We have finally been granted permission to move into new premises in the shadow of Whitby Abbey.
Scarborough councillors have approved our £1.5 million plans to renovate two derelict barns on Abbey Lands Lane on the south-west corner of the Abbey grounds. We’d like to say a big thank you to Scarborough Council for believing in us and in our exciting project. Moving our distillery to Abbey Lands Lane is a game-changer for us and will enable us to step up production and introduce a new industry to Whitby.
Work on the new distillery will start this autumn, with a six-12 month build period.
This is a serious commitment to Whitby. We are making a significant investment into the local community, with 10 jobs created during renovation and, in the longer term, we anticipate up to 15 employees. As well as the distillery, our plans include a visitor centre, which will showcase our production process and our various gins, as well as paying homage to the amazing cultural heritage of Whitby and providing an educational and corporate business space which can be accessed all year round.
The visitor experience venue and exhibition/hire space will embed and build on the strong links Whitby Gin and the distillery has to the adjacent English Heritage attraction. Transforming the barns next to the Whitby Abbey into our new distillery will give us an unbelievable opportunity – a beautiful building supported by renewable energy sources to house our new hand-beaten still, and a tasting kitchen and event space soaked in history. Green roofs will be planted with wild flowers to nurture the natural plants and wildlife.
We would also like to work with local colleges and universities and encourage people to take an interest in small-scale manufacturing from a niche business like ours using traditional methods.
The renovation work will partly be funded by Whitby Distillery’s Founding Members Club, which gives investors to chance to become part of the Whitby Distillery success story.
