Networking at the Locksley Distillery

On a sunny summer evening, members and guests arrived outside the Grade 2* listed Portland Works in Sheffield. Purpose built in 1897 by Robert Read Mosley as a metal trades factory, Portland Works is one of the last remaining examples of its kind and is of great historical significance. Indeed, in 1913 it was the birthplace of Harry Brearley’s Stainless Steel and “Rustnorstain” cutlery was manufactured there until the 1960’s. Skip to present day and Portland Works is now home to over 30 small businesses and since 2015 has been the home to Locksley Distilling Co. With the promise of an intimate guided tour of the distillery and a warm Yorkshire welcome, we couldn’t wait to enter.

Greeted by owners and master distiller John Cherry and Cynthia King, we assembled in the new Gin School room with time for networking before John talked us through the history of their small business which has grown from humble beginnings in his parent’s attic. Moving on into the historic courtyard John talked us through their whole process as we visited the blending and bottling room and then up the age worn stairs to the distillery on the first floor, where any goods still come up from the yard using the pulley outside. Here was saw both hot and cold distillation, the latter required for the more delicate botanicals, and John educated us on the Old Tom gin of the 1700’s which was much sweeter and could be obtained from a dispenser on the outside of a pub by depositing a penny into the carved wooden cat’s mouth and getting your gin down a lead pipe! After descending the stairs back into the courtyard, John pointed out the second-floor area which was once the rehearsal space for Def Leppard. Did we sample the Sir Robin of Locksley Gin? – well that would be telling…

Many thanks to John and Cynthia for the generous sharing of their time, passion and both local and industry history and to all attending members and guests for making the evening a great success.