Checking in at The Distillery, London
As you might know if you've been reading this blog for any length of time (or know me in real life), I love gin. I wholeheartedly believe that a well made gin and tonic is the most refreshing drink in the world, and I'm very devoted to my plight to try as many gins as possible. So you can imagine my delight, back in November, when my husband presented me with a stay at a GIN HOTEL for my birthday. That's right, an actual hotel set within a distillery. Sounds amazing, right?! I certainly thought so, and I found myself excitedly waiting for March to roll around so I could cash in my very awesome pressie.
the distillery london
Which is how Sam and I found ourselves checking in at The Distillery in London last weekend. I feel like I should say up front that our stay wasn't comped or sponsored in any way - I'm writing about it because we genuinely loved it and I want you all to know about it too, not because I have to. And honestly? If you're also a gin lover, I can't think of a better place to stay in London.
So let's start with the location. Set on the bustling Portabello Road, The Distillery provides a pretty good base if you're looking to explore West London. That being said, it's also super easy to get into central too, but with so much going on in the immediate vicinity, you really don't have to stray too far.
the distillery london
We arrived on Saturday afternoon which meant that the market was in full swing, and we both loved soaking up the vibe en route. Our check in was quick and easy, and after providing a couple of details, we were quickly shown to our room. There are only 4 rooms in the hotel which gives the place a real boutique feel, and you can really notice the difference in attention to detail.
the distillery london
I think this might be my favourite hotel room I've ever stayed in in terms of décor inspo. I absolutely loved the retro Scandi feel that they have going on, and I fell head over heels for the bathroom. I mean, just look at those tiles!!! Sam and I both took so many pictures in the hope that we can make our bathroom look even half as pretty one day.
the distillery london
The bed was slightly smaller than what you usually get in other hotels, but was still plenty big enough for us both, and very comfy. There was a huge full length window looking out onto Portabello Road which made you feel like you were right in the thick of it, but you couldn't hear any noise in the room which is something we had worried about before our stay.
the distillery london
the distillery london
As mentioned, the real difference with this hotel compared to others I've stayed in in London was the attention to detail. There was a record player in our room, with a selection of vinyls provided by The Distillery's neighbour, Rough Trade (my musician husband loved this touch!). The toiletries provided were from Grown Alchemist, a brand I've wanted to try for a while.
And of course, because this is a gin hotel, there were plenty of little gin details too! You'll find complimentary pre-mixed negronis and martinis in the fridge, complete with the correct glassware and ice to make your drink look and taste great. And if you fancy a gin and tonic in bed? No problem! You've got everything right there to make your perfect drink, from the gin itself to an array of garnishes and tonics.
the distillery london
With all of that going on, it would be quite tempting to spend your whole stay in your hotel room, but if you decide to venture out, there's plenty going on in the rest of The Distillery for you to enjoy. There are two bars and restaurants, Gintonica and The Resting Rooms. Sadly we didn't have chance to eat at either, but we sampled a gin and tonic in both and they both had a great atmosphere going on.
And if you really want to take your gin experience further, then you could even book in for The Ginstitute experience, where you can try your hand at blending your very own gin! My friend Sam did this a few weeks ago and wrote a great post about it here if you want to read more about it.
the distillery london
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Distillery and were already making plans to return as we left. As they only have 4 rooms, this hotel does get booked up quite far in advance for weekends, but I can guarantee that it's worth the wait. I can't think of a better treat for a gin lover!
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Checking in at The Distillery, London