Chapel Down closes Gin Works microdistillery in London

English wine producer Chapel Down has closed its Gin Works microdistillery in London after a year due to a lack of customers visiting the site.

Chapel Down offered gin experiences at its Gin Works site in London

A notice on the site’s website said the Gin Works is now closed and to “stayed tuned for updates”. The firm said its gin and vodka range was “unaffected” by the closure of Gin Works.

Customers who had booked experiences will be offered a full refund or an alternative Chapel Down or Curious Brewing experience.

A statement from the company said: “We just couldn’t get the scale of traffic we needed despite the fact we were getting great reviews. Difficult decision, especially when staff has been so fantastic.”

Kent-based Chapel Down unveiled plans to open the bar, restaurant and microdistillery in London’s Kings Cross in September 2018. The 5,000-square-foot site by Regent’s Canal opened in January last year.

Chapel Down Gin Works featured three outdoor terraces, two bars, an 80-seater restaurant and a 150-litre copper still that produced “premium small batch craft gins”.

At the time, Chapel Down’s chief executive, Fraser Thompson, said the opening of Gin Works came after the firm was “encouraged” by the performance of its spirits and had “seen success” in leading London bars and restaurants.

The wine producer made its debut in the gin and vodka category in 2017 with the launch of two expressions, produced with single vintage grapes.

In September 2019, Gin Works launched a range of gin experiences, which allowed consumers to make their own gin. The 90-minute Gin Works Experience was priced at £95 (US$124) per person or £175 (US$228) per couple.

In 2019, Chapel Down created the “world’s first” gin distilled with Pinot Noir grapes, and teamed up with mixer brand Double Dutch to launch a ready-to-drink canned gin and tonic.