Staff interviews have taken place and we have a real treat instore for our guests, the bar is being stocked and cocktail techniques practiced. We had our first guests in a sneak preview of the Crows Nest function room, some of the things they said were amazing:
Now the dust has settled we are just adding some of finishing touches -The sign company have been up on ladders, cutting out letters and ensuring everyone knows how to get around the building. We’ve had lots of visitors who have loved the style and ambience of the place.
The big site clean up has begun, Hoovers, brushes, mops and cleaning products are out in floor as we begin to clear the dust. Our renovations team are slowly departing and we are on a mission to get the venue ready for the public.
The copper still which is being handmade should be ready to install in June. Testing has begun, offsite at 45 West in Leicester, for Bond Street’s Signature Gin with the help of Master Distiller Jamie Baxter from Craft Distilling Services.
Outside has finally been cleared and the rubbish strewn carpark is finally looking like a carpark. The rendering on the outside has gone up and passers-by have started to show an interest in what we are doing.
Local Builder Rob Deacon of Deacon Builders has taken on the task of the building work with Martin Elliot and Simon Bond from Elliot Bond Electrical all making this building safe, bringing it up to date and future proofing it. We have a Master carpenter Jim Nickerson travelling from Whitby (formally from Leicestershire) providing some of the necessary and important restoration to the older building and Plumber Chris Dewden re-establishing a water and heating system throughout. It feels really good that local tradesmen are onsite getting excited with me about this building. A good week as the custom made staircase was fitted in the Distillery area. It finally means that everyone can get up stairs safely, the building is changing slowly but surely.
Now to start designing how to showcase this building’s heritage and breathe life back into it, creating a whole new history as Hinckley’s first Gin Distillery. Finally all the smashing, ripping out and clearing of the modern debris and thousands of unidentifiable cables has finished and the first new stud walls are going up – following a successful interpretation of my ideas in to plan. It’s exciting to think that in a few months this place will be ‘The Bond Street Distillery’.
Simon the sand blaster has been in – taking off a Hundred years of dirt, grime and layers of paint to reveal beautiful beams, bringing the gable roof and brickwork back to life and restoring the industrial feel to this amazing building.
