Chapel Down to launch London bar and gin distillery

Chapel Down Group is set to launch a restaurant, bar and gin micro-distillery site at King's Cross, London, amid a flurry of activity in the area.

Britain's largest winemaker has reportedly exchanged contracts on a 5,000 sq ft site alongside Regent's Canal. The firm is now seeking planning permission and a licence for the site.

Chapel Down currently sells gin and vodka under its brand, but outsources production to Thames Distillers. Chief executive Fraser Thompson told The Times the company will expand to its own gin-making site at an unnamed location.

The site is expected to launch ahead of Christmas. It comes as a variety of sites move into the area while previously established operators are forced to refurbish to maintain a competitive edge.

In the Coal Drops Yard development alone, scheduled new openings include Spanish tapas bar Barrafina, Pip Lacey's Hicce, Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse and Anthony Demetre's Vermuteria.

Meanwhile Green & Fortune's Rotunda bar and restaurant at Kings Place has under gone a £1.5m refurbishment operation, and is set to focus on farm-to-plate eating ideals to compete with newly arriving rivals.

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