A few weekends ago, I travelled to West Yorkshire in the North of England to attend Halifax Herf.

I first heard about this a couple of years back from fellow cigar enthusiasts I’d met along my cigar journey. Both Harry, whom I met at Boisdale’s Cigar Smoker of the Year dinner, and Karen from Cigar Club LDN, recommended it. At the time, I never imagined that just a few years later, I’d be attending one of these herfs myself – as it initially felt so far away from my neck of the woods.

Background

What is a herf? A “cigar herf” is a social gathering where people get together to smoke cigars and enjoy each other’s company. The term “herf” originated in online cigar forums and has evolved into slang for any cigar-related meet-up. During a herf, participants typically share cigars, discuss cigar-related topics, and relax in a casual, social atmosphere. Herfs can be informal, like a few friends meeting up, or more organised events hosted by cigar shops or clubs. Some larger herfs may include cigar tastings, raffles, and special guest appearances from cigar manufacturers or experts.

Halifax Herf is organised by Andy Garrett, who has played a key role in establishing and nurturing this cigar community by hosting and promoting these events. It began as a small cigar gathering and has now evolved into a regular event for Northern cigar enthusiasts. His contributions have helped to establish a welcoming community for both experienced aficionados and newcomers.

Andy promotes the herfs on his social media channels, mainly Facebook and Instagram.

The entry fee for this particular event was £25. Participants are required to contribute to a raffle by donating a couple of cigars. The event includes informative presentations by experts in the cigar industry, tastings from distilleries, a goodie bag, and, of course, a complimentary cigar for all attendees. This year, the herf was supported by Churchill Tobacconists, a small cigar shop and sampling lounge in Earby, a small town on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border.

The herf takes place at Dean Clough, a business complex in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Once one of the world’s largest carpet factories, this 19th-century mill has been transformed into a modern mix of workspaces, restaurants, and art galleries. Located near Halifax train station, it’s a prime example of urban regeneration, also home to the Northern Broadsides theatre.

My experience

Over the past couple of years, I have been mad busy pursuing this mad hobby of ours, visiting various cigar venues and events across the country, and sharing my experiences here. When the opportunity arose to attend the Halifax Herf and the dates and times aligned, I got in touch with Andy, paid the fee, and secured my spot to attend.

The herf is quite a trek from where I am based in South East London via public transport, but I managed to catch a direct train from Kings Cross to Halifax the night before.

As someone from the South heading North to West Yorkshire, I braced myself for the colder, greyer weather! 🤪

Arriving at Halifax train station, I immediately noticed in the distance the striking tower of the Halifax Minster, despite the darkness.

The peaceful, laid-back vibe of Halifax was a welcome contrast to the hectic pace of London.

It was about a 20-25 minute walk to Dean Clough where the charming cobbled streets, stone buildings were.

I booked a room at the Travelodge in Dean Clough, which was conveniently close to the herf.

After a good night’s sleep and realising the hotel didn’t offer breakfast 😲, I headed to True North before the event and enjoyed a fry up – a Full English breakfast 👌

Next up was the herf itself, which took place from noon onwards on the outdoor terrace of a venue called Next Level.

Over the years, Andy expanded these gatherings, eventually creating a Facebook group. Now, 9 years later, his events draw a strong community of cigar enthusiasts. It’s impressive to see how Andy has built this group, and it was a pleasure to be part of it, especially at a time when the UK government is reportedly considering stricter regulations on smoking in pub gardens 😭. Supporting these events feels more important than ever.

Originally, the event was meant to be held inside the usual marquee where its regularly hosted, but unfortunately, a storm destroyed it two weeks prior 🤯.

Fortunately, Next Level allowed the Halifax Herf to take place in their terrace 🙏, the perfect spot for cigars, with a covered area available in case of rain (although somehow I still managed to get wet haha).

I attended the herf with fellow cigar enthusiast Alastair, whom I had met at Lord Marios Cigar Lounge in Gosport. Alastair is a big fan of Tony’s cigar shop, Head Case Curious, in Southsea, Portsmouth. We have recently explored some cool cigar venues together across the country!

This event was a bit of a gamble for us, as it was quite far to travel to, and we weren’t sure what to expect. But I had a good feeling about it based on the recommendation.

We were warmly welcomed by Andy, who personally greeted and checked us in. I donated some cigars and wine for his raffle, which he gracefully accepted. In return, Andy gave us a goody bag containing cigar cutters, lighters, and an unbanded cigar from Nicaragua for the event. The cigar had a ‘Halifax Herf’ band and foot band designed by Tony of Churchill Tobacconists, highlighting Andy’s dedication to organising and crafting these events to make them unique and unforgettable.

I then found myself in conversation with Tony and his staff at Churchill Tobacconists. I had seen them online before and was thrilled to finally meet them. I’m eager to visit their cigar shop and sampling lounge in Earby, which the owner established during lockdown so he could enjoy cigars at work. The folk from Bright Leaf (UK distributor of cigars) were also at the event.

Andy delivered a brief opening speech, followed by introductions from Churchill Tobacconist and a whisky merchant showcasing their offerings.

It was then time to settle into our seats, cut, and light our cigars. I brought a selection of cigars with me to enjoy, including a Cuaba Salamones I had recently purchased from GQ Tobaccos. It was a good smoke, although the shape made for a difficult draw at first. I also purchased some cigars from Churchill Tobacconists.

As we savored our cigars, we chatted with other attendees who had traveled from various places. The afternoon was relaxed, filled with great conversations.

A highlight of the event was the raffle, cleverly organised so that every attendee won something. It felt like a Secret Santa, and I was fortunate to win a couple of cigars and a cigar lighter—fantastic!

As the afternoon progressed, food was served—hot dogs and pizza, ideal for the occasion—and drinks were available from the bar.

Once Andy had some time to relax, we had a great conversation. He works at the Dean Clough complex, and years ago, he encountered a cigar smoker named Ivan Kuzio at one of the venues while on his work patrol. Drawn by the wonderful aroma of a cigar, Andy walked around the corner and saw Ivan and his friend sitting outside. He greeted them and complimented the scent, saying, “That cigar smells amazing.” Ivan asked if Andy was a cigar smoker, to which he replied that he only occasionally smoked inexpensive supermarket cigars. Ivan then reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigar case, and handed Andy a Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill to try. The following week, Ivan offered him a Montecristo in the same generous spirit.

In return, Andy bought some Wide Churchills to show his appreciation, and Ivan gifted him an old Behike 54 box, complete with a humidity chamber and a digital hygrometer, saying, “This will keep your cigars fresh until you get a humidor.” That moment sparked Andy’s journey into cigars, leading him from that initial cigar box to various desktop humidors, and eventually, two full cabinets. What started as a simple act of kindness turned into a friendship, evolving into regular cigar gatherings, or “herfs.”

Before I knew it, the hours had flown by. After more cigars and conversations, the event began to wind down, and we found ourselves among the last remaining attendees.

My time at the Halifax Herf had come to an end, but it was an incredible experience.

Before I left, Andy asked if I would be available for a live interview over Zoom for his other project, Cigar Lounge International (on Facebook), which has over 9.5k followers. Here he and Si Sweeney hosts weekly cigar herfs with cigar folk worldwide. Even though I felt a bit nervous, as video interviews are outside my comfort zone, I immediately agreed.

During the call, I had the chance to chat with Boston Jimmie of StogiePress, who is like an older, more experienced version of me in a cool way. He has created an amazing cigar website in the USA. I also spoke with Ismael from BAMF (Bad Ass Mother F*cker) cigars – who will hopefully be visiting the UK soon.

Andy has helped build this fantastic online cigar community. They meet every Tuesday at 7pm GMT (UK) and 2pm EST (US) for events. You can visit cigarloungeinternational.com for more information.

Aanyways I digress a little…

Interested in attending Halifax Herf?

Join the Halifax Herf Facebook page to receive notifications about upcoming events. There are approx two a year!

Also check out our #SOTL (Sister of the Leaf) Pandora’s video from the cigar herf a couple of years back 👇

And finally do check out Churchill’s Tobacconist in Earby. I hope to visit there at some point in the future 🙏