York Gin to open three-floor visitor attraction

English producer York Gin has revealed plans for a distillery, bar and visitor attraction in central York.

Named The Distillery, York Gin’s new project will be located in the city’s Coppergate shopping centre.

It will sit across three floors, on a site that previously housed a Boots store. The first floor will feature an interactive ‘Gin Lane’ visitor attraction, a gin shop and distillery with a copper and steel still.

The second floor will offer a 200-cover cocktail bar, and the third will hold classes and other experiences.

“We want The Distillery to be so brilliant that it attracts people to come to York – like the Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre and the walls,” said Emma Godivala, marketing director for York Gin.

“The Gin Lane experience will take visitors through the incredible story of gin with the sights, sounds and smells of its history from the last 300 years. It will be a go-to experience.

“The Distillery Cocktail Bar will be the place in York to enjoy a range of gin and other cocktails and paired dishes. The interactive classes will build on our reputation for brilliant, fun and fascinating activities for people to do with their friends. The shop will be the place to buy world-class gin and top-quality York-made souvenirs. All in all, we’re really excited to extend York’s reputation as a brilliant and interesting place to visit with a truly top-class attraction right in the heart of the city.”

The gin brand hopes to make a “major contribution” to the city of York with the new site, which will create 10-12 full-time jobs and up to 20 part-time jobs.

York Gin also plans to offer a cut-price admission scheme for local residents.

Later this year, North Yorkshire will gain a multi-million-pound carbon neutral distillery, expected to be the largest of its kind in the region.