New London gin distillery opens in Battersea

London’s newest gin distillery and brewery has opened in a bar in south London, which also features a roof garden growing botanicals to be used in the gin.

Four Thieves pub in Battersea is London’s latest craft gin distillery and brewery

The Four Thieves pub in Battersea opened to the public in September with its on-site brewery producing up to 40 casks of craft ale per week.

In addition to the brewery, Four Thieves also features a small copper pot still, complete with carter head, which is being used to create Four Thieves Gin.

The bar has named the brewery and distilling operation Battersea Distillery.

Lavender harvested from the pub’s roof garden will be used as the headline botanical in Four Thieves Gin, as a nod to the site’s construction on a former lavender field.

The bar even takes its name from the four graverobbers who would douse themselves in lavender oil to repel fleas carrying the plague during the Black Death.

Four Thieves will also carry an additional 45 gins behind the bar, giving visitors a choice of around 250 gin and tonic combinations.

Dan Luker, manager of Four Thieves, said: “We are really excited to be able to challenge most people’s perceptions of what a gin and tonic actually tastes like.

“With so many different gin and tonic combinations we will be able to create a flavour experience tailored to the individual customers taste.”