Sheffield: Gin Distillery Tasting Visit with Guided Tour

Sheffield’s gin story begins in an unexpected place: Portland Works, the 1879 building linked with the invention of stainless steel. Inside, Locksley Distilling Co. makes small-batch spirits, and the tour connects that industrial setting with modern craft gin. I like the mix of local history and practical distilling detail, plus the chance to taste the range rather than simply watch a demonstration.

I especially like the small group of no more than 10, which gives the visit a personal feel, and the way the tasting explains why each botanical is used. Guides including Danny, Jake, and Elliot have been praised for friendly, lively delivery. The main drawback is easy to avoid but worth noting: the meeting point can be hard to spot, since the distillery cannot place signs outside for insurance reasons.

Key points

• Portland Works setting: Tour a Grade 2 listed Sheffield building opened in 1879 and linked to stainless steel production.
• 90-minute format: The visit combines a guided walk, production explanation, company story, and tasting without taking up a full day.
• Small-batch focus: Learn how Locksley keeps each stage of production in-house rather than chasing huge output.
• Guided tasting: Taste the core range while hearing the origin story and botanical choices behind the spirits.
• Local guides: Danny, Jake, and Elliot have led visits with a warm, informal style suited to newcomers and drinks enthusiasts.
• Useful planning detail: Meet outside the gate on the corner of Randall Street, wear comfortable shoes, and bring warm clothing.

Why Portland Works makes a good distillery setting

A gin tour can take place in almost any functional workspace. This one has a stronger sense of place because Locksley Distilling Co. operates from Portland Works, a Grade 2 listed building opened in 1879.

The building is also tied to Sheffield’s stainless steel story. That gives the opening part of the tour more weight than a simple introduction to a drinks brand. You are not only hearing about juniper, botanicals, and distillation. You are also learning why this part of Sheffield mattered to industry.

That old-meets-new contrast is one of the experience’s best features. The building provides the industrial background, while Locksley’s production methods show how a small modern company works inside it. I like tours that explain both the product and its surroundings, and this one has a clear local connection from the moment you arrive.

Do not expect a grand visitor centre or a large commercial operation. Locksley describes itself as small, dedicated, and quality-focused. That is part of the appeal, but it also means the visit feels more like entering a working artisan business than touring a polished attraction built for crowds.

Finding the gate on Randall Street

The meeting point is outside the gate on the corner of Randall Street. Your guide comes down to let you in, so you should not assume that you can simply walk through an open visitor entrance.

This is the one practical point I would take seriously. The distillery cannot put signs or displays outside because of insurance rules, and one visitor had trouble finding the place before making a couple of phone calls. Give yourself extra time and keep the meeting instructions handy.

Once you are at the right gate, the small-group setup should make the arrival fairly straightforward. The group limit is 10 people, a useful size for asking questions and hearing the guide clearly. The setting is not designed for large coach parties, and that helps keep the visit personal.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring warm clothing. Those instructions matter in an older industrial building, where conditions may feel cooler than expected. You also need to be at least 18, and the required identification is a passport or ID card.

The first taste: a Locksley G&T

The visit includes a Locksley G&T, described as sunshine in a glass. It is a smart way to begin because it lets you taste the finished drink before getting into the details of how it is made.

For people who already enjoy gin, this opening sample sets up the rest of the visit. You can think about the balance of the drink as the guide explains the ingredients and production choices later. If you are new to gin, it gives you a simple reference point before the tasting becomes more detailed.

The wording suggests a bright, easy-drinking serve, but the precise recipe and garnish are not specified. I would treat it as a welcome drink rather than assume it is a full cocktail lesson. The main value comes from having a finished Locksley drink in hand while you get oriented.

This is also where the tone of the tour appears to settle. The experience is intended to be informative without becoming stiff. The guide introduces the subject through a drink, then builds the story around it.

Seeing how the small-batch spirits are made

The central part of the visit is an intimate guided tour of the distillery. You learn how Locksley creates its growing range of spirits and why the company remains committed to keeping every part of production in-house.

That phrase matters. A small distillery cannot compete with a major producer on volume, so its appeal has to come from control, attention, and a clear point of view. When a company keeps production in-house, you get a better sense of how its identity connects to the liquid in your glass.

The tour is not presented as a technical course for professional distillers. It is aimed at the interested drinker who wants to understand more without needing prior knowledge. A bartender who joined one visit found the Sheffield and distillery background, along with the production ideas, more substantial than expected. That suggests the tour can work for drinks professionals as well as casual gin fans.

You should expect the guide to explain the production process and the way the range has developed over the company’s 10 years of distilling experience. The information provided does not specify every piece of equipment or each stage in technical detail, so I would not book this expecting a full engineering lesson. The strength is the combination of method, business story, and tasting.

The Locksley story and Sheffield connections

The tour includes the story of Locksley Distilling’s creation and development. Since the company began at the start of 2015, the guide can place its work in a clear timeline: a relatively young distillery with a decade of experience, still growing its range while holding on to a small-scale identity.

That balance is important. Locksley does not present itself as the biggest distillery, and the stated aim is to be the best it can be. You may find that the company story feels more direct than the polished origin stories used by large drinks brands.

The Sheffield setting adds another useful layer. Portland Works is linked with stainless steel, and the tour explains that connection rather than treating the building as a generic backdrop. One guide even corrected a common misconception about where stainless steel was invented, pointing to Sheffield rather than the United States.

That local detail helps make the visit worthwhile even if you already know the basics of gin. You are learning about a product, a company, and a city whose industrial past still shapes the place around you.

A tasting built around botanicals

The guided tasting is the main reward for booking the full tour. You taste through the products while learning the origin story and botanical choices behind the core range.

This is more useful than receiving several samples with little explanation. Botanicals are often listed on a bottle without telling you what they contribute. Here, the guide links the ingredient choices to the character of each product, giving you a better way to compare the spirits.

The exact number of samples is not fixed in the supplied details, but several visitors described plenty of different gins and special brews. The range is growing, so the selection may change over time. That is good news for repeat visitors, though it means you should not assume every advertised or previously tasted bottle will be included on your date.

The format suits both beginners and serious gin drinkers. You do not need to identify every botanical or know how to taste spirits formally. At the same time, a bartender found enough new material to make the session worthwhile, which suggests the guide can adjust the level of detail to the group.

Go slowly. A 90-minute tasting can include more alcohol than you expect, particularly when several products are sampled. The information provided does not state that food is included, so plan accordingly rather than treating this as a meal replacement.

The guides shape the experience

The distillery employs a small team, and the guide can make a large difference in such an intimate setting. Danny has been praised for a friendly, informed approach, while Jake has been described as passionate, personable, and able to answer questions about gin and much more.

Elliot has also led the visit with a balance of facts and fun. Those names give you a useful sense of the tone, but you should not assume you can choose your guide when booking. The guide is an English speaker, and the experience is offered in English.

The repeated strength here is delivery. A technical explanation can lose a group quickly, especially after the first drink. The best parts of this visit appear to come from guides who keep the material relaxed and accessible rather than turning the tour into a lecture.

That informal style should suit you if you want to ask basic questions without feeling out of place. It may be less suitable if you want a highly formal, scripted production tour with extensive technical specifications. The available details point toward a friendly introduction with real substance, not an academic workshop.

Is $24 good value for 90 minutes?

At $24 per person, the price is reasonable if you plan to make use of the full experience. You are paying for a welcome G&T, a small-group tour, the distillery story, production insight, and a guided tasting across the range.

The value improves if you are interested in Sheffield’s industrial past as well as gin. A standard tasting alone can feel brief, but the Portland Works setting and local background give this visit a second subject. You leave with more than a list of flavors.

There may also be a financial perk after the tour. One visitor noted a £5 discount on bottles of gin, though the supplied activity details do not formally promise that offer. If it is still available when you visit, buying a bottle could make the overall cost feel better, but I would confirm the current terms on the day.

The price is less attractive if you do not drink gin, cannot taste alcohol, or mainly want to see a large-scale distillery in operation. This is a small producer, and the appeal is personal attention and craft production rather than size or spectacle.

Who should book this Sheffield experience?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy gin, local food and drink businesses, industrial heritage, or relaxed small-group tours. It is especially suitable for couples, friends, and visitors looking for an evening activity in Sheffield that does not require a full day.

It also suits people who know very little about gin. The tasting is guided, the explanations are aimed at a general audience, and the tone is not described as stuffy. You can learn the basics while trying several products rather than studying a display from behind glass.

Experienced gin drinkers should not dismiss it as too simple. The botanical explanations, new products, and production choices can still offer useful detail. The bartender who attended learned far more than expected, which is a good sign for anyone already familiar with spirits.

I would skip it if you are under 18, do not drink alcohol, or need a fully accessible public entrance with clear exterior signage. The provided information does not detail wheelchair access, step-free routes, toilets, parking, or food, so contact Locksley directly before booking if any of those points affect your plans.

Booking details worth knowing

The experience lasts 1.5 hours, with starting times available according to the date you choose. Since the group is limited to 10, advance booking is sensible if your Sheffield schedule is tight.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the visit for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful when you are arranging several parts of a United Kingdom trip.

Bring a passport or ID card, even if you look clearly over 18. Comfortable shoes and warm clothing are also listed as requirements, so this is not the moment for delicate footwear or a light evening outfit alone.

Meet outside the gate on Randall Street, not at a prominently marked shopfront. Because outside signs are restricted, allow a little extra time and be ready to call if you cannot identify the entrance.

Should you book the Locksley tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, focused gin experience with a strong Sheffield connection. The best reasons are the Portland Works setting, the group size, the tasting explained through botanicals, and guides such as Danny, Jake, and Elliot who bring energy to the subject.

The main cautions are simple: finding the gate may take patience, the building may be cool, and the tour is for adults only. You should also choose it for a small-batch distillery visit, not a large visitor attraction.

At $24, the package offers solid value for 90 minutes, especially if you enjoy trying several spirits and want context for what you taste. For a relaxed Sheffield evening with local history, practical distilling insight, and a bottle-shopping option afterward, this is an easy one to consider.

FAQ

Where does the Locksley Distilling tour take place?

The tour takes place at Locksley Distilling Co. in Portland Works, a Grade 2* listed building in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Where is the meeting point?

Wait outside the gate on the corner of Randall Street. Your guide will come down to let you in.

How long does the experience last?

The tour and tasting last 1.5 hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $24 per person.

What is included in the tour?

You receive a Locksley G&T, an intimate guided distillery tour, an explanation of Locksley’s creation and development, production insight, and an expert-guided tasting of the core range.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live guide and the activity language are English.

How many people are in each group?

The experience is limited to 10 participants.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. Children under 18 are not permitted.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and warm clothing.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later to keep your plans flexible.