Rider Levett Bucknall QS on oldest English Gin distillery

Consultant Rider Levett Bucknall has delivered a new distillery for the oldest English Gin distillery G&J Greenall after a fire destroyed its existing site in Warrington two years ago.

The firm’s Manchester office provided project management, QS, planning supervisor and site feasibility services on the £4.1m distillery in Risley.

The 120,000ft² site has achieved the highest ratings from the British Retail Consortium.

G&J Greenall is mainly known for the Greenall’s Gin and RTD G&T’s. The firm also has global third party production contracts with brands such as Bombay Sapphire Gin and Three Olives vodka.

The new distillery is the first to be built in the UK for many years, and the client was keen for it to be a showcase and in keeping with the brand. As a result, the majority of the glazing is in sapphire blue with a matching frame like the Bombay Sapphire packaging.

Ian Fletcher, partner at Rider Levett Bucknall, said: “In April 2007, G&J Greenall decided to sign the lease on an existing site in Risley and, because of the speed required to get the bottling plant moved, we advised negotiating with a local contractor and Williams Tarr was appointed.

“The first milestone was completed in August last year with the opening of the bottling plant, and the distillery and associated works were completed earlier this month. It was excellent to work on such a landmark project and we look forward to another 250 years of gin distilling at G&J Greenall in Warrington.”

Work on the site started in May 2007 and the bottling plant was completed three months later, while the new distillery was finished this month.