Customer service staff couldn't be more helpful. my delivery was late and damaged, missing product on arrival and they arranged for replacements without any hassle. Just a shame they use Evri for cou... See more
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
The boxes have been great and the service from Desmond Jones was very helpful, pleasant on the phone and understood what I was looking to do which I appreciate. The website is very misleading in r... See more
Replying to Craft Gin Club now owned by The Curious Drinker! Unbeknown to me!! Desmond Jones, based in Durban South Africa! was helpful but could jot deal directly with my issue of a returned i... See more
My online shopping resulted in a gift of rum samples which were sent out immediately. Packed really well, they were a lovely treat. Customer service at Craft Gin Club is very responsive. Today I spoke... See more
Company details
Written by the company
The Curious Drinker is the UK’s leading discovery club for drinks enthusiasts who love exploring something new. Every month, members receive a surprise box showcasing exceptional spirits and drinks from independent and high-quality producers, paired with mixers, cocktail ingredients and curated treats, plus our club magazine. We inspire curiosity through flavour, craftsmanship and memorable drinks experiences.
Contact info
Alpha House, 100 Borough High Street , SE1 1LB, London, United Kingdom
- members@thecuriousdrinker.com
- thecuriousdrinker.com
3.9
Great
5K reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 97% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 week
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Great service
I spoke to Desmond, admittedly after a longer wait on hold than I would have liked. Desmond was helpful and polite and resolved my issue immediately.
Great service.
25 June 2026
Unprompted review
It’s definitely a scum!
It’s definitely a scum!! They make you subscribe when you don’t want to, and the cancellation it’s so difficult!!
23 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Gianfranco, We'd like to clarify that we never subscribe anyone without their consent. Members actively choose to join our subscription, agree to our Terms & Conditions during sign-up, and receive a series of confirmation emails explaining how their membership works, including future renewals.
Regarding cancellations, we appreciate that calling isn't everyone's preferred option. However, we ask members to call us so we can ensure memberships are closed correctly, answer any final questions and gather valuable feedback. The average cancellation call takes around two minutes, including wait time.
If a renewal has already been processed before a membership is cancelled, members are never stuck with a box. We have a straightforward returns process, and our team is always happy to explain how this works.
If you need any assistance with your membership, please email us at members@thecuriousdrinker.com and we'll be happy to help.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
Desmond was quick and helpful sorting…
Desmond was quick and helpful sorting my issue. Thank you!
25 June 2026
Unprompted review
Better customer service - go elsewhere
Why do you have to call to cancel a membership, really awful sales policy that isn't needed. Legally you can give notice in writing/email but the company won't do that so you have to waste your time sitting in line on the phone to cancel.
Not good customer service and pleased i've left now as there are better gin customer experiences out there.
25 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi There, Thank you for your feedback.
We appreciate that calling to cancel isn't everyone's preferred option. However, we choose to handle cancellations by phone so we can ensure memberships are closed correctly, answer any final questions and gather valuable feedback from our members. The average cancellation call takes around two minutes, including wait time.
During the call, our team may also make members aware of options such as pausing their membership or any available offers, but these are entirely optional. If a member wishes to cancel, we will always process their request.
While you mention giving notice by email, our membership terms explain that cancellations are completed through our dedicated cancellation process rather than by email alone. This helps ensure there is no confusion over the status of a membership or future renewals.
We're sorry to hear that our service wasn't the right fit for you, but we thank you for having been a member and wish you all the best in finding a subscription that better suits your preferences.
Kind Regards,
Sophie
Memberships Executive
Don’t be lured in by the cheap rum!
I signed up for the rum subscription, tempted by the cheap price of the rum. I can’t complain about the product, all really good but cancelling or trying to explain and get understood was hard. I spoke to a man named Desmond to cancel and he was brilliant, but all email communication has been frustrating. To skip a box, you have to skip by 6pm on the 22nd. I went into my account numerous times to check I had skipped the box. It said I had. But I was worried, so kept checking. Then on the 23rd, the money went out. Box ordered. I tried to explain this but both times I was just told why I had to cancel by 6pm on the 22nd! All I wanted was the box cancelled and an acknowledgment that the mobile site was iffy. Instead, I’ll need to pack it up and send it back, which I really haven’t got the time or means to do! Really frustrating.
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Michelle, Thank you for your review.
We're pleased to hear you enjoyed the quality of the rum and that Desmond was able to provide you with great service during your cancellation call. We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to him.
While we occasionally offer introductory discounts for new members, we're a premium spirits subscription and the quality and value of the rum itself never changes. Every monthly box is carefully curated to showcase exceptional rums, regardless of how a member joined.
Regarding skipping a box, members can manage this themselves through their account before the monthly cut-off at 6pm on the 22nd. We've looked into your comments regarding the mobile site, and we have no record of a wider issue affecting the skip function. If a skip is successfully applied, it will prevent the following month's renewal.
Once a renewal has been processed and a box has entered fulfilment, we're unable to stop it from being dispatched. However, members are never stuck with a box, and we do offer a straightforward returns process should they no longer wish to receive it.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
Needed cancel my membership.
Needed cancel my membership as I was hoping for natural rums not the spiced versions. Desmond was quick to understand and cancelled the subscription/membership.
A for the product I must say the Presentation and packaging was probably some of the best I've seen.
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Terrible customer service
Having been a customer of craft gin for a while, I have typically had a good experience. However, since the rebranding I had a terrible experience. I attempted to cancel my membership online many times but I kept getting error messages. I emailed customer service as I wanted to ensure that I did not get charged for any future deliveries, and I was ignored. They said that I had missed the deadline (the day their website wasn't working) and they could not provide a refund (despite the technical issue being on their end). I must add that I had to chase for a reply, the first reply I got they totally ignored what I asked, it was clearly a generic email. Needless to say I was extremely disappointed. I have since cancelled my membership and would not recommend this company to anyone looking for a pleasant and easy experience or friendly customer service. Very disappointing.
23 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Petia, Thank you for your review.
To complete a cancellation, members are asked to call our team, with the average cancellation call taking around two minutes, including wait time.
Regarding the website, we have no record of a wider technical issue preventing members from managing their accounts on the day you mention. If there had been a platform-wide problem, we would of course have investigated it and supported any members affected.
Once a monthly renewal has been processed and your box has entered fulfilment, we're unable to stop it from being dispatched. However, members are never stuck with a box, and we offer a straightforward returns process should they no longer wish to keep it.
We're sorry to hear you felt our initial email didn't answer your query. Our aim is always to provide clear guidance, and where a cancellation request is received by email, this includes explaining the steps needed to complete the process.
Thank you again for your feedback, and we wish you all the best.
Kind Regards,
Sophie
Memberships Executive
Desmond Jones was very articulate and…
Desmond Jones was very articulate and understanding, he is an asset to your customer experience
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Anna listens well and was very helpful…
Anna listens well and was very helpful with cancelling my account
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
In the past they've been really…
In the past they've been really helpful, replacing missing delivery etc. But to cancel your membership ...
It was like an inquisition ...just stick with no firmly and politely.
To save £30 on my next 3 deliveries I'd have had to spend to "save"
I'd lose my benefits ie 92p credit, wow.
Thank you Anna but the company needs to make it easier than hanging on a phone to be picked up for 4 mins 10 seconds,suggest you activate the cancel subscription save you and your customers faffing around.
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Sally, Thank you for your review and for your kind comments about our Memberships Team. We're pleased to hear we've been able to help with issues such as replacement deliveries in the past.
Regarding your cancellation call, our team may make members aware of any offers or benefits available before processing a cancellation. In your case, this sounds like an offer of £10 off your next three boxes. These offers are entirely optional and are simply there to give members the opportunity to stay on if they'd find the membership better value.
Similarly, your cashback balance is money earned from purchases you've already made with us. We simply make members aware of any balance remaining before they cancel, so they have the opportunity to use it if they wish. There is absolutely no obligation to do so.
Looking at your experience, your wait time of just over four minutes is in line with what we would expect on a busy day, with our average cancellation calls typically taking around two minutes, including wait time.
We appreciate that some members would prefer an online cancellation option. However, we continue to handle cancellations by phone so we can ensure memberships are closed correctly, answer any final questions and make members aware of any available options or benefits before they make their final decision.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
I am extremely disappointed with the…
I am extremely disappointed with the level of customer service I have received.
After previously cancelling my subscription, I was advised that another subscription box was due to be sent. I contacted customer services by email immediately to explain that I did not want the box and believed the subscription had already been cancelled. I was then informed that it was “too late” to stop the box from being sent.
I subsequently requested that the subscription be cancelled to prevent any future deliveries, only to be told that this could not be done by email and that I would need to call instead. When I phoned, I was left waiting on hold for approximately 15 minutes, which added further frustration to an already poor experience.
The quality of customer service has noticeably declined since the company changed ownership/name. Under Craft Gin Club, customer service was excellent, with issues handled quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, my recent experience has been the complete opposite, with poor communication, unnecessary inconvenience, and a lack of flexibility in resolving a straightforward issue.
As a long-standing customer, this experience has left me very dissatisfied and has significantly reduced my confidence in the company.
I will not be recommending this company to any of my friends and colleagues
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Amanda, Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We've looked into your account and can see that, following your previous email, we replied with the steps required to complete your cancellation. However, those steps were not completed, which is why your membership remained active and your next renewal was processed.
Once a monthly renewal has been processed and your box has entered our fulfilment system, we're unfortunately unable to stop it from being dispatched. However, if you no longer wish to keep it, we do offer a straightforward returns process. Simply get in touch with our team and we'll explain how to return the box.
Regarding the phone call, our average cancellation call takes around two minutes, including wait time. On busier renewal days, wait times can occasionally be longer. For example, on the 23rd of this month, our average wait time was around six minutes due to increased call volumes.
We appreciate that calling to cancel isn't everyone's preferred option, but we do require this to ensure memberships are closed correctly, answer any final questions and prevent any confusion over future renewals.
Finally, we'd like to clarify that while our brand has evolved from Craft Gin Club to The Curious Drinker, our commitment to providing a great service remains the same, and we're continually reviewing our processes based on member feedback.
If you have any further questions or need any assistance, our team will be happy to help.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
BEWARE!
BEWARE!! Do not sign up for a subscription to any of their services. I cancelled my subscription in May with great difficulty as it’s impossible to cancel on line. They have then taken another payment this month without permission to restart the subscription although I emailed disputing this. They are trading under 2 names Craft Gin and Curious Drinker!! Please just avoid and buy elsewhere
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Amanda, Thank you for your review.
We've looked into your account and can see that when you contacted us in May, we replied with the steps required to complete your cancellation. However, those steps were not completed, which is why your membership has remained active.
We've now sent you another email with the cancellation process. Once this has been completed, your membership will be cancelled.
For clarity, memberships cannot be cancelled by email alone. Members are asked to complete our cancellation process, which includes a short phone call. The average call takes around two minutes, including wait time, and ensures memberships are closed correctly while giving members the opportunity to ask any final questions.
We'd also like to clarify that Craft Gin Club and The Curious Drinker are part of the same group, we've gone through a rebrand, but memberships are never restarted without a member having an active subscription.
If you have any further questions after receiving our latest email, our team will be happy to help you complete the process.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
I have had a great experience
I have had a great experience with The Curious Drinker! I love discovering new gins and i just had the Hugo Spritz box and that was amazing, i will likely order another one
19 June 2026
Unprompted review
Took way to long to get in touch ..
Took way to long to get in touch ... on and off over 2 days with an email response telling us to try and call again! Not a good example of customer service
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Lynn, Thank you for your feedback.
We're sorry you felt our response time wasn't up to your expectations.
Our team responds to all emails within two working days, and we're proud of the level of service we provide to our members. While we appreciate that waiting for a reply can be frustrating, we work hard to ensure every enquiry receives a helpful and considered response.
If your query related to cancelling your membership, we would have advised you to call our team, as cancellations are completed over the phone. This allows us to ensure memberships are closed correctly, answer any final questions and gather valuable feedback. The average cancellation call takes around two minutes, including wait time, although wait times can occasionally be longer on our busiest renewal days.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We continually review member feedback to help us improve our service even further.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
Don’t trust this company Fake scammers
Horrible absolutely terrible customer
Service,,, I’ve emailed and wrote messages
Over and over
Now they took 3 payments of
£47 in 2 days
11/06/26
23/06/26
24/06/26
And I’m on bi-monthly these lot are scammers
And it’s fraud I’ve reported this to my bank
And I have to wait 7 days to get money back
And stop payment
I’ve sent my phone number and email
Repeatedly,. And no one replies ever
I want to cancel and it says go on the web
Page,, their web page has no access to
Cancellation,,,,
Scammers,, theft and don’t care
It’s not even worth £47
It’s a scam and they will reply to this
With some cocky comments n attitude
Reckoning to help
Don’t trust this company
Fake and theft they’ve have had ample opportunity
To get in touch with me
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi There, First and foremost, The Curious Drinker is not a scam. We are a legitimate subscription service with thousands of members who receive their monthly or bi-monthly boxes as expected.
We've attempted to contact you regarding your concerns but, unfortunately, haven't received a response. At this stage, we're unable to investigate your account without hearing back from you. If you'd like us to look into this, please email us at members@thecuriousdrinker.com. You'll know your message has reached us because you'll receive an automatic acknowledgement. If you don't see this, we recommend checking your spam or junk folder, as our replies can occasionally end up there.
From the dates you've included in your review, it appears you signed up on 11/06/26. As explained during the sign-up process, we are a subscription service, and all members are billed on the 23rd of each month, with deliveries taking place during the first week of the following month. These billing and delivery schedules are clearly outlined before joining.
Regarding your comment that nobody replies, we respond to every customer enquiry. Our average response time is around 24 hours, and we aim to reply to all support tickets within 48 hours.
You also mention that the box isn't worth £47. We respectfully disagree. In fact, every box contains products with a retail value exceeding £47. If you're happy to get back in touch, we'd be more than happy to provide a full value breakdown of the contents of your box.
We genuinely want to resolve this for you, but we can only do so once we're able to locate your account and discuss the issue directly. We look forward to hearing from you so we can investigate this properly.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
I needed to cancel for personal reasons.
I needed to cancel for personal reasons. I was dealt with professionally and courteously. I have enjoyed all the gins I have received over time, some more than others and hope to rejoin once circumstances change.
24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Warning to Members: Sneaky Subscription Practices
I have been a member of Craft Gin Club/The Curious Drinker for many years, but their newly launched website has hidden the option to skip or cancel boxes deep under the "Change Frequency" tab. Because of this, I was automatically charged.
When I immediately exercised my statutory 14-day cooling-off rights, customer service ignored my emails and tried to claim company policy overrides UK law. I have had to force a chargeback through Barclays bank and have reported them to Trading Standards under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Check your accounts and look under the frequency tab if you need to skip!
In response to The Curious Drinker:
1. Buried Settings & Friction: The "Skip Box" tab used to be clearly visible at the bottom of the Manage Plan page. Moving it so a member must click "Change Plan" then "Change Frequency" just to find "Skip Box" is the exact definition of a buried setting. A user-friendly design puts a single-click skip button on the main dashboard. Your website redesign creates unnecessary friction to trap cancellations, which directly breaches the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC).
2. Misleading Statutory Rights: You do not honour statutory rights; you force sales. When I asked to cancel within hours of order confirmation, your team replied: "If you cancel on or after the charge date, you'll still receive the upcoming box." This is a corporate bluff. Company T&Cs do not override the UK Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Consumers have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period from the moment payment is taken. Claiming otherwise is legally invalid.
3. Hidden Financial Penalties: Calling your 30-day return policy "generous" is misleading. You expect customers to pay out-of-pocket to return a heavy box of liquids, even when they exercised their statutory right to cancel before it shipped. Forcing customers to pay high courier fees to return a box shipped against their explicit notice is a financial penalty for your flawed system.
4. Ignored Emails & Bank Chargeback: You told me to email your team, but I have contacted them three times now and have been completely ignored outside of automated templates. Because you refused to honour my legal right to cancel, I have initiated a Chargeback Dispute with my bank for breaching my statutory rights.
Your dismissive response to a genuine review proves your poor customer service. Doubling down won't change the fact that these practices bypass UK consumer law. I urge other members to refuse these forced sales, check their rights, and report these subscription traps to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice.
23 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Caroline, Thank you for your review.
The option to skip your next box is available within the members' area and is not hidden. Once you've signed into your account, simply select Change Plan > Change Frequency > Skip Your Next Box. This journey is available as soon as you log in, allowing members to manage their deliveries whenever they wish.
We'd also like to address the comments regarding cooling-off rights. We fully honour our customers' statutory rights. In fact, we go beyond the legal minimum by offering a 30-day returns policy. If you receive a box that you no longer want, you have up to 30 days to return it, giving members significantly longer than the standard cooling-off period.
We do not seek to prevent members from managing their subscriptions or exercising their consumer rights, and we certainly do not operate "sneaky" subscription practices. Our aim is to provide members with flexible ways to manage their membership while offering a generous returns policy should they change their mind.
If there are any outstanding issues with your account, we'd be happy to look into them. Please contact us at members@thecuriousdrinker.com and our team will be happy to assist.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
Very poor service
Very poor service.
mis lead before purchasing.
Poor communication and lied during that and then radio silence. still no product shipped either.
very poor customer service.
*** I KNEW IT WAS A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. but you said it would have been dispatched on no later than the Thursday. still has not been dispatched and still not replayed to my emails.
16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from The Curious Drinker
Hi Khye, Thank you for your feedback.
When joining The Curious Drinker, we make it clear throughout the sign-up process that you're purchasing a subscription, with multiple reminders before checkout is completed. Following sign-up, members also receive a series of emails explaining how their membership works, including how to manage, pause or skip future boxes.
We're proud of both our membership experience and the service our team provides, so we're disappointed to hear your comments regarding communication. If your order is still outstanding, we'd encourage you to contact our team at members@thecuriousdrinker.com so we can look into it and provide an update.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
Kind Regards,
James
Memberships Executive
Very friendly and helpful.
23 June 2026
Unprompted review
The way that the Young Lady Anna
The way that the Young Lady Anna, actioned my issue and resolved my concerns.
23 June 2026
Unprompted review
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