Durham city centre's first gin distillery and school will open fully this spring after spending thousands turning space under Durham's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre into a distillery, shop and bar.
Nestled along the River Wear and with Durham Cathedral as its backdrop, Durham Distillery is the first of its type to date in the city centre and represents one of the more unusual newer uses of the city's high street. As well as a 90-minute distillery tour designed to provide insight into the history of gin, a range of experiences will be offered to guests including the chance for them to make their own gins by picking and mixing North East botanicals.
There will also be a cocktail making masterclass, all of which use Durham Distillery's small but "premium" collection of gins and vodkas. Founded by local brothers Jon and Iain Chadwick, they hope that the distillery will become one of the city's top attractions, with its experiences aimed at attracting couples, corporate clients, and hen and stag parties, among others.
Read more: Ad Gefrin museum and whisky distillery ready to make history as opening date announced
Jon, a former NHS boss, was inspired to team up with younger brother Iain and realise their own version of a microbrewery after travelling across the eastern United States and falling in love with the micro-distillery culture. Durham Distillery left its base at Riverside Industrial Estate in Langley Park for the new premises below the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in November and has their team in place, including Greek distiller Ionna Chatzi who has previously worked for Beavertown Brewery.
The distillery's gins and vodkas have won a slew of awards since being founded in 2014, with its products being stocked in Fenwick's Food Hall and many other retailers. Speaking ahead of the launch, founder Jon Chadwick, said: "With almost a decade of industry experience under our belts, the time has come to step the brand on and open our beautiful new distillery to the public.
"As well as taking our guests on a tasting journey designed to educate and show them exactly what we can do, our location and unique experience in the very heart of the city makes it essential. It also gives our guests the chance to create something themselves by crafting their own version of Durham Gin in our gin-making school.’
"I genuinely believe a positive change is in the air as far as Durham’s leisure and nightlife scene is concerned and we’re very much part of that. We can’t wait to welcome our first visitors this spring. We’re also excited to be getting closer to launching our own brand of Rye Whiskey, yet another first in our city."
Durham Distillery will open its new city centre distillery this spring, with bookings available from February 24. For more information, visit the Durham Distillery website.
Have you tried Durham gin? Let us know!
Read next
