Home   Medway   News   Article

Work begins on new gin distillery The Copper Rivet at Chatham Maritime's Pump House No. 5

The foundations have been laid as a long-held family dream of creating a gin distillery in Medway becomes a reality.

Work has started on The Copper Rivet, set to be the first business of its kind in the Towns and one of a few in the country responsible for the whole distillation process from field to barrel.

The men behind the scheme are Bob Russell, his sons Matthew and Stephen, master distiller Abhishek Banik, and site manager Antony Wallis.

Scroll down for video

The Copper Rivet Distillery
The Copper Rivet Distillery

The distillery sits inside Pump House No. 5, a Victorian building that was used to pump water out of the dry docks, and is one of the last dockyard buildings to be brought back into use.

Video: Work has begun to create a gin distillery in Medway.

As well as producing premium gin, whisky and vodka, the craft distillery will also be open to visitors for tours, and should be ready to open in spring 2016.

Mr Russell said: “We’re inspired by the spirit of the dockyard, the incredible heritage, the greatness, the craftsmanship, the innovation and the evolution.”

The Copper Rivet Distillery at Chatham Maritime
The Copper Rivet Distillery at Chatham Maritime

The distillery will be one of just a few in the country that runs the whole distillation process from the farmer’s field to the barrel.

The plan is to source all the raw ingredients locally and use local craftsmen to design and create the stills.

He added: “To our knowledge, Copper Rivet Distillery will be the only craft distillery within a more than 100-mile radius where visitors will be able to see the entire production process end to end, meet the founding team to hear all about it, experiment in the laboratory and taste, delicious, home-grown, Kentish craft spirits.”

Distillery owners Matthew (left) and Bob Russell (right).
Distillery owners Matthew (left) and Bob Russell (right).

Two of Medway’s MPs, Rehman Chishti and Kelly Tolhurst, were given a tour of the site last week.

Ms Tolhurst said: “It’s fantastic that we have got to this stage.

“It’s an amazing use of the old pump house, a use that will allow people to still have access in the future to this lovely building, and is sympathetic to our local heritage of the dockyard.”

The Copper Rivet distillery will create eight full-time and four part-time jobs.

It is supported by Thames Gateway Innovation, Growth and Enterprise, a government scheme that provides loans to local businesses.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More