Mitchell Orchant, cigar boss and visionary behind CGars Ltd, has orchestrated a remarkable expansion of his cigar empire in recent years, establishing a growing number of cigar venues across the United Kingdom. One notable addition to this is CGars – The City, which opened last year in May 2023, strategically located in the heart of London’s Square Mile, near Leadenhall Market at 30 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7HR. Intrigued by its presence, of course I had to pay a visit!
Background
According to the C Gars website, for those that don’t know “C.Gars Ltd is an independent family-owned business established in 1997, making it the first internet Cuban cigar merchant in the UK. We are the mail order division of Turmeaus Tobacconist, the second oldest specialist tobacconist in the UK established in 1817. We stock the largest range of Havana Cuban cigars, New World cigars, humidors, pipes and smoker accessories in the UK. Our Specialist retail cigar shops and cigar sampling lounges are situated throughout the UK, Belgium, Switzerland and Tenerife and our expertly trained staff are more than pleased to offer help and advice. We guarantee the lowest prices as well as the best customer service, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.”
The contest for having the most expansive cigar shop network in the UK appears to be centered on CGars and Havana House – I think?! CGars has established a broad presence in various cities, including London, Chester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Speyside, Leeds, Knutsford, and Norfolk. Conversely, Havana House operates venues in Bath, Cardiff, Hove, Oxford, Southampton, Reading, Stratford Upon Avon, and Windsor. While I may be mistaken, it seems that CGars might have the upper hand in this competition—please correct me if there are other contenders, or if I’ve got that wrong.
The store itself and what’s on offer
CGars – The City is a cigar and whisky shop with a small sampling lounge, where espresso is on hand whilst you sample a cigar. There is a walk-in humidor that features a comprehensive range of premium Cuban and New World (Non-Cuban) cigars. There is also a ton of whisky and premium spirits available to purchase as well as pipe tobacco and cigar accessories.
There are cigar specialists in the store that are super down to earth and happy to help you select the right cigar. They also run a series of cigar events every now and then too 👌
My experience
On my initial visit to the venue, I arrived only to find it sadly closed. Presumably, this was due to it being the first few weeks of its opening, with adjustments still underway. Undeterred, I made a second attempt to coincide with a cigar event, ensuring it would be open. Navigating from Liverpool Street station, which is where I started, to the shop can be a bit confusing, potentially leading to wrong turns. Especially when you get distracted by all the amazing buildings nearby include The Gherkin! Consider starting from Monument or Fenchurch Street for a smoother journey. And, of course, have your Google Maps ready!
Upon entering, the atmosphere was super calm. Aryan, our host for the night, greeted me immediately, and within seconds I was in the walk-in humidor looking at cigars. Before the event commenced, I decided to grab a few extra cigars including the Aladino – and a Montecristo Wide Edmundo (which is such a top-class cigar – read my review of that one here!).
After making my purchases, I headed into the cigar sampling lounge, which was well lit, with white walls, a huge image of I think the new cigar hotel that Mitchell has been posting about on his social media lately, The Mash Tun in Scotland – https://www.mashtun-aberlour.com/
With only eight tickets available, I anticipated an intimate setting for the event. As it turned out, it was just me and another cigar enthusiast—shoutout to Joe if you’re reading this! 👋 Despite the initial tranquillity, which created a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, Aryan skillfully introduced the cigar we were about to enjoy.
We savoured the Ramon Allones Gigantes, a cigar I had experienced before – previously giving it an 8/10 – See my review here. The whole experience was enhanced by a selection of the world’s finest single estate speciality and organic coffees. Additionally, there was an opportunity to indulge in gourmet fudge from Edinburgh and Ireland, providing a non-alcoholic option—possibly influenced by alcohol sampling regulations.
While enjoying the cigar, I encountered a minor issue as the wrapper began to unravel—a surprising occurrence for such a high-quality Cuban cigar. However, credit to the store, they promptly replaced the cigar, highlighting their commitment to customer satisfaction.
My rating: 6.5 out of 10
I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the venue. I anticipate that when it’s full, it may feel a tad bit cramped, as the sampling lounge is in quite a narrow setting, but the location’s convenience makes it a worthwhile stop. Good place for a business meeting, on a quieter day, perhaps. The staff are super helpful and provide a great customer experience – especially ensuring you have the right cigar for you and that what you are smoking is of good quality!
I now need to get myself to Mitchell’s other cigar venues – including the Puffin Rooms up in Edinburgh – https://edinburgh.puffinrooms.co.uk/
Visiting the store
For those interested in visiting the store, the details are provided below:
C.Gars The City
30 Lime Street,
London
EC3M 7HR
View on Google Maps
Tel: 0203 795 5926
Email: Lime.street@cgars.com
Website: https://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/our-shops/CGars_The_City_shop.htm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgarsthecity
Opening Times:
Mon, Tues & Wed: 10:00 – 18:00
Thurs & Fri: 10:00 – 21:00
Sat: 10:00 – 18:00
Sun: Closed
Bank Holidays: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
If you like this review, check out my other reviews of Cigar bars, terraces, smoking lounges.
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