Yorkshire gin maker Whitby Distillery launches £400,000 crowdfund campaign

A Yorkshire gin-maker has launched a crowdfunding campaign to promote sustainable growth and encourage investors to become part of its flourishing operation.

Whitby Distillery has launched the fundraiser with a target of £400,000 through crowdfunding specialists Seedrs, with plans to use the funds to support its expansion through trade, retail, tourism and export.

The company, which makes Whitby Gin, was founded in 2017 by Jessica Slater and Luke Pentith, who have grown their business from a passion project to one whose gin stocked in more than 200 outlets across the UK. Its products are crafted using hand foraged botanicals from the Yorkshire coast and moorland and more than 1,000 bottles are sold every week.

One of the firm’s key projects is to renovate two derelict barns at Abbey Lands on the south-west corner of the Whitby Abbey grounds. A planned move to relocate its distillery wil