The Spectator, in association with Private Cellar and Thames Leisure, invites you to join Low Life correspondent Jeremy Clarke and drinks editor Jonathan Ray for a spectacular day of cocktails, claret, clays and cruising on the River Thames on Friday October 12.

We will board Thames Sailing Barge Will – the largest such craft in existence, built in 1925 – at North Greenwich Pier at 10.15am and slip downstream through the Thames Barrier to Thamesmead. Here we will moor up and, under the expert tutelage of armourer John Hargreaves, will enjoy 90 minutes or so clay pigeon shooting, using weapons that are likely to include a Browning and a Beretta over-and-under, a pump-action shotgun, a 100 year-old side-by-side game gun and an antique naval musketoon.

We will then repair below for a three course lunch cooked and prepared in the galley and a tutored tasting of six exceptional clarets from Ch. Tayet (Bordeaux Supérieur 2012 and Bordeaux Supérieur 2010 en jeroboam), Ch. Tour Baladoz (Grand Cru St. Emilion 2013 and Grand Cru St Emilion 2009) and Ch. Haut Breton Lariguadière (Margaux 2013 and Margaux 2000 en magnum) in the company of sales director Anthony Crameri.

Coffee will be taken on deck as we pass by such fine sights as Woolwich Arsenal, the Old Royal Naval College and Cutty Sark at Greenwich, Millwall Docks, Canary Wharf, Limehouse, Wapping Steps and Bermondsey before raising our digestif-filled glasses as Tower Bridge opens especially for us. We will then dock at Tower Pier at 4pm.

Tickets are priced at £295 per person and will be restricted to just 36 readers so do book early to avoid disappointment.

What’s included:
Bacon roll and tea/coffee on arrival
Clay pigeon shoot
Pre-prandial Brighton Gin & Tonic or Sussex 75 Cocktail
Three course silver service lunch complete with six different wines
Coffee and Digestifs
Entry into a prize draw for one bottle of fabled Le Centenaire, a spectacular wine made from 100 year-old vines on the Tour Baladoz estate and never available for retail sale
Goodie bag to include miniature Brighton Gin, stick of Brighton Gin rock, bottle of Ch. Tayet 2012, copy of current Spectator and current Apollo magazines

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