No wind, no rain, just festoon lights, live jazz and a street full of good spirits

Last October, Gin and Jazz never happened. It was blowing a hoolie, the rain was coming down sideways, and the whole thing was called off.

This year, George Street made up for it.

Glasses of beer and prosecco raised in a toast above the crowd at St Albans Gin and Jazz, with festoon lights overhead — Cheers to a dry year.

On Friday 2nd October 2026, St Albans Gin and Jazz took over George Street from 6pm to 10.30pm. The night was mild and dry, the street was packed from one side to the other, and everyone was in good spirits. Literally.

I went along with friends, as we have for quite a few years now. I wasn’t there to work. But I’m a photographer, so the camera came too. Here’s what the night looked like.

Gin and Jazz 2026 at a glance

What: St Albans Gin and Jazz, an award-winning evening of drinks, live music and late-night shopping
Where: George Street, St Albans city centre, Hertfordshire
When: Friday 2nd October 2026, 6pm to 10.30pm
Organised by: St Albans City Centre BID, who have run it since 2017
Weather: Mild and dry, a year after the event was cancelled because of wind and rain

What is St Albans Gin and Jazz?

Gin and Jazz is one of those nights that shows off what St Albans does best. St Albans City Centre BID has run it since 2017. The idea is simple: bring people into the city centre after dark and give them a reason to stay.

It works. Most of the shops along George Street stayed open late. Each one had a table outside, loaded with bottles of gin, rum, prosecco or beer, and each table had its own queue of willing drinkers. There was food too, for anyone who needed something to soak it all up.

Crowds packing George Street, St Albans, at night under strings of festoon lights — George Street, packed from one side to the other.

Busy crowd with drinks outside Flower Box and Officine Bagutta on George Street, St Albans — Shops stayed open late, and the crowds spilled right up to their doors.

That’s what makes it more than a street party. Every drink bought and every browse inside a shop puts money into local businesses. These are the independent shops, bars and restaurants that make St Albans feel like St Albans. The BID did a magnificent job pulling it all together.

The night itself

We arrived at about 8pm and stayed for a good couple of hours. The whole length of George Street was busy, and the atmosphere was buzzing.

People filling a covered passageway off George Street, St Albans, lit by lanterns and festoon lights — Every corner was busy, even the passageways.

Live jazz bands had the crowds singing and dancing in the street. Further along, a DJ set at George Street Canteen was playing some great tunes, and the courtyard was full.

Busy George Street outside George Street Canteen, St Albans, at night with festoon lights between the buildings — George Street Canteen, one of the busiest spots of the night.

Around 9pm, the festoon lights came on. That’s when the street really came alive. George Street’s old timber-framed buildings are lovely at any time, but under strings of warm bulbs the whole place took on even more character. It’s also when I started shooting properly.

How I photographed the night

Event photography is about people, not places. A packed street only tells a story when you can see the faces in it: someone mid-laugh, a raised glass, a bartender concentrating on the perfect pour.

Here’s what I do on a night like this:

Use the light that’s already there. Festoon lights, shop windows and lanterns give a warm, natural glow. Flash would have flattened it and made everyone turn to face the camera.
Stay still and let the crowd move. Stand in one spot long enough and people stop noticing you. That’s when the candid moments happen, like the toast in the first photo.
Mix wide shots with close ones. Wide shots show the scale of the crowd. Close shots, like the prosecco pour or the light-up BAR sign, show the detail. You need both to tell the whole story.
Follow the music. Bands and DJs give a set of photos energy. Their audience reacts to them, which gives you even more to work with.

Bartender pouring prosecco at a stall outside a shop on George Street, St Albans — The perfect pour.

Light-up BAR letters on a drinks table lined with gin bottles at St Albans Gin and Jazz — Plenty of gin to go round.

Every image was then edited by me. Low light is tricky, so the editing matters. I balance the warm festoon light against the darker shadows, lift faces out of the gloom and keep the colours true to how the night felt. The aim is photos that look the way you remember the evening, not like a filter.

The music

Five-piece jazz band playing keyboard, saxophone, double bass, drums and guitar under a gazebo on George Street, St Albans — The jazz half of Gin and Jazz.

Jazz band playing double bass, drums and guitar live on George Street, St Albans — Live jazz had the crowds singing and dancing.

DJ playing a set in the courtyard at George Street Canteen, St Albans — The DJ kept the Canteen courtyard moving all night.

Looking back through the photos, what stands out is how friendly the whole night was. Crowds that size can feel hectic. This didn’t. People were chatting to strangers in queues, dancing to the bands and toasting each other under the lights.

Those are the moments that make an event photo worth looking at. Not a posed group at the start of the night, but the real thing as it happens.

What this means if you’re planning an event

If you’re running an event in St Albans or Hertfordshire, the photos are what people see long after the night is over. They fill your social feeds, your website and next year’s promotion.

Good event photos do three things:

They sell next year’s event. People see the atmosphere and want to be part of it.
They give your partners something to share. Every stall, sponsor and performer gets photos of themselves at their best.
They show the value. For organisations like the BID, photos show the buzz on the street in a way a spreadsheet can’t.

I work quietly in the background so people relax and forget I’m there. That’s why the photos feel natural. You can see more of my work on my event photographer St Albans page.

And if you fancy exploring the city beyond George Street, my guide to hidden gems in St Albans has plenty more to discover.

Planning an event in St Albans?

If you’ve got an event coming up and you’d like photos that capture how it actually felt, I’d love to hear about it. Tell me a little about what you’re planning, and I’ll come back to you with some ideas and a quote.

Tell me about your event

Questions about St Albans Gin and Jazz

When was St Albans Gin and Jazz 2026?

It was on Friday 2nd October 2026, from 6pm to 10.30pm, on George Street in St Albans city centre. Keep an eye on the St Albans City Centre BID website for next year’s date.

Who organises Gin and Jazz in St Albans?

St Albans City Centre BID has organised Gin and Jazz since 2017. It’s an award-winning event that brings people into the city in the evening and supports local hospitality and retail businesses.

What happens at St Albans Gin and Jazz?

Shops along George Street stay open late, with drinks tables outside selling gin, rum, prosecco and beer. There’s food, live jazz bands and a DJ at George Street Canteen. Festoon lights come on as it gets dark.

Was Gin and Jazz cancelled in 2025?

Yes. The 2025 event was called off because of strong winds and heavy rain. The 2026 event was mild and dry, and George Street was packed.

Can I hire you to photograph an event in St Albans?

Yes. I photograph corporate events, launches, community events and street festivals across St Albans, Hertfordshire and London. I shoot in a relaxed, candid style, so your photos show the real atmosphere of your event.

St Albans Gin and Jazz 2026 on George Street