Black Friars Distillery Plymouth

Black Friars Distillery, also known as the Plymouth Gin Distillery, is located in the Barbican neighbourhood of Plymouth in Devon. Black Friars has been in operation since 1793.

Plymouth Gin

History

The beautiful distillery building dates back to the early 1400’s, with the most intact part of the complex – a medieval hall with a fine hull-shaped timber roof known as the Refectory Room – one of the oldest buildings in the city and formerly a Black Friars monastery. After Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries the buildings were used as a debtors’ prison, a meeting hall and a reception centre for Huguenot refugees from France. The Pilgrim Fathers stayed here on their last night in England before setting sail for the New World in 1620.

Not surprisingly with this long history, the Plymouth Gin distillery is the oldest working distillery in England.

Soon after Black Friars was established Plymouth Gin became a firm favourite in the numerous countries it was shipped to. The gin-drinking of the Royal Navy considerably enhanced gin’s prestige and Plymouth became popular across the world. In more recent times there has been an increase in the popularity of the distinctive sweeter and lighter but stronger Plymouth flavour, compared to the more usual London Dry Gin.

Plymouth Gin Distillery, The Barbican, Plymouth, Devon

Black Friars offers a range of tours, ranging in price from a 40-minute, £7 inspection through to an in-depth, 2.5-hour “Master Distiller’s” outing (£40) where visitors get to create (and take away) their own bespoke gin. The distillery complex also has its own cocktail bar and brasserie.

Access – Getting There

Black Friars Distillery
60 Southside Street
The Barbican
Plymouth PL1 2LQ
Tel: 01752 665 292
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

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