On arrival, you’ll be greeted with a gin cocktail by Madame Ginerva, your flamboyant guide and the evening’s host, before meeting two women from very different sides of Georgian society.
First, you’ll meet a desperate mother born into poverty who will reveal the circumstances that led her into sex work and addiction, while challenging the judgement and stigma surrounding poor women and mothers.
Then you’ll enter the world of a ‘Lady of Quality and Distinction’, representing the influential aristocratic women who used their status to make the Foundling Hospital possible, yet remained excluded from its governance for generations.
Finally, drinks historian and educator Jane Peyton will lead you through a tutored tasting of three distinctive gins and the cocktails they inspired, exploring how gin travelled from the ‘devilish drink’ causing chaos in 18th-century London to the undisputed queen of the drinks cabinet. Part immersive theatre, part hidden feminist history and part gin tasting, Women, Gin & ‘Sin’ brings Georgian London vividly to life.
There are two time slots for this event, at 6pm and 7pm. Please note that your ticket is only valid for the time slot it is booked for.
Your ticket includes a welcome gin cocktail, immersive theatrical tour of the Museum and a tasting tutorial of three different styles of gin. This event is for over–18s only. It will last around 2 hours.
About your hosts
Maria Beadell – Herstorical Tours
Born and raised in London, Maria is a tour guide, writer, performer, storyteller and history enthusiast. After many years teaching, she decided to pursue her passion for storytelling and founded Herstorical Tours, bringing together her love of performance, hidden histories and storytelling, with even a little bit of the occult.
Jane Peyton – School of Booze
Jane Peyton is an alcoholic drinks expert, writer, broadcaster and public speaker, and founder of School of Booze consultancy. She was Britain’s first Beer Sommelier of the Year, the UK’s first accredited cider sommelier and is a former Drinks Educator of the Year. Her books include The Philosophy of Beer, The Philosophy of Gin, The Philosophy of Cocktails and The Philosophy of Cider.
This event is for over-18s only. There will be alcohol available, and discussion of sexual violence, addiction and death.
To find out how to get here, including where to eat and drink, view our visitor information page here.
To find out more about access at the Foundling Museum, including how to book a wheelchair, visit our Accessibility page here.