Cocktails for Gorillas!

A hotel in Exeter is serving gorilla-sized cocktails.

The Southernhay House Hotel in Exeter has created a special tipple to mark Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorillas Project.

Owner Deborah Clark, who also runs Burgh Island, came up with the idea. She has pledged to donate a sum to the campaign – aimed at raising awareness for gorilla conservation in Africa – for each cocktail sold.

“I heard about The Great Gorillas Project through social media and contacts in the finance sector in Southernhay. Then Not So Different, sponsored by Cathedral Financial Management, was placed in the gardens outside the hotel. We have always been involved in sustainability and the project to raise awareness for gorilla conservation strikes a chord. Also, it's a great focus for tourism.”

The drink has been dubbed the Giga-sized Gorilla Gin-tini. How did she come up with the idea? “It was easy, as we already do a super-sized banana daiquiri. We're serving the cocktail in gorilla size using an extra big martini glass with up to 4 straws or a normal size for Homo sapiens!”

She remains coy about the recipe, saying only that “It can help with your five a day, amongst other things!” The hotel is donating £1 for each human size cocktail sold and £3 for each gorilla version. The Giga-sized Gorilla Gin-tini is available only at Southernhay House Hotel in Exeter.