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Create a living souvenir from a repurposed York Gin bottle with Alice from The Outside In. This two-hour terrarium workshop pairs step-by-step instruction with a complimentary York Gin & Tonic—perfect for travelers, dates, or anyone curious about bottle gardening.
Create a living souvenir from a repurposed York Gin bottle with Alice from The Outside In. This two-hour terrarium workshop pairs step-by-step instruction with a complimentary York Gin & Tonic—perfect for travelers, dates, or anyone curious about bottle gardening.
Book with York Distillery
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Operated by York Distillery · York, England
Step inside a hands-on craft session in the heart of York: Outside In’s Gin Bottle Terrarium Workshop offers two hours of focused creativity and slow-making for anyone who likes plants and good drinks. Located in York, England, this workshop is run by Alice of The Outside In and uses repurposed York Gin bottles as glass homes for miniature tropical gardens. On arrival you’re greeted with a complimentary York Gin & Tonic, then guided through terrarium history, substrate layering, and the delicate planting and styling that make a closed or open bottle ecosystem thrive.
The scene is intimate: a long communal table, trays of peaty soil, sphagnum moss, decorative stones, and compact tropical species selected for bottle life. Alice walks participants through each technical step — drainage layers, activated charcoal, a moisture-metering approach and light-placement — while leaving room for personal style. The end result is a compact living sculpture you can take home in the provided protective bag with an aftercare guide that demystifies watering schedules and light needs.
This experience stands out because it converts an iconic local product, York Gin, into the vessel for a living keepsake. The reuse of glass bottles is quietly practical and ties craft to place: a souvenir that’s circular rather than disposable. For York visitors who’ve walked the city walls or explored Museum Gardens, the terrarium workshop offers a slower way to carry a memory of the city home. It’s also a smart indoor option on wet British days, pairing creative focus with a social, low-stakes atmosphere that suits solo travelers, couples, and groups.
Key features include hands-on building and styling, step-by-step instruction from a local plant studio practitioner, a furnished bar offering premium drinks and snacks, and a finished piece that doubles as décor. The workshop is accessible to beginners; no prior plant experience is required. The materials list—moss, small ferns or fittonias, stones, and York Gin bottles—makes each finished terrarium unique. A brief historical aside: York’s long urban history, stretching from its Roman founding as Eboracum to its present as a hub for food and craft, feeds the city’s appetite for well-made, locally rooted experiences like this.
Book ahead as sessions fill quickly; arrive ten minutes early to choose a bottle and settle. The workshop suits travelers wanting a hands-on souvenir, friends celebrating a small occasion, or locals learning a new hobby. Aftercare notes and the protective bag make transporting your terrarium easy, and basic maintenance keeps it thriving in a bright windowsill or hotel room.
easy.
2 hours.
No physical fitness required beyond standing for short periods and light handling of materials
No experience required—Alice guides you step-by-step and the workshop is designed for beginners.
Yes, you receive a protective bag and instructions for safe transport; keep the bottle upright and cushioned in transit.
Age limits are not specified here; check with the booking provider for any minimum age or parental requirements.
Materials typically include sphagnum moss, small tropical plants like fittonias or mini ferns, decorative stones and charcoal for drainage.
With correct light and minimal watering, a well-made terrarium can thrive for months or years; the aftercare guide provides routines.
Yes—participants usually choose from available repurposed York Gin bottles and can personalize layout and decorative elements.
York began as the Roman town Eboracum and grew through Viking and medieval eras; its craft scene today draws on that long local tradition.
The workshop reuses York Gin bottles and emphasizes low-waste materials and plant care, encouraging participants to choose repair and maintenance over disposable souvenirs.
York Distillery, located in York, England, is a boutique distillery and tasting venue offering hands-on gin workshops, guided tastings and a speakeasy-style bar. The distillery’s programme includes make-your-own-gin workshops where participants take part in a guided tasting, learn the history of gin, select botanicals from the on-site garden and distill a personalised 700ml bottle to take home. Alongside gin workshops, York Distillery runs a range of tasting events: wine and crisps evenings, beer and crisps tastings led by expert Emma Moore, festive sparkling wine events, Champagne tastings for New Year, and mixed drink-and-cheese seasonal sessions. The venue also provides gin tastings and curated flights of spirits, wines and beers in a cosy speakeasy setting, with generous serves and storytelling around each pour. Experiences are designed for small groups, special events and casual evenings out. Guided formats and named hosts provide structure and insight during tastings, while hands-on workshops offer a practical distillation takeaway. York Distillery balances education and entertainment, making events suitable for enthusiasts and newcomers. Booking details, availability and specific event timings are listed on the distillery’s events or booking pages. All offerings are presented in a relaxed, social environment in York, emphasising flavour discovery, crafted spirits and seasonal celebrations.
Book with York Distillery