What kind of events does Jane Peyton speak at?

Jane Peyton speaks at a wide range of events including conferences, corporate dinners, after-dinner speaking engagements, lectures, business and social events, tasting masterclasses, and private hospitality events. She has spoken in the UK and internationally, with international clients including Cider Australia and the Japan International Beer Cup. She has also delivered talks and events for organisations including Molson Coors, the Gin Guild, Regent's University, the Foundling Museum in London, and Atom Brands.

What topics does Jane Peyton speak on?

Jane Peyton's specialist subject is alcoholic drinks history and culture, which she delivers with storytelling, humour, and expert knowledge. Named talks and tasting masterclasses include: Gin – The Rollicking History of Madam Geneva; How The Desire for Beer Created Civilisation and Other Fascinating Facts About the First Global Beverage; Just What the Doctor Ordered – The Historic Role of Alcohol in Health and Nutrition; Cocktails with King Midas and Other Tales from the Drinks Cabinet; and Horrid Hangover History – The Peculiar Ways Humans Have Attempted to Cure Them. Bespoke subjects can be developed on request.

Is Jane Peyton available as an after-dinner speaker?

Yes. After-dinner speaking is one of Jane Peyton's most in-demand services. She is known for being funny, engaging, and deeply knowledgeable, with a warm and approachable style that works equally well for intimate dinners and large event audiences. Atom Brands described her after-dinner speech as brilliant, funny, and engaging. The Gin Guild noted she spoke with confidence and great knowledge at their after-dinner event.

What makes Jane Peyton different from other public speakers on food and drink?

Jane Peyton brings a rare combination of formal accreditation, deep historical knowledge, and genuine entertainment value. She is an accredited sommelier of beer, cider, wine, and spirits; Britain's first Beer Sommelier of the Year; the UK's first accredited Pommelier; a Guinness World Record holder for hosting the world's largest beer tasting tutorial; the creator of Beer Day Britain; and the author of fourteen non-fiction books on drinks. Regent's University described her as eloquent, erudite, and entertaining and consistently receives excellent feedback from students. Molson Coors called her a phenomenal speaker who tells the story in a unique and engaging way.

Does Jane Peyton combine talks with live tastings?

Yes. Jane regularly delivers talks and tasting masterclasses together, making her events interactive and memorable as well as informative. Tasting masterclasses are particularly popular at corporate dinners, hospitality events, and conference sessions where engagement and enjoyment are priorities alongside education.

Does Jane Peyton speak internationally?

Yes. Jane speaks at events in the UK and overseas. International clients have included Cider Australia and the Japan International Beer Cup. She is experienced at adapting her content and delivery for different audiences and cultural contexts.

What do event organisers say about booking Jane Peyton?

Event organisers consistently highlight Jane's reliability, professionalism, and ability to deliver on brief. Sapphire Private DMC, which books Jane regularly for global clients, describes her as brilliant, funny, charming, and very knowledgeable. Rockit Fish Events notes she is a master of her trade whose passion for the industry makes her truly unique. The Foundling Museum praised the glowing feedback received from attendees at two separate events.

How do I book Jane Peyton as a public speaker or after-dinner speaker?

To enquire about availability and discuss your event requirements, contact Jane directly at jane@school-of-booze.com or call +44 7729 601 590. You can also download Jane's Speaker Sheet from jane-peyton.com for full details of her talk topics, event types, and credentials. A PDF of testimonials from public speaking engagements is also available to download from the same site.

Drinks Historian After Dinner Speaker UK

Jane Peyton is a drinks historian speaker and one of the UK’s most distinctive after dinner speakers and conference keynotes – an expert storyteller who makes drinks history genuinely funny, surprising, and unforgettable.

Whether she’s tracing the ancient origins of beer, uncovering the scandalous history of gin, or revealing the bizarre things humans have done to cure a hangover, Jane brings specialist knowledge and genuine passion to every event. Her talks combine rigorous research with warm, witty delivery – the kind of after dinner speech that people are still quoting the next morning.

If you are looking to book a drinks historian for an entertaining after dinner speech then you have found her.

Corporate Dinners, Conferences & Hospitality Events

Jane speaks at corporate dinners, conferences, awards evenings, hospitality events, and private gatherings across the UK and internationally. She is equally at home as a keynote speaker addressing a thousand delegates and as an intimate after dinner entertainer for a private dinner of twenty. Clients include global drinks brands, corporate businesses, trade associations, cultural institutions, and hospitality organisations.

Who books Jane?

Event planners and conference organisers book Jane when they want a drinks history after dinner speaker UK who is genuinely expert in their subject – not a generalist – and who will entertain an audience rather than lecture it. See Jane’s biography page by clicking here. She is particularly in demand for:

Corporate dinners and awards evenings where drinks are being celebrated or where a drinks brand is the host. Book a corporate drinks speaker UK
Industry conferences in the beer, wine, spirits, cider, and hospitality sectors
Cultural institutions and museums looking for accessible, engaging public talks
Universities and professional training organisations
Private members’ clubs and luxury hospitality events. Book a drinks history speaker UK
International conferences – Jane has spoken for clients including Cider Australia and Japan International Beer Cup

Jane’s talks and tasting masterclasses

Each talk can be delivered as a standalone presentation or combined with a guided tasting masterclass, where guests sample drinks that bring the history to life. Whatever the format the audience is entertained and leaves with new knowledge to share with friends and colleagues. Book a drinks history speaker UK.

Gin – The Rollicking History of Madam Geneva – A riotous romp through gin’s turbulent past — from its origins as medicine to the chaos of the London Gin Craze and its reinvention as the world’s favourite spirit. A funny, fact-packed gin history talk for corporate dinners and conferences. Perfect for gin brand events, trade dinners, and anyone who wants to know why gin has such a colourful reputation. Book Jane Peyton, a gin history speaker UK.

How The Desire for Beer Created Civilisation – The case that beer didn’t just accompany human progress, it drove it. A talk that takes audiences from pre-history to the modern craft beer revolution, packed with facts that make even non-beer-drinkers see the world differently. Book Jane Peyton a beer history keynote speaker.

Just What the Doctor Ordered : The Historic Role of Alcohol in Health & Nutrition – A fascinating and frequently surprising look at how alcohol was prescribed and celebrated by physicians across the centuries. Ideal for medical, pharmaceutical, and general audience events.

Cocktails with King Midas and Other Tales from the Drinks Cabinet – A panoramic history of alcohol from antiquity to the present day – kings, queens, pirates, prohibition, and the stories behind the world’s most iconic drinks. Book Jane Peyton, a cocktail history speaker UK.

Horrid Hangover History – The peculiar, often desperate things humans have done to cure a hangover, from ancient remedies to Victorian quackery. Funny, gross, and genuinely enlightening. A crowd favourite for after dinner speaking slots.

Testimonials

Testimonials – download a PDF of some of Jane’s testimonials here.

We had such a blast with Jane Peyton. Her talk was full of anecdotes and scientific facts, delivered in such an approachable way. Massive thanks to Jane for two wonderful events, all of which received glowing feedback from attendees. Jamie Ruers, Foundling Museum, London

Jane’s after dinner speech was brilliant! Funny, engaging and wrapped up beautifully in that Jane Peyton charm. It was a really enjoyable keynote. Adrian Lugg, Atom Brands

Jane Peyton is brilliant. I love her personality. She always works with a big smile! She loves what she does, and you can tell. She is funny, charming, and very knowledgeable in her field. Raquel Alvarez, Sapphire Private DMC

Jane’s Speaker Sheet

Download the Speaker Sheet here

Book Jane for your event

Jane is available for after dinner speaking, conference keynotes, tasting masterclasses, and event hosting across the UK and internationally. Every talk is tailored to the audience and occasion.

To discuss your event and check availability, get in touch here.

What topics does Jane Peyton speak about?

Jane Peyton speaks on a wide range of drinks-related subjects including beer, cider, gin, wine, spirits, pub history, and the cultural history of alcohol. Her talks cover subjects including the drinking habits of historical figures like Cleopatra, Jane Austen and King Midas to why gin cocktails were just what the doctor ordered. She is particularly known for making alcoholic drinks history entertaining and accessible for any audience.

What types of events does Jane Peyton speak at?

Jane Peyton is available for after dinner speaking engagements, conferences, lectures, corporate hospitality events, business and social events. She has spoken at national and international industry conferences, food and drink festivals, tutored tastings, and private events, both in the UK and overseas.

Can Jane Peyton combine a talk with a drinks’ tasting?

Yes. Jane Peyton regularly combines presentations with guided drinks tastings, making her a unique booking who can both educate and entertain audiences at the same time. Tasting sessions can be tailored to beer, cider, wine, or other drinks categories depending on the event.

What qualifications does Jane Peyton hold in drinks?

Jane Peyton trained through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the Beer & Cider Academy, the UK’s official accredited education bodies for drinks. She was the UK’s first accredited Pommelier (cider sommelier) and was named Britain’s Beer Sommelier of the Year. She is also a former Imbibe Magazine Drinks Educator of the Year.

Has Jane Peyton spoken at international events?

Yes. Jane Peyton has spoken at events internationally, including Cider Australia’s national cider conference, the Japan International Beer Cup, and other overseas engagements. Her expertise in drinks history and culture travels well across different markets and audiences.

Is Jane Peyton suitable as an after-dinner speaker?

Yes. Jane Peyton is an experienced after dinner speaker known for being fun, witty, and engaging. She brings humour and storytelling to her talks, making her a popular choice for corporate dinners, awards evenings, and private functions where entertainment as well as expertise is required.

What is Jane Peyton's professional background?

Jane Peyton is a drinks educator, sommelier, author, broadcaster, and founder of School of Booze. Her professional background spans journalism, TV documentary production, radio and broadcast media, drinks writing, and education. She has appeared on BBC and commercial TV and radio and has written several books on alcoholic drinks.

How do I book Jane Peyton for a speaking engagement?

To book Jane Peyton for a conference, after dinner speech, corporate event, or lecture, email jane@school-of-booze.com or call +44 7729 601 590. She speaks at events across the UK and internationally, and sessions can be tailored to your audience and brief.

To book Jane for after dinner speaking, conferences, lectures, business or social event please email: jane@school-of-booze.com or call +44 7729 601 590

Meet Jane
on her
Promo Video

The F Word – How Fermentation Rules the World.'

Reviews for Jane Peyton

Jane Anderson, Executive Officer, Cider Australia

Cider Australia was so intrigued by Jane Peyton's drinks expertise that we invited her to speak at our national cider conference. Jane artfully matched serious debate about the global cider market with inspired insights, while keeping the audience superbly entertained. Jane is on an inspired journey to educate and brings everyone along for the ride.

Amanda Barry Hirst, Third Rock Communications

Jane is a natural and engaging speaker. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of her subject and easily captures and keeps her audience's attention. I can vouch for her energy and enthusiasm.

Sarah O’ Reilly, Molson Coors

Jane was a phenomenal speaker and told the story in such a unique and engaging way. Jane’s expertise and presentation style really did make this the best talk I attended.

Chris Ives, Founder Ilkley Brewery, and Otterbeck Distillery

Jane Peyton has spoken at many of our events and from start to finish always has the audience captivated with her amazing knowledge and story-telling ability. Whatever the subject Jane is able to bring interest and humour to the event and the presentation always sounds fresh and engaging. Jane is a real asset to our event team and I very much looking forward to our next project together.

Drinks Historian After Dinner Speaker UK