry to the riverside terrace area at the Crowne Plaza. Guests can purchase additional drinks and cocktails from each distillery stand and buy bottles of their favourite spirits to take home. For those who prefer something other than gin or rum, the Crowne Plaza’s main bar will be open to festival guests, offering beers, wines, and a full range of alternative drinks.
Shakespeare Distillery, the award-winning Stratford-upon-Avon producer behind the festival, was established in 2015 and is now a carbon-neutral operation producing small batches of hand-crafted premium spirits including Stratford Dry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, Elderflower & Quince Gin, Mulberry Gin Liqueur, Judith’s Pink Gin, Jester White Rum, and Spiced Rum. The company has won gold and silver awards at the West Midlands Tourism Awards for its destination distillery experiences and has earned a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for five consecutive years.
For those wanting to make a weekend of it, the Crowne Plaza offers accommodation right at the festival venue—and Stratford-upon-Avon itself offers plenty to explore, from the RSC theatres to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the historic town centre.
Stratford Gin & Rum Festival 2026
Where: Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon, riverside
Tickets: £19 Early Bird (limited availability), £22 standard advance, £25 on the day (subject to availability)
Book: Online at shakespearedistillery.com/stratford-gin-rum-festival or call 01789 336559
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