UK
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What an incredible end to the Summer! My return to Croatia for the 2026 Cigar Smoking World Championship Grand Final 🇭🇷🇬🇧
Wow, where do I start? What an absolutely incredible way to end the summer! A couple of years ago, I visited Croatia and knew I’d come back one day. I even mentioned it in my last blog post. Well, this time I had a pretty good reason to return — I was heading back to…
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British cigar smoker George Stansfield wins Cigar Smoking World Championship in Croatia
British cigar smoker George Stansfield has won the 2026 Cigar Smoking World Championship Grand Final in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Stansfield, a regular at Surrey Cigars in the UK, took the title with a time of 2 hours, 32 minutes and 50 seconds, beating competitors from around the world. For much of the competition, it looked as…
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Cohiba Talismán world launch: London event tickets confirmed at £600 plus VAT
The worldwide launch of the Cohiba Talismán will take place at Kensington Palace in October, with tickets confirmed at £600 plus VAT (which I believe makes it approximately £720). The event, marking Cohiba’s 60th anniversary, will take place at The Orangery at Kensington Palace on 7 October. Hunters & Frankau, which is hosting the London…
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Cohiba Talismán world launch: Venue moves to Kensington Palace
Following Habanos S.A.’s announcement of the worldwide launch of the Cohiba Talisman in London on 7 October, the highly anticipated event will be moved from The Roof Gardens in Kensington to the magnificent Orangery at Kensington Palace, following an exceptional level of interest from cigar aficionados across the UK and around the world. Set within the gardens of Kensington…
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[Venue has now changed] The Roof Gardens to host first international Cohiba 60th anniversary celebration
IMPORTANT VENUE UPDATE (26 AUG 2026) The venue for the first international Cohiba 60th anniversary celebration has changed. Please see the latest article here for the updated venue and event details. The Roof Gardens in Kensington has been chosen as the venue for the first official international celebration of Cohiba’s 60th anniversary, with the worldwide…
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London to host Cohiba Talismán world launch following Cuba cigar festival cancellation
This afternoon, Habanos S.A. announced that London will host a major event celebrating the 60th anniversary of Cuba’s iconic Cohiba cigar brand on 7 October, following the cancellation of this year’s Habanos Festival. The event will mark the global launch of the Cohiba Talismán, the newest addition to the brand’s Classic Line, as part of an…
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Oud Garden Cigar Lounge at Baloci Hotel, Birmingham
I often get messages from people asking where they can sample a cigar in Birmingham. Despite being the UK’s second-largest city and home to well over a million people, I’ve always found it surprisingly difficult to recommend dedicated cigar venues. Years ago, behind The Prince of Wales pub in Moseley, there was a small ‘cigar…
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Ramón Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024: UK Launch and Review
After a year of anticipation and international rollout, Hunters & Frankau (H&F) has officially launched the Ramón Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024 to the UK market. The launch event took place from November 10 to 14, 2025, featuring 52 events organised by Habanos Specialist retailers in cities across the country, including London, Edinburgh, Belfast, and…
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A new La Casa Del Habano opens in Sheffield at Mitchells Wines
A new chapter begins for cigar enthusiasts in South Yorkshire as Mitchells Wines proudly announces the opening of an official La Casa del Habano boutique in Sheffield. Located at 354A Meadowhead, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S8 7UJ, the store is now part of an exclusive global network of specialist Cuban cigar retailers. This new addition comes at a…
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UK cigar launch of the Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2025 inspired by the Artist
Wow, talk about starting the year with a bang! Last night, I had the privilege of attending an incredible event celebrating the launch of a new cigar, the Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2025 inspired by The Artist. The event was held at The Churchill Bar & Terrace, a luxurious cocktail bar featuring an outdoor…
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A visit to Cask 23’s cigar shop and sampling lounge in Leicester
At a recent cigar sampling event at Ten Trinity Square, a private members’ cigar lounge in London, I had the pleasure of meeting fellow cigar enthusiasts who had travelled from various parts of the UK to sample Number 11 cigars. Among the attendees was Liam, who recommended I visit his favourite local cigar lounge, Cask…
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The Year of the Snake cigars: A 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration
As 2024 comes to a close, anticipation is building for the release of Lunar New Year-themed cigars celebrating the Chinese zodiac. Among the most awaited releases for 2025 are cigars crafted in honour of The Year of the Snake. What are the “Year of the” cigars? These annual cigar releases are tailored to the Chinese…
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Celebrating 55 Years of Trinidad Cigars: A recap of what happened at Habanos World Days in London
London was the hottest place to be just over a week ago for any Cuban cigar lover. The biggest cigar smokers from across the globe gathered in town, for the 3-day Habanos World Days event, which took place on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June, 2024. All to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the…
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Trinidad Tasting Time, 55 UK Cigar Venues Celebrating the Year of the Trinidad, June 2024
Later this month, London will host Habanos World Days, a series of events from Thursday, June 20th, to Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, marking the grand 55th anniversary of the iconic Habanos cigar brand Trinidad. This series of events will include a cocktail party at Belgravia Square, a seminar and exhibition, and a gala dinner at…
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Exploring Number 11: A new arrival in the UK cigar and spirit scene
As I’ve progressed from being a cigar novice to an enthusiast, I’ve always been keen to try as many different cigar brands as possible. While I’m familiar with several renowned UK cigar specialist shops that produce and offer their own branded cigars, I have recently noticed a small increase in the number of independent UK…