York Gin gets huge new distillery to keep up with demand
York Gin has just got the keys to a huge new distillery, as demand for its gins rockets – even before the Christmas rush.
The company is having to work seven days a week at its current distillery in Acaster Malbis to keep up with rocketing demand for its range of six gins.
York Gin uses traditional methods to make its gins in a 300-litre copper still. The new site on Great North Way in Poppleton, within Evans Property Group’s Quad development at York Business Park, will have space to multiply production.
Says Master Distiller Harry Cooke: “It really is a case of us outgrowing our original distillery. Our shop in the centre of York is selling more than ever. Local bars, restaurants and pubs are selling our gins in record quantities. And we have orders coming in from all over the country.
“We’ve gone from two runs a week to sometimes having to do two runs every day. We’ve absolutely loved being at Acaster Malbis and will be here for a couple more months at least.
“We’re thrilled with the new distillery – it’s a brand new state of the art facility with lots of space for us to expand production.
“And, once the Christmas rush is over we’ll be developing a visitors’ centre so people can see how we make our gins.”
The company has grown from one full-time employee in 2018 to 10 full-time employees and an army of part-time staff manning the York Gin shop and events.
York Gin sold its first bottles on 1 March 2018 and since then has developed a range of six gins.
Its gins are widely recognised as being among the best in the world, winning top gold medals at the biggest competitions in San Francisco, New York and the International Wine & Spirit Competition and Spirts Business Gin Masters.
As well the new distillery, York Gin are planning to open a new shop in the city’s railway station before Christmas.
York Gin’s move to the 5,250 sq ft Unit 4 at York Business Park completes the £1.4m Quad development delivered by Evans Property Group. The other three units, totalling 11,125 sq ft, were let to Network Rail and leading European micro-mobility operator TIER Operations Ltd within three months of completion earlier this year. The new distillery unit was completed later in the summer and was launched to market by Flanagan James and Savills.
Richard Bean, Portfolio Director at Evans Property Group, said; “We are delighted to be able to accommodate York Gin’s exciting new distillery at Quad and to be welcoming them to our popular development. The delivery of high quality, new build units such as these is so important to support the growth and expansion of local businesses.”
Richard Flanagan, Director at Flanagan James, added; “Supply of modern units in the York area is constrained which is in contrast to the strong demand from a variety of occupiers. York Gin’s state of the art facility is an excellent addition to the tenant mix at Quad.”
