Gin Austen: An Evening at Jane Austen’s House
For one night only, join us for a journey into the past... Learn about the food and drink that would have been cooked and consumed by the Austen women, view Martha Lloyd’s Household Book up close, and enjoy cocktails in the garden - something Jane would certainly have approved of!Friday 24 June
5:30pm — 9:00pm
‘The Orange Wine will want our Care soon.—But in the meantime for Elegance & Ease & Luxury—; the Hattons’ & Milles’ dine here to-day—& I shall eat Ice and drink French wine, & be above Vulgar Economy’.
Jane to Cassandra, 30 June 1808
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, many years before the Austens lived here, Jane Austen’s House was a coaching inn – an insalubrious place, we understand, where two murders are rumored to have taken place!
Now, for one night only, join us for a journey into the past, as we look back at the many-layered history of this remarkable building, with a particular eye for the food and drink that would have been cooked and consumed here over its long lifetime.
As part of a small group you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the House, learning about its history and about the food and drink of Jane Austen’s time.
We’ll get up close and personal with Martha Lloyd’s Household Book – an extraordinary document of the food and drink made and eaten in the Austen family, collated by Jane’s dear friend Martha who lived with the Austens here in Chawton.
We’ll also dive into Jane (and her characters’) enjoyment of alcohol, exploring recipes for orange wine, cherry brandy, mead and spruce beer.
All that history will whet your appetite so we’ll finish with drinks in the garden, amid the heady scent of the roses. Enjoy a hand-crafted gin cocktail (or mocktail) and bask in the melodious sound of the harp as it drifts out across the summer evening.
Details:
Date: Friday 24 June
Time: arrival at 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm. Duration 90 minutes.
Location: This event will take place at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. Find us
Tickets: £30
🍸 ‘Gin Austen’ tickets include a House tour, followed by a cocktail or mocktail served in the garden. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know after booking.
🍛 This event goes well with Food from Jane Austen’s Kitchen at Chawton House, just up the road. Enjoy a three course dinner in the Old Kitchen, cooked from original recipes enjoyed by the Austen family.
If you wish to pair this event with dinner at Chawton House, we suggest the following timings:
Gin Austen: 5.30pm, followed by dinner at 7pm
Gin Austen: 6.30pm, followed by dinner at 8pm
Dinner at 6pm, followed by Gin Austen at 7.30
☔ In case of bad weather, an undercover option will be available!
🧑🤝🧑 Capacity for this event will be kept very low to make it a truly special experience.
💃 This event is part of Jane Austen Regency Week.