Beefeater to open London’s first gin distillery visitors’ centre

The Beefeater distillery in Kennington has been given the go ahead on plans to open London’s first ever gin distillery visitor centre.

The new centre, named Beefeater London – The Home of Gin, will open “later in 2013” and offer visitors a chance to see the global brand in production and learn about the history of London gin.

Guests will be offered a series of interactive showcases, enabling them to see, touch and smell the botanicals used within the production process, finishing with the chance to watch the live gin production process in the distillery’s cathedral-like still house.

“The Beefeater Gin Distillery is one of the city’s best kept secrets,” said Desmond Payne, master distiller for Beefeater Gin. “This is a magnificent opportunity to celebrate the heritage of gin in London, something that has been at the heart of the capital’s history for more than 300 years. I am proud that Beefeater Gin will be the first distiller to tell the full story.”

Beefeater London – The Home of Gin will be built as an extension within the existing distillery allowing visitors to travel from the ground floor to the second.

Construction on the 600sqm, two-level extension will begin later this year.