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10th October 2019

The Thinking Drinkers: Heroes of Hooch; National Tour runs to April

“A terrific show. The best value for money in town”

★★★★ Scotsman

The Thinking Drinkers – Guild member Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham –  are embarking on a national tour with their brand-new show, Heroes of Hooch, fresh from another successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

After several years of sell-out Edinburgh shows and national tours, the ‘alco-demic’ adventurers are returning with a hilarious and intoxicating imbibing expedition in search of history’s most extraordinary elbow-benders – and, as ever, they’re giving each and every audience member five free delicious drinks along the way.

That’s right. Five. Free. Drinks. They’re really delicious ones too. You’re welcome.

Let the discerning duo slide you gently onto the bar stool of discovery as, armed with their catchphrase ‘Drink Less, Drink Better’, they raise a glass to the heroic men and women who have cunningly used alcohol to inspire them to achieve some truly great things – artists, adventurers, astronomers, musicians, magicians, conquerors, can-can dancers, pirates, painters, politicians, thinkers, theorists, scientists, sportsmen, visionaries and more…

These include Alexander the Great, Harry Houdini, Louis Pasteur and Albert Einstein, a moose that drinks Danish lager, a fearless chef, Chicago gangsters, an astronomer with a metal nose, a Chinese pirate, Indian warriors, some salty seamen and, last but not least, God – who was always getting on it. Probably.

At a time when alcohol finds itself in the cross-hairs of the do-gooders gun, “Heroes of Hooch” proves that, contrary to common perception, a whole lot of life’s answers can be discovered at the bottom of a glass.

You’ll learn a lot, you’ll laugh a lot – and you get five free drinks….

Audience members can enjoy the following: Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin; an intriguing, innovative ruby-coloured Australian gin created by steeping whole Shiraz grapes from the Yarra Valley; Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum – a luxury Venezuelan sipping rum matured in tropical conditions to deliver a rich, chocolate taste; The Singleton of Dufftown 12 Year-Old – a deliciously smooth award-winning, approachable single malt matured in oak & bourbon casks; Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge; a legendary French liqueur from 1880 that blends fine cognacs with distilled essence of wild tropical oranges; and Tetley’s No.3 Pale Ale, a resuscitation of a classic pale ale recipe dating back to 1868 using Tetley’s famous double-yeast strain.

The Thinking Drinkers are award-winning drinks writers and comedy performers Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham. They’ve regularly written about drink for a host of newspapers and magazines including the Daily Telegraph, Spectator, Esquire, Shortlist, National Geographic, The Guardian, Time Out London, Conde Nast Traveller, Imbibe Magazine, The Independent and Drinks Retailer News.

Authorities on all aspects of alcohol, the Thinking Drinkers regularly appear on radio and television espousing their “Drink Less, Drink Better” message. Having met in their 20s whilst working on a leading pub magazine, Ben and Tom left for America where they co-wrote the award-winning Good Beer Guide West Coast USA. Since then, the dynamic drinking duo have written and performed critically acclaimed sell-out runs at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and venues in London’s West End for the last nine years.

In 2018/19, the Thinking Drinkers completed a 40+ date nationwide tour and will be touring the UK again from September to April 2020.

Together they have written seven acclaimed books including the award-winning The Thinking Drinkers: An Enlightened Imbibers Guide to Alcohol – inspired by one of their previous Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows.

Ben McFarland

Ben McFarland is the author of World’s Best Beers: 1000 Unmissable Brews from Portland to Prague and Boutique Beer: 500 of the World’s Finest Craft Brews. He is been crowned the British Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers on three separate occasions – the first time as the youngest ever recipient.

Tom Sandham

Tom Sandham is former editor of leading industry spirits and cocktail magazine CLASS and was recently named “Communicator of the Year” by the prestigious the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC). He regularly lectures on spirits, he launched the Top 50 Bars of the World and House Tonic magazine for the Soho House Group, and is also the author of the award-winning World’s Best Cocktails.

Website: www.thinkingdrinkers.com

Twitter: @thinkingdrinks

Instagram: @thinkingdrinkers

 What the press have said about The Thinking Drinkers:

“This unique Fringe experience is one to be savoured”                                                                       ★★★★ The Upcoming

“The duo may have the motto “drink less but drink better” but with booze, laughs and some really interesting information this is a show that’s well worth binging on”                                                          ★★★★ Broadway Baby

“A show about booze, featuring free booze. What’s not to like?”                                                  ★★★★ ThreeWeeks

“A talented duo who have deservedly sold out year on year at the Fringe”                               ★★★★ Scottish Field

“An erudite, liquor-loving duo”                                                                                                                             Metro

“Pioneers of alcohol based comedy”                                                                                                       Sunday Times

“There’s no more discerning way to fall off the wagon”                                                                             Time Out

“If free premium vodka, gin and bourbon doesn’t convince you, the show is both hugely funny and genuinely fascinating”                                                                                                                Edinburgh Evening News

 Listings Information:

12th October 2019                                                                                      Newcastle, The Stand

https://www.thestand.co.uk/Newcastle / 01912620707

 

8th November 2019                                                                                    Gloucester, Guildhall

https://www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk/ / 01452503050  

 

9th November 2019                                                                                   Colchester, Arts Centre

https://www.colchesterartscentre.com/ / 01206500900

 

22nd November 2019                                                                                Bristol, Hen and Chicken

https://www.henandchicken.com/ / 01179663143

 

23rd November 2019                                                                               Bridport, Arts Centre

https://www.bridport-arts.com/ / 01308424204

 

30th November 2019                                                                                London, Leicester Square Theatre

https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/ / 02077342222

 

6th December 2019                                                                                   Maidenhead, Norden Farm

https://norden.farm/ / 01628788997

 

7th December 2019                                                                                   Folkestone, Quarterhouse

https://www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-quarterhouse/ / 01303760750

 

9th December 2019                                                                                    Leicester Square Theatre

https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/ / 02077342222

                                                    

10th December 2019                                                                               Leicester Square Theatre

 https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/ / 02077342222

 

24th January 2020                                                                               Corby, The Core

https://www.thecorecorby.com/ / 01536470470

 

25th January 2020                                                                                 Birmingham, Old Rep

https://www.oldreptheatre.co.uk/ / 01213599444

 

31st January 2020                                                                                Cheltenham, Town Hall

http://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/ / 08445762210

 

1st February 2020                                                                                Cheltenham, Town Hall

http://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk   / 08445762210

 

7th February 2020                                                                                Bath, Komedia

https://www.komedia.co.uk/bath/ / 01225489070

 

8th February 2020                                                                                 High Wycombe, Town Hall

https://wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/default.asp / 01494512000

 

14th February 2020                                                                             Epsom, Playhouse

http://www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk/ / 01372742555

 

28th February 2020                                                                             Shrewsbury, Theatre Seven

https://www.theatresevern.co.uk/ / 01743281281

 

29th February 2020                                                                           Shrewsbury, Theatre Seven

https://www.theatresevern.co.uk/ / 01743281281

 

7th March 2020                                                                                    Basingstoke, The Haymarket

http://www.anvilarts.org.uk/ / 01256844244

 

13th March 2020                                                                              Reading, The Hexagon

https://www.readingarts.com/hexagon / 01189606060

 

14th March 2020                                                                               Southend, Palace Theatre

https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/ / 01702351135

   

20th March 2020                                                                               Hertford, Theatre

https://www.hertfordtheatre.com/ / 01992531500

  

21st March 2020                                                                               Hertford, Theatre

https://www.hertfordtheatre.com/ / 01992531500

 

27th March 2020                                                                                Cambridge, Junction

https://www.junction.co.uk/ / 01223511511

 

28th March 2020                                                                                 Arlington, Arts Centre

https://arlington-arts.com/ / 01635244246

 

3rd April 2020                                                                                     Barnard Castle, The Witham

https://thewitham.org.uk/ / 01833631107

 

4th April 2020                                                                                   Hexham, Queens Hall Arts Centre

https://www.theplace.org.uk/ / 01434652477  

 

17th April 2020                                                                                   Didcot, Cornerstone

https://www.cornerstone-arts.org/ / 01235515144

 

18th April 2020                                                                                   Didcot, Cornerstone

https://www.cornerstone-arts.org/ / 01235515144

 

24th April 2020                                                                                  Bingley, Little Theatre

http://www.bingleylittletheatre.co.uk/blt-home.html / / 01274519814

 

For more information please contact Gaby Jerrard / Claire Hoyda / Siobhan Connor at

gaby@gabyjerrardpr.com / claire@gabyjerrardpr.com / siobhan@gabyjerrardpr.com or 020 7690 0006