Ten new jobs and a year-round visitor attraction will be created in Whitby after a local distillery secured a £500,000 loan to transform two derelict barns next to the town's famous abbey.
Ten new jobs and a year-round visitor attraction are heading to Whitby after a half-million-pound funding boost was secured.
Two derelict barns in the grounds of Whitby Abbey will be transformed into a flagship visitor centre, distillery, shop, tasting bar, and events venue. The new clifftop site is expected to open its doors to the public next spring.
The £500,000 loan will allow Whitby Distillery founders Luke Pentith and Jess Slater to complete the construction and fit-out of the English Heritage-leased site. The couple started the business in 2017 from a utility room following a holiday to the Outer Hebrides.
Manufacturing currently takes place at a local industrial estate, with products sold through a shop in the old town. The business produces eight varieties of gin, three rums, and a vodka, all crafted using hand-foraged botanicals from the Yorkshire coast and moors.
Guided distillery tours, weddings, and events will be hosted at the new venue, doubling the current workforce from ten to twenty employees. The total cost of the project is expected to reach almost £3 million, with much of the initial funding raised through crowdfunding.
Founder and director Luke Pentith said:
"This is a very exciting time for the business. The new centre will be one of the best distillery sites in the UK and will provide a platform to showcase the business and boost its growth. By opening up access to the public, it will also give people the opportunity to experience the previously unseen views and spectacular sunsets."
Financial support has been provided by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, specifically through Mercia Debt Finance. The fund aims to drive sustainable economic growth and create local opportunities for growing businesses across the north.
Andy Clough from Mercia Business Loans said:
"To go from a utility room to such a prominent site within the space of eight years is a real achievement. The past few years have been challenging for distilleries but Luke and Jess have bucked the trend and established the business as one of the UK’s leading distillery brands. We are pleased to support the launch of the new centre, which will open up fresh growth opportunities."
Sarah Newbould, associate director at the British Business Bank, said:
"This investment in Whitby Distillery highlights the role that the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is playing in helping ambitious businesses across the North turn their growth plans into reality. By supporting the development of this exciting new visitor attraction, the Fund is helping to create local jobs, boost tourism and strengthen the regional economy, while enabling businesses to invest, grow and reach new markets."
Fundraising advice was provided by Andy Davidson of RedSky Corporate Services. He added:
"Whitby Distillery is an amazing business with huge potential. I am delighted to have helped the team to raise funds to achieve their growth ambitions."
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