Manchester Gin to open ‘world class’ city centre distillery

The proposed plans, which could get the green light this year, will see the distillery sit directly underneath Manchester Central, the city’s iconic conference and events venue.

Said to create “around 30 new jobs”, the takeover will see the Manchester Gin team renovate six of the Grade II-listed railway arches underneath the station, bringing life to an area of the city that has “long been forgotten”.

Three of the six arches will all have floor-to-ceiling glass windows installed to provide the public with a view of the working distillery, while a bar, tasting area, and restaurant will also be opened.

There will also be a space for people to enjoy a variety of gin experiences including tutorials, talks, masterclasses and the opportunity to create your own gin.

“It’s been an ambition of ours, since we started in our dining room, to give people the ability to come and meet us and see how we make our beautiful gins in person,” explained co-founder of Manchester Gin, Seb Heeley.

“The arches under Manchester Central will be the perfect mix of the old industrial heritage of Manchester with a contemporary look, synonymous with our brand.”

Manchester Central chief executive Shaun Hinds said the new distillery will be a welcome addition to the city and is “delighted” to be part of its fruition.

“I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to activate our arches and reinvigorate this part of the venue,” Hinds said.

“As an iconic feature of the city ourselves, I knew early on that this development would create a unique destination within the realm of our venue for both Manchester residents and visitors alike.”

Distillery openings in the UK have soared by a staggering 172% from 116 since 2010, when the Wine & Spirit Trade Association first collected data, adding 199 in seven years.