Distiller paves way to prime abbey location
The dream of a Yorkshire gin-maker to move into new premises in the shadow of Whitby Abbey is now becoming a reality.
Work is beginning this autumn on Whitby Distillery’s £1.8m project to renovate two derelict barns on abbey lands on the south-west corner of the abbey grounds.
The build programme, which has been partly funded by the Whitby Distillers Founders Club, is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.
Whitby Distillery, makers of Whitby Gin, was founded in 2017 by Jessica Slater and Luke Pentith who have grown their business from a passion project to one whose gin stocked in more than 500 outlets across the UK.
The move will enable the distillery to provide high-quality leisure and function space for the local community to enjoy.
Pentith said: “This move is a gamechanger for us. While we have been very happy in our current premises in Botany Way in Whitby, our new home will take Whitby Distillery to the next level, stepping up production and giving visitors the opportunity to see us distilling and bottling through the week with our tour experiences.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be restoring these derelict buildings on such a world-famous site.
“For us, this is all about launching an amazing adventure on the atmospheric North Sea coastline, with tremendous knock-on effects for the local economy.”
As part of the project, Whitby Distillery is giving people the opportunity to set their family’s name in history and to celebrate the life of a loved one for future generations. This initiative was launched last month and already over 200 places have been sold.
Slater said: “In the grounds of our new distillery, we are creating a unique pathway leading into our new home.
“The Spirits Walkway will be a part of history, created and set in a cast iron plates, allowing people to be a part of this wonderful adventure and feature their names or family names on the glorious path.
“All proceeds from the walkway, which will be laid when the building programme is completed, will go towards the cost of the new distillery.
“Our new distillery is a serious commitment to Whitby. We are making a significant investment into the local community and the future of the town. In the longer-term, we anticipate up to 25 employees.
“As well as the distillery, our plans include a visitor centre, which will showcase our production process and our various spirits, as well as paying homage to the amazing cultural heritage of Whitby and providing an educational and corporate business space.”
Pentith added: “The renovation work is partly be funded by Whitby Distillery’s Founders Club, which gives members to chance to become part of the Whitby Distillery success story.
“We have chosen to work with Native Architects who are the experts when it comes to sustainable redevelopment of heritage buildings. They value the qualities of traditionally crafted buildings but adapt and convert in a way that sets the reduction of CO2 emissions as a priority.”
