All systems go as Whitby Distillery opens new Church Street shop - and work going well on new abbey site

Jessica Slater, co-founder of Whitby Distillery, said: “We weren’t planning on a shop but the opportunity came up and we thought ‘how often does this come about?’

"We opened for the Whitby Christmas Market and been steady away.

"It’s a nice point to direct people up to our Botany Way site and when the new site (at the abbey) is finally built, it’s a good way of telling people about it and it’s getting Caedmon’s Trod back in use too.”

The team is growing – Jess and her partner Luke Pentith have taken on three members of staff to run the Church Street shop, which is at the site of the former milkshake shop on the junction with Bridge Street.

"One of the things we wanted to do was to create these local jobs and we’re trying to get them all involved in the production so they have an idea of how the bottles are made,” said Jess.

This year, the distillery has released Wyrmfire Vodka.

It launched with a roar and the first batch was sold out in a weekend.

Inspired by the legend of the Whitby Wyrm – the dragon said to have once circled the Abbey - the spirit’s ingredients include Whitby sea salt and buckthorn.

The distillers are back at the stills, crafting the latest batch and doing plenty of experimenting along the way.

You can buy this – and the Prince of Darkness gin which was launched for the 125th anniversary of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – along with candles, soap and other goods at the shop.

Up at Whitby Abbey, things are shaping up well on the new £2.4m distillery.

The project will see renovation of two derelict barns in the south west corner of the abbey grounds to create a new distillery, shop, tasting lounge and an events and tour space.

The new access track is complete, floor levels are being dug, with space cleared for the new structures, along with re-opening the window and doorways, revealing stunning views across the abbey grounds.

A garden area and orchard will be created, offering a spot for people to enjoy the views of the abbey while being sheltered from the wind.

It will feature an 80m Spirits Walkway which will bear the names of more than 1,000 people who are supporting the project financially.

The walkway stretches from the Caedmon’s Trod footpath, running from the headland car park into Whitby town centre, up to the doors of the new distillery to the south of the abbey.

If you want to see your name immortalised in the walkway, the cost of a single name is £125, while two names together are £250 and three names are £375.

A combined family name is £175.

"If it can be supported by the community and they can all say they did their bit, it will make a huge difference,” added Luke.

Luke said the project is likely to be finished within a year with a view to opening in spring 2027.