Shakespeare Distillery, founded in 2015 by Simon Picken and Peter Monks, is Stratford-upon-Avon‘s only working distillery scooped up two business and tourism awards on 20 October in the Best Green Business category and Top Attraction category. The is the second consecutive year the independent artisan spirit producer has been recognised.
The Distillery also provides daily tours and other experiences including a Gin School, Cocktail Masterclasses and River Avon Gin Tasting Cruises. The latest addition is a shop, Tasting Room, and Rum School in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. The building used to be the home of Judith, William Shakespeare’s daughter and her husband, Thomas Quiney. Shakespeare Distillery have converted the upper two floors of the historical building into a state-of-the-art facility for enjoying their spirits.
Shakespeare Distillery is a good place to shop for small gifts or big memory-making experiences
On the ground floor the shop showcases their spirits plus a range of wine, beer, cider, and chocolates from local producers, and is a great place to pick up gifts for the holidays. The Distillery can also host Christmas parties for up to 50 people.
Peter Monks, Director at Shakespeare Distillery said, “We are absolutely delighted to have won not one, but two awards in retaining Best Green Business and Top Attraction for the second year running! For a busy tourist town with many choices for the visitor, we are humbled to have once again received this Top Attraction award. It is also amazing to be recognised as a leading Green Business, as this is something we planned from the outset in our selection of highly energy efficient modern distilling equipment. Winning both these awards is testament to how hard the entire team at Shakespeare Distillery works, and we are extremely proud of them”.
Shakespeare Distillery is no stranger to receiving accolades. In 2020 and 2022 the company won gold and silver in the West Midlands Tourism Awards for their destination distillery experiences and has been shortlisted again for 2024. The company was also awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2023, 2022 and 2021 and a silver medal in the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2021 for its Jester White Rum.
Last year, Shakespeare Distillery won four awards at the Stratford Herald Business & Tourism Awards, and in May 2023 it was ranked in the top ten of the best Gin Distillery experiences in the UK, according to new research by Southwestern Railway.
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Unit A/B
Drayton Manor Drive
Stratford upon Avon
CV37 9RQ
Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
