‘Rum do’ for connoisseurs at Excel’s weekend RumFest

It’s a ‘rum do’ for connoisseus for the first time at east London’s ExCel centre where the world’s largest celebration of rum and its culture is being staged.

The UK RumFest on Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and 13, features 400 different brands from around the world.

Organisers have added a dash of new ‘connoisseur’s cove’ area for the first time this year, where the discerning drinker can sample some of the world’s rarest premium brands, nestled away from the carnival crowds.

The festival, now in its seventh year, includes cocktail displays and demonstrations, masterclasses, seminars and a dedicated tropical food market with rum and food pairing.

Live bands play exotic rhythms throughout the exhibition space, 12 noon to 5pm, while visitors watch skilled ‘mixologists’ creating cocktail masterpieces.

Tickets Saturday or Sunday are £25, or £45 including Connoisseurs’ Cove, weekend tickets £80 (Cove included), at Excel in Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, DLR to Custom House.