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Size doesn't matter, says co-founder of new multi-million pound "mega" distillery

Published:  31 May, 2016

The co-founder of Portobello Road Gin has revealed that building a 'super-distillery' was never the intention behind plans to build a four-storey gin destination in the heart of Notting Hill.

The co-founder of Portobello Road Gin has revealed that building a 'super-distillery' was never the intention behind plans to build a four-storey gin destination in the heart of Notting Hill.

The craft gin announced last week that it would be moving its Ginstitute gin experience and museum out of the Portobello Star pub and into a completely new venue to be built also on Portobello Road.

It has been described as a gin Mecca or super distillery by some, although Ginstitute co-founder, Ged Feltham disagrees.

"It's not as big as it sounds: it will fit maybe 200 people," he said. "The idea wasn't to build something huge. We wanted to have somewhere where we could have full control of the production process for our gin.

"We've been looking for a new venue on Portobello Road for a while to find a new home for our Ginstitue. We needed more room but it had to be on Portobello Road because it's an iconic street and the heart of our brand."

In the basement, there will be the distillery as well as a larger space which become the new home of the successful Ginstitute.

On the ground floor will be a resting room for spirits and a pub serving British food.

On the third and fourth floors will be Gintonica, a tapas bar and restaurant which has already found success in Leeds and three hotel rooms with private dining space.

The plans have grown out of the Ginstitute at the Portobello Star, which Feltham and his business partner Jake Burger took over nine years ago.

They started their own gin brand around five years ago, not out of any connection between gin and Portobello Road, but based on their love of gin.

They are now hoping to establish themselves as a one-stop gin destination for fans of the drink.

"We are a relatively new brand but we try to anchor ourselves in gin's history, which is what the Ginstitute is all about. For the gin itself we researched the development of the drink over the centuries. There are thousands of brands out there. It isn't difficult to make gin, but it is difficult to make good gin."

The former bartender said they had spent a lot of time crafting a "balanced" gin, which contains nine botanicals.

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