Green light for gin-maker’s £1.5m plans

The maker of Whitby Gin has been granted permission to move into new new premises in the shadow of Whitby Abbey.Scarborough councillors have approved Whitby Distillery’s £1.5m plans to renovate two derelict barns on Abbey Lands on the south-west corner of the abbey grounds.Whitby Distillery was founded 2017 by Jessica Slater and Luke Pentith who have grown their business from a passion project to one whose gin stocked in more than 300 outlets across the UK.The move will enable the distillery to become one of the most iconic distillery visitor experiences in England, providing leisure and function space for the local community to enjoy.Work on the new eco-build distillery will start this autumn, with a six to 12 month build period. The building will supported by renewable energy sources to house a new hand-beaten still. Green roofs will be planted with wild flowers to nurture the natural plants and wildlife.The renovation work will partly be funded by Whitby Distillery’s Founders Club, which will give investors to chance to become part of the Whitby Distillery success story.