Cigars

  • The Ritz London opens new Cigar Shop & Sampling Lounge

    The Ritz London opens new Cigar Shop & Sampling Lounge

    The Ritz London has officially opened its new cigar shop and sampling lounge, replacing the previous venue, which closed over the weekend. Located in a different part of the hotel, the new space features a purpose-built shop, dedicated sampling lounge, newly installed humidors… …and direct access to the hotel’s garden, allowing guests to sample cigars…

  • A visit to The Cigar Room in Brighton & Hove

    A visit to The Cigar Room in Brighton & Hove

    My trek around the UK visiting cigar shops with sampling lounges continued in full force this week. In what felt like peak summer vibes, I spent this week’s recent Bank Holiday Monday down in Brighton & Hove on the south coast of England. Judging by the packed, sweaty trains heading down there and the beaches,…

  • Hunters & Frankau reveal details of Cuaba Yara LCDH exclusive at Ignite UK trade show

    Hunters & Frankau reveal details of Cuaba Yara LCDH exclusive at Ignite UK trade show

    UK cigar importer and distributor Hunters & Frankau has used the IGNITE UK trade show at Whittlebury Hall to place a spotlight on a new Cuban cigar from Cuaba, marking the brand’s 30th anniversary. The new release, the Cuaba Yara, will be produced exclusively for La Casa del Habano retail outlets and is set to be…

  • IGNITE 2026: UK Tobacco Retailers Conference & Show – Live Updates

    IGNITE 2026: UK Tobacco Retailers Conference & Show – Live Updates

    Live updates 🚨 from IGNITE 2026 — the UK Tobacco Retailers Conference & Show 2026, running from 15–17 May at Whittlebury Park in Northamptonshire. Sunday 17th May 2026 16:00 🇬🇧 And just like that… IGNITE 2026 comes to a close! It was an absolute pleasure to attend such a fantastic event and meet so many incredible people.…

  • Sampling cigars in the new Cigar Garden at Ottie’s Salon in Bloomsbury, London

    Sampling cigars in the new Cigar Garden at Ottie’s Salon in Bloomsbury, London

    London, are you ready for another spot to sample a cigar? I recently visited the cigar garden at Ottie’s Salon, part of the new Bertrand’s Townhouse boutique hotel, just moments away from Bloomsbury Square. I went there at the end of April as part of my birthday celebrations. Each year I like to mark the…

  • Sampling the Davidoff Puro Dominicano at No. 6 Cavendish

    Sampling the Davidoff Puro Dominicano at No. 6 Cavendish

    A couple of weeks ago, on April 23, 2026, the brand new Davidoff Puro Dominicano cigar made its debut in the UK. You might have seen the buzz on social media with photos and videos from a series of launch events taking place across the country… …along with footage from this year’s PCA Trade Show…

  • A visit to the cigar shop and Cuban inspired sampling lounge at Turmeaus Chester

    A visit to the cigar shop and Cuban inspired sampling lounge at Turmeaus Chester

    I’ve been wanting to try and visit ALL of the cigar shops with sampling lounges across the UK. I’ve been tracking some of that here. A couple of weeks back I was up in Liverpool visiting The Puffin Rooms. As I don’t drive and rely on trains and buses to get around, I try to…

  • Cigars at Turmeaus & Puffin Rooms Liverpool with the Irish Guard Veterans Cigar Club

    Cigars at Turmeaus & Puffin Rooms Liverpool with the Irish Guard Veterans Cigar Club

    I love herfing with different cigar communities across the UK. This week I was invited to the Irish Guards Veterans Cigar Club — “Bearskins & Burners” — for their second cigar event (the first being in 2024) at Puffin Rooms in Liverpool, hosted by Mitchell Orchant of CGars Ltd. I’d heard a lot about this…

  • PCA Trade Show 2026 – Highlights from afar

    PCA Trade Show 2026 – Highlights from afar

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show — the largest cigar trade event in the United States — is currently underway in New Orleans. Held this year from April 17 – 20 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the event remains a cornerstone of the US cigar calendar. With origins dating back to 1933,…

  • No 1 Lounge: New cigar sampling lounge set to open in Bristol in April

    No 1 Lounge: New cigar sampling lounge set to open in Bristol in April

    A new cigar sampling lounge and bar, No 1 Lounge, is set to open in Bristol next month, offering enthusiasts a space to sample premium cigars and experience curated tasting experiences. The venue is the latest venture from Bristol-based cigar merchant Salman Ullah, who already operates two Cigar Manor locations — one in Bristol and another…

  • A Visit to James Barber’s Tobacconist & Cohiba 60th Anniversary Dinner in Harrogate

    A Visit to James Barber’s Tobacconist & Cohiba 60th Anniversary Dinner in Harrogate

    This year, Cohiba is celebrating its 60th anniversary — six decades during which the brand has established itself as the world’s premium Cuban cigar. A box of 10 Cohiba Behike 52 cigars costs £3,500, which is around £350 per cigar. A Cohiba Behike 56 is approximately £500-£650 per cigar. There were rumours about a new…

  • Dominique London Opens Flagship La Casa del Habano on Pall Mall

    Dominique London Opens Flagship La Casa del Habano on Pall Mall

    After months of anticipation, Dominique London today officially opens its flagship La Casa del Habano boutique at 26 Pall Mall, London. The two-floor store welcomes visitors daily from 10:00 to 21:00, offering a curated luxury experience for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. The Pall Mall location marks the seventh La Casa del Habano in the UK,…

  • An evening at The Lanesborough: Inside London’s new pop-up, The Garden Room Cigar Terrace

    An evening at The Lanesborough: Inside London’s new pop-up, The Garden Room Cigar Terrace

    Last night I found myself with one of the hottest tickets in town — the opening of a new pop-up sampling lounge at The Garden Room at The Lanesborough, just by Hyde Park Corner and a short walk from Knightsbridge — and what an event! The evening brought together some real heavyweights from the cigar…

  • An Interview with Lisardo of Toro Puro – Online Cigar Shop

    An Interview with Lisardo of Toro Puro – Online Cigar Shop

    I’m always excited to discover new cigar businesses across the UK, and last year I came across Lisardo Vivas from Cardiff who has created Toro Puro, an online cigar shop designed around the complete cigar ritual. From carefully selecting each cigar to the moment it arrives at your door, every step is crafted to make…

  • A review of the new Havana House Cortesano cigar, blended by Eladio Diaz

    A review of the new Havana House Cortesano cigar, blended by Eladio Diaz

    Blimey, Havana House aren’t messing about. After months of anticipation, first sparked by a brief reveal last August — last month they finally released their first custom-blended cigar at a really reasonable price point… and it tastes great! In recent years, several UK retailers have launched their own house blends. JJ Fox introduced the Fox…