Hunters & Frankau Events

[Gary]

Just wondering if any of you have ever been to any events held by Hunters & Frankau, cigar nights of any desription?

The reason is my other half bought me a ticket for one tomorrow night in Belfast, the first event H&F have held anywhere in Ireland, it's a Cigar and Cognac tasting evening?

Was just wondering if anyone had ever been to something similar by H&F to give me an idea of what to expect. Any photo's I've ever see on the H&F site about these evenings in the past looked like it's full of toffs and posers, but hopefully it won't be like that.

[Montesmoke]

Just wondering if any of you have ever been to any events held by Hunters & Frankau, cigar nights of any desription?

The reason is my other half bought me a ticket for one tomorrow night in Belfast, the first event H&F have held anywhere in Ireland, it's a Cigar and Cognac tasting evening?

Was just wondering if anyone had ever been to something similar by H&F to give me an idea of what to expect. Any photo's I've ever see on the H&F site about these evenings in the past looked like it's full of toffs and posers, but hopefully it won't be like that.

A friend of mine went to the london event, said it was a bit overated, but he got a couple free cigars included in the price of the ticket wich was quite expensive i think.
Let us know how you got on gary

[cohibaIV]

Sounds good mate...Just enjoy and be yourself....

[Drewmidorn]

I'm not really sure that I'm classy enough. I only bring the suit out for funerals!

[RhiannonBW]

I went to a joint Hunters & Frankau/Hotel du Vin event at Tunbridge Wells. It was a mix of mostly normal people and a couple of prats who were desperate to impress the women (and failing miserably!).

Simon, from Hunters & Frankau, hosted the event together with Julian from HduV. They are both excellent hosts.

The cigars and drinks throughout the evening were good value, including one rolled by a chap over from the Partagas factory to give cigar rolling demonstrations.

Go along with the intention of enjoying yourself and not worrying about whether you're not toffy or posey enough! It's about enjoying good food, good cigars, good wines and good company, not about what you're wearing or how much you have in the bank.

Rhiannon

[Wildwood]

Yeah, enjoy yourself Gary...sounds like it'll be a good night.

Wish my partner did things like that!!

Wildwood

[Robusto]

I'd go to Tunbridge Wells for one of these events. That's the town in Kent where, for me, cigars start. South and east of there and it's really a stogie wasteland as far as my experience goes. There were some outlets, but they have closed.

If anyone gets wind of Tunbridge Wells cigar events, please post them or let me know.

Bryan

[Deano]

Only up the road from me too

[RhiannonBW]

I think there has been a change in management policy at Hotel du Vin and there will now no longer be any organised cigar dinners.

There is nothing to stop you turning up there though, ordering a drink and enjoying the delights of their cigar hut. It's a beautiful hotel, not a bad place to while away a Sunday afternoon, and if you're disciplined, not too expensive either if you just stick to a couple of coffees.

I just wish the nearest Hotel du Vin with a cigar hut nearest to me was a little bit closer than Cheltenham, an hour's drive away.

Rhiannon

[RhiannonBW]

From the H&F website:

Lavery's Cigar and Cognac Tasting Evening, Belfast, Ireland

Our first Cigar tasting evening in Ireland will be taking place at Lavery's in Belfast on Thursday 23rd October. To accompany the cigar a guest Cognac will be served, the evening is the first of its kind and is very limited so booking early is recommended. Lavery's is located in Belfast, on Bradbury Place, and is a popular bar occupying over three floors. The price of a ticket is only ?10, which includes one Havana Cigar and two glasses of a guest Cognac. The evening begins at 7pm, and for ticket information please contact Lavery's direct on:
Telephone: (028) 90 871106
Email: info@laverysbelfast.com


Cigar & Port Tasting Evening, Wyndham Grand Hotel, London
Join a small group (up to 20) of port and cigar enthusiasts for a tutored tasting by Simon Gotelee of Taylor?s Port importers, Mentzendorff, and Simon Chase of Havana importers Hunters & Frankau.
The H. Upmann Magnum 50, one of Cuba?s new releases this year, will be tasted with three Taylor?s ports ? Late Bottled Vintage 2003, 10 Year Old Tawny and the Quinta de Vargellas 1998.
The tasting will take place in a 7th Floor penthouse suite with a balcony offering unrivalled views of London?s river and skyline which, on Guy Fawkes? Night, will be doubly dramatic.
A Cuban cigar roller will be present to demonstrate the art of hand making cigars.
The evening starts at 6.30 pm with a glass of champagne and canap?s in the bar overlooking the harbour before going up to the penthouse for the main event at 7 pm.
Tickets cost ?25 each. For reservations contact Daniel Ag?ero-Dupl?: email DAguero-dupla@wyndham.com or telephone 020 7300 8443.

Considering the inclusive drinks and cigars, I think these are very good value, though, alas, a little far for me to travel.

Rhiannon

[Robusto]

Rhiannon

Is a cigar hut a cigar lounge in this place?

Sorry to be dumb.

I've got muso mates I meet in TW and could arrange to go to this place indoors for cigars instead of risking a pub garden.

Bryan

[emeraldisle]

Going to the cigar event also

Afternoon,

Just got a ticket for the same event Gary, decided to dress smart casual, I know of the guy who is doing the talk ie Patrick Knowles.

You don't know if anyone else is turning up that maybe perhaps a member in here?

I thought maybe Willie maybe in attendance.

[Montesmoke]

Hope you guys have a good crack at the event

[Gary]

Right, just back (well an hour or so ago to be honest) from Hunters & Frankau's first Cigar and Cognac evening in Ireland and have to say it was a bloody good night! My initial worries (after seeing some photo's of other evenings across the water on the H&F website) of an evening with wanabee toff's who wouldn't know a cigar from a Mars bar could not have been further from the truth!

Originally only set for a maximum of 20 people, I think about 17 tickets were sold which was good I thought seeing it's a first of it's kind over here and I didn't see any advertising of the event bar what was on the H&F site. There was a nice mix of people there, young and old, first time cigar smokers and more experienced ones too, although I got the impression I was a bit more knowledgable about cigar smoking than most (hope that doesn't sound like me blowing my own trumpet) apart obviously from Patrick Knowles, the rep from H&F who led us through the evening and who was excellent too, very knowledgable although I was able to help him out with one or two points which I was only too happy to do. Had good conversations throughout the night with Patrick and he very kindly presented me with a small cigar bookcigar book.jpg which I thought was very kind!

As stated in one of the posts above the ticket was ?10 and for that we enjoyed 1 x San Cristobal El Principe, 1 x Montecristo No4 and 2-3 glasses of lovely cognac, excellent value I thought! All in all the night was a great success and Patrick and the manager of Lavery's bar (who was very positive about the whole evening) said there would definately be more events, although probably when the better weather comes back again . Just on another note it was good to meet up with Gabriel (known on here as Emeraldisle) and be able to put a face to the name and hopefully when the next H&F night rolls around in Belfast maybe any other forum members from this side of the sea might want to come too.

[Willie1]

Afternoon,

Just got a ticket for the same event Gary, decided to dress smart casual, I know of the guy who is doing the talk ie Patrick Knowles.

You don't know if anyone else is turning up that maybe perhaps a member in here?

I thought maybe Willie maybe in attendance.

Ack for crying out loud, I didn't even know this event was on, otherwise I'd have been looking to mosey on up there on the train, but then again, I've been offline for the past week , BT are are much use as a chocolate fireguard lol

At the same time though, I'd have been going to sample the smokes and meet up with fellow stogie smokers, although I'm not interested in the cognac since I dont drink aolcohol

I must admit though, it suprises me that H&F have bothered to hold any events anywhere in ireland as Northern Ireland is usually left out in the cold, when it comes to herfs and tastings, etc

Perhaps a mini-herf could be arranged for the folkes on this side of the river?

EDIT:

I've just read your post Gary and it definitely sounds like it was a great night for the ticket price

Another thing that I'm glad to hear of, that it's not all one of those events that are full of that V-neck pullover and volvo that speak like they're trying to impersonate the queen, whilst they have a jawbreaker stuck in their gob , as I got that same impression also from looking at the odd pic of previous H&F meets also, and so it's good to know that there are quite a few down to earth stogie smokers out there, like the many good stogie men and women on here

I'm glad that you guys had a great night Gary and hopefuly if there is another cigar night being held, I'll be able to make the train journey up there

Willie