Soaring demand prompts move to bigger distillery for gin producer
York Gin has received the keys to a huge new distillery, as demand for its gins climbs.
The company, which has a range of six gins, says it has outgrown its current base in Acaster Malbis.
It uses traditional methods to make its gins in a 300-litre copper still. Its new site on Great North Way in Poppleton, within Evans Property Group’s Quad development at York Business Park, will have space to allow the business to multiply production.
Master distiller, Harry Cooke, said: “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 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 workers and an additional complement of part-time staff manning the York Gin shop and events.
As well the new distillery, the business is 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 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.”
