Gin maker distillery opens at city hotel

The makers of York Gin have opened a new distillery with its own gin school inside one of York’s city centre hotels.

York Distillery is at Middleton’s Hotel. It will develop new spirits to complement its existing range.

The distillery will also offer lessons in gin tasting, will teach people how to make their very own gin, and host cocktail-making classes. York Distillery officially opens on Friday 4 April.

The business’s York Gin tasting experiences have been held in the 16th century York Gin shop for several years. Its new location will offer an increased number of classes in a purpose-built space.

Becky Tatham

York Distillery’s business development manager, Becky Tatham, said: “York Gin opened the city’s first gin distillery years ago and we’ve always made all our gins in York.

“Everything we do is of the very highest quality – so the beautiful Middleton’s Hotel is the perfect partner for us.

“We’re excited to open this beautiful boutique distillery within the city walls. Shining copper stills of all sizes and the scientific distillery paraphernalia complement the elegantly-decorated space perfectly. It’s a spirit lover’s happy place.

“Some of York’s best creatives have been instrumental in designing the distillery – with York woodworkers, PurePallets, creating beautiful bespoke pieces and GEM Construction helping to make the very most of this unusual space.”

Middleton’s Hotel is owned by Daniel Thwaites, which has a collection of hotels, inns and pubs across England.

Oliver Stott, general manager at Middleton’s Hotel, said: “We’re proud to welcome the new York Distillery to Middleton’s and we look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with the company.

“This is not only a fantastic way to bring a new lease of life to a disused space, but it’s another wonderful experience our guests can choose to enjoy as part of their stay.”

York Distillery and York Gin are both owned by York Drinks. Director Natalie Hall said: “York Distillery is where the magic happens – as new flavour combinations are imagined and created by our talented distillers.

Credit: Matthew Kitchen

“Our main distillery and warehouse in the Murton area of the City of York will continue to undertake the larger-scale distilling activities along with bottling, labelling and packing.

“This is also where our online operations will continue. Smaller distillations will happen at York Distillery, where guests will be able to join the team and learn about distillation while enjoying a cocktail.

“We want York Distillery to help cement York’s reputation as one of the UK’s capitals of taste.

“Generations of flavour experts have made York their home – from the Terry and Rowntree families in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to the city’s amazing contemporary chefs and mixologists of the 21st century.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this rich tradition.”