The creators of an award-winning UK gin brand have confirmed their business has collapsed into administration, closing its doors for good after facing what they describe as a 'perfect storm' of economic pressures.
The End of a Manchester Dream
Jen and Seb Heeley-Wiggins, the owners of The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, shared the heartbreaking news on LinkedIn. The couple revealed that the combined impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, spiralling operational costs, and increasing taxes created an 'unsustainable business model'.
Their journey began in their dining room in 2016 before they moved to a small industrial space in Manchester in 2018. The vision for a customer experience centre and cocktail bar became a reality when they discovered the derelict arches on Watson Street in 2019.
Investing over £1 million, they transformed the site into a beautiful destination for spirits lovers, which they saw as their 'forever home'.
A Perfect Storm in Hospitality
Seb Heeley-Wiggins stated he 'never thought' he would have to write such an announcement. The pandemic dramatically altered the landscape, but the last two years proved particularly difficult for the hospitality venture.
Rising costs, taxes, and pressure on customer spending eroded the joy that once defined the business. Despite their hardest efforts to weather the storm, the obstacles proved insurmountable.
In a final, difficult decision, the company was forced to close the doors to both its Watson Street customer experience and its production site in Trafford Park in August, leading to the entire business entering administration.
Looking to the Future
The closure resulted in the loss of the site they had invested everything in, their incredible team, and a part of their identity. The couple expressed profound gratitude for the support from their landlords at the Manchester Central Complex.
While the Watson Street chapter has ended, the brand's story is not over. The couple confirmed that Manchester Gin will continue to be made in Manchester, and their focus will now shift to their One Point Six English Whisky brand.
They concluded their message by thanking everyone for their support and love, signing off alongside DeeDee, their distillery dog.
