Leeds Rum Festival 2024: A Premier Event Celebrating Rum at Fearns
On Saturday, September 14th, we proudly hosted this year's Leeds Rum Festival at our Leeds Dock restaurant, Fearns, brought to life in collaboration with Studio Events. It was a one-of-a-kind event, attracting rum aficionados, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts who enjoyed world-class rums while immersing themselves in vibrant music, delicious food, and immersive masterclasses.
Attendees had the opportunity to sample over 50 rums from around the globe, all served in a complimentary Rum Fest-etched tasting glass. They also participated in expert-led masterclasses and captivating talks led by skilled rum ambassadors, where delicious rum cocktail creations were showcased. The event didn't stop there—our afterparty kept the festivities going well into the night, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of a steel pan band and the lively performances of Carnival Troop dancers, adding to the event’s authentic Caribbean ambiance.
During the festival, our Head Chef, Jade Crawley, presented a mouthwatering menu of Caribbean-inspired dishes. Guests enjoyed offerings such as Jamaican Brown Stew Lamb with Rice, Deep-Fried Vegan Chicken with Rice, Prawn, Pineapple, and Halloumi Skewers with Rum Glaze, Chopped Mixed Salad, Vegetable Fried Rice, Mac and Cheese, and Caramelized Banana Bread.
At the bar, our team served a range of special edition cocktails, including:
Missionary Downfall: A tiki classic with fresh mint, dark rum, peach schnapps, honey, pineapple juice, and lime juice, shaken and poured over crushed ice with a mint garnish.
Mai Tai: A tropical blend of dark rum, white rum, spiced rum, cointreau, velvet falernum, almond syrup, pineapple juice, and lime juice, finished with pineapple and lime garnish.
Coconut & Mango Daiquiri: A refreshing mix of coconut rum, lime juice, mango puree, and coconut puree, garnished with desiccated coconut.
A selection of Fearns' beers, wines, and soft drinks were also available throughout the day.
Leeds-based Latitude Wine & Liquor Merchant set up a pop-up bottle shop, allowing all visitors—including Afterparty ticket holders—the chance to take home their favorite festival rums.
General Manager at Fearns, Ollie Ireland, shared: “This event is a well-loved tradition here and a firm favorite on our calendar each year. Studio Events has an outstanding reputation and is well-known for their Leeds Tequila and Whisky Festivals, so hosting their 8th annual Rum Festival was a dream. We were thrilled to welcome guests to experience vibrant Caribbean flavors, the sound of rhythmic beats, and, of course, taste some of the finest rums in the world. Leeds Rum Festival 2024 was truly not one to miss.”
