Yes, the drinks they serve during the session are mixed. You need to sample the botanicals to see what you want to blend your bottle with. Once you have your own blend you then sample everyone else’s, you could skip this part or ask for some tonic to mix. It really was a fantastic experience.

Yes, on the second floor there is a Tapas style Resturant which is pretty good. Definable eat something, you will be offered about 5 different gin drinks as you go through the history of gin; afterwards you and about a dozen or so other people will go in another room and flavor gin to take with you. You will have an opportunity to sample each other’s flavored gin. If you are a visitor and want to take the gin back to your home country, plan ahead and bring the appropriate packaging. You will also leave with a fifth of their gin as well. You will have a good time. Enjoy!!

Each guest tastes 17 botanicals, and out of this you're advised to choose 6 (I think) - one dry, one spicy, one sweet and three others. Your own bottle of gin is made from these, but before sealing the bottle everyone gets to taste each other's, so that if someone's come up with a particular blend that you like, you can order a bottle of their blend. Everyone in the room agreed that they preferred mine - which I'm sure was pure luck - but if you want to try it, be my guest. You can order a bottle of no. 29091. # You leave with an individual bottle of your own concoction, plus a bottle of Portobello Gin. So my wife and I left with four bottles

3 hours in total

About 3 - 3,5 hours. Depends a bit on the interaction within the group.

We paid £120 each, but you get 2 bottles of gin to take away and you get 4 gins during the experience

Yes you do share from the same glass but the alcohol sure kills off any germs. Don’t be put off.

Yes each person has their own made and receives a bottle to take home

Not good. I didn’t see a lift and there are stairs

Hi I'm sorry I don't know what time the restaurant opens. We visited at 2pm so had lunch nearby. There are several places to eat nearby in Portabello road or give the Ginstitute a ring and they maybe able to help you. I hope you have a good time.