City of London Distillery
Transporting gin-lovers back in time with a Cat-B hospitality fit-out
The City of London Distillery had bought a disused restaurant building with the aim of creating unforgettable gin-tasting and making experiences and paying homage to London’s rich gin history.
After hiring a builder to complete a Cat-A fit-out (which involved turning the bar and basements into usable blank canvases), the City of London Distillery enlisted Richardsons to plan, design, and fit the space as part of a Cat-B fit-out.
The brief
The primary aim of the project was to create an area for a high-quality gin-tasting and making experience where customers could create their own gin flavours. The client wanted the space to have an industrial 18th century feel to reflect London’s ‘gin craze’ era.
The client also requested a ‘smokers’ lounge’ area featuring comfortable furniture and a boardroom for corporate clients and suppliers that continued the aesthetic of the gin tasting area.
Our approach
We took a design-led approach to the City of London Distillery’s craft distillery interiors to ensure we created the desired aesthetic and atmosphere throughout. We also collaborated closely with the client’s architect, who had been restoring the building, to ensure all planned work was approved before installation began.
The result
The City of London Distillery received a bespoke, industrial gin-tasting space that hit every mark on its brief.
Distillery design
Industrial-looking burners and stills helped transform customers back to the 18th-century London gin craze.
Industrial restaurant furniture
Copper-framed barstools with large leather pads and screw threads, and other hospitality furniture, were reupholstered to match the overall design.
Bespoke joinery
Custom-made counters and benches fit wall-to-wall to create a high-end feel throughout the space.
Luxurious lounge area
Wing-back, leather armchairs in the smokers’ lounge create an old-money luxury atmosphere in the corporate client area..
The impact
The City of London Distillery’s restaurant/bar fit-out has transformed the space into an other-worldly gin distillery. Customers have commented on the warm atmosphere, elegant and inviting space, and attention to detail in the refurbishment, which makes the City of London Distillery a firm favourite.
