Plymouth Gin Distillery

Plymouth Gin Distillery, also known as the Black Friars Distillery, is a historic gin manufacturer on the Barbican in Plymouth, Devon, England. Established as a distillery in 1793, it is described as the oldest operating distillery in Britain and remains the only gin distillery in the city of Plymouth. Its principal product is Plymouth Gin, a spirit associated with a distinctive regional style that differs from the more widely recognized London Dry category. The distillery is also identified as the only site certified to produce the protected Plymouth style of gin. The premises occupy a building with a long and varied history. Local tradition connects the site with a Dominican monastery, which is the source of the Black Friars name, although the historical evidence for that monastic association is uncertain. The surviving structure is understood to have originated as a substantial merchant’s house dating from approximately 1500. It was later used as a gaol from 1605 and as a Congregational meeting house between 1689 and 1705. The building was remodeled and expanded for distilling in 1793, when Coates joined the established Fox & Williamson business. The resulting company operated as Coates & Co. until March 2004. The site is also associated with local maritime and pilgrimage traditions. One long-standing story holds that some of the Pilgrim Fathers may have stayed at the building while the Mayflower was in Plymouth Harbour for repairs before its voyage to North America. The ship depicted on the company label is traditionally linked to this story, although the account is presented as local tradition rather than established historical fact. Plymouth Gin is characterized in the reference material as lighter and sweeter in profile than many London Dry gins while retaining a comparatively strong character. The brand’s identity therefore rests on a combination of geographical association, continuity of production, historic premises, and a recognizable style of gin. The distillery has also produced promotional and collectible merchandise, including pottery jugs, miniature bottles, glasses, ashtrays, match strikers, and related items. Today, the historic building includes a bar and a bistro, while the distillery offers tours and tastings. The premises function both as a production site and as a visitor attraction. The brand and the distillery premises were acquired in 2005 by V&S Group, the Scandinavian drinks company associated with Absolut Vodka. V&S was subsequently acquired by Pernod Ricard, which became the current owner identified with the brand. Plymouth Gin continues to be made at the historic Plymouth site.

The building now occupied by Plymouth Gin Distillery has a complex history predating modern gin production. Local tradition describes the site as a former Dominican monastery, giving rise to the Black Friars name, but the reference material notes that there is no firm evidence establishing that interpretation. The structure is instead described as a large merchant’s house dating from around 1500. In 1605 it was being used as a gaol, and from 1689 to 1705 it served as a Congregational meeting house. The site became a distillery in 1793, when Coates joined with the established Fox & Williamson business. This transformation marked the beginning of the continuous distilling history for which the premises are known. The business subsequently operated under the name Coates & Co., a name it retained until March 2004. The distillery is regarded as the oldest operating distillery in Britain and remains the only gin distillery in Plymouth. The premises are also connected with maritime stories surrounding Plymouth and the Mayflower. Local tradition holds that some of the Pilgrim Fathers may have stayed at the building while the Mayflower was in the harbour undergoing repairs before sailing for North America. The ship shown on the company label is thought to derive from this association. The story is part of the site’s cultural identity, although it is not presented as conclusively documented history. Plymouth Gin developed an identity separate from the London Dry category. The reference material describes its style as lighter and sweeter while also being stronger than the more usual London Dry profile. The distillery is identified as the only location certified to produce the protected Plymouth style of gin, giving the product a particularly close relationship with its place of manufacture. The brand’s historical appeal has also been reinforced by promotional objects and packaging-related collectibles, including pottery jugs, miniatures, glasses, ashtrays, match strikers, and other branded items. The historic site has continued to combine manufacturing with hospitality. Its present facilities include a bar and an upper-level bistro, and the distillery provides tours and tastings for visitors. In addition to preserving the production site, this visitor function presents the building’s architecture, local traditions, and gin-making heritage as part of the brand experience. Ownership changed in 2005, when the brand and premises were acquired by Scandinavian V&S Group, the company associated with Absolut Vodka. V&S was later acquired by Pernod Ricard, placing Plymouth Gin within that international spirits group. Production continues at the original Plymouth location. A significant interruption to the premises occurred on 27 February 2008, when a kitchen fire beginning in the nearby Barbican Kitchen substantially damaged the building. The kitchen subsequently reopened, and the distillery continued its role as a functioning production and visitor site.

1. 2008Fire damages the premises

   A kitchen fire on 27 February substantially damaged the building. The nearby Barbican Kitchen later reopened.

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2. 2005Acquisition by V&S Group

   V&S Group acquired the Plymouth Gin brand and the distillery premises.

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3. 2004Coates & Co. name ends

   The business ceased operating under the Coates & Co. name in March 2004.

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4. 1793Distillery established

   Coates joined the established Fox & Williamson business and remodeled and extended the building for gin distilling.

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5. 1689Congregational meeting house period begins

   The building began serving as a Congregational meeting house, a use that continued until 1705.

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6. 1605Site used as a gaol

   The premises were being used as a gaol by this date.

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7. 1500Merchant’s house associated with the site

   The building later used by the distillery is described as having originated as a substantial merchant’s house dating from around this period.

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Traditional, place-based, historic, and authentic English gin with a distinctive Plymouth style.

• Plymouth GinGin

  The distillery’s signature gin and the product most closely associated with the Plymouth style. Reference material characterizes this style as lighter and sweeter than many London Dry gins while retaining a comparatively strong profile. Plymouth Gin is tied to the geographic identity of the historic Plymouth distillery, which is identified as the only certified location for producing the protected Plymouth style.

• Distillery tours and tastingsVisitor experience

  The historic premises operate as a visitor attraction as well as a manufacturing site. Tours and tastings present the distillery’s building, production heritage, Plymouth identity, and gin tradition. The site also contains a bar and a bistro, extending the brand experience beyond packaged spirits.

• Plymouth Gin branded collectiblesMerchandise

  The company has produced a broad range of promotional and branded objects, including pottery jugs, miniature bottles, glasses, ashtrays, match strikers, and related items. Some examples have become collectible, contributing to the material culture surrounding the brand.

• 2008Response to fire damageOther

  A kitchen fire originating in the nearby Barbican Kitchen substantially damaged the distillery building on 27 February.

  What changed. The affected hospitality facility was subsequently reopened, while the historic distillery continued as a production and visitor site.

  Aftermath. The premises retained their role as an operating distillery and tourist attraction.

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• 2005V&S Group acquires the brand and premisesM&A

  Plymouth Gin and its historic distillery premises changed ownership during the brand’s modern corporate history.

  What changed. Scandinavian drinks group V&S acquired the brand and the site. V&S was subsequently acquired by Pernod Ricard.

  Aftermath. The brand became part of the Pernod Ricard group while continuing production at the historic Plymouth location.

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• 2008Kitchen fire substantially damages Plymouth Gin Distillery building

  A kitchen fire originating in the nearby Barbican Kitchen substantially damaged the distillery building on the afternoon of 27 February 2008. The associated kitchen later reopened.

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• 2005Plymouth Gin brand and premises acquired by V&S Group

  The Plymouth Gin brand and its historic premises came under the ownership of Scandinavian drinks group V&S, known for Absolut Vodka. V&S was later acquired by Pernod Ricard.

  M&A
  Source

1. Plymouth Gin Distillery
2. Plymouth Gin official website