Sheffield: Gin Distillery Tasting Visit with Guided Tour

Sheffield gin gets serious, fast. I love the setting in Portland Works and the small group feel, where you get real attention during the tasting. One heads-up, you might struggle to spot the exact entrance at first because they keep the outside low-key.

This is a 1.5-hour, guided Locksley Distilling visit in South Yorkshire. You’ll see how a small team builds its spirits in-house, then taste through an ever-growing range with clear explanations of botanic choices and product origins. Guides like Danny, Jake, and Elliot are a big part of why people leave smiling.

Key things to know before you go

• Portland Works setting: a grade 2 listed building opened in 1879 in the heart of Sheffield
• Small team, small-batch approach: production created and kept in-house since 2015
• Welcome drink included: a Locksley G&T called sunshine in a glass
• Guided tasting with purpose: you learn the origin story and botanical choice behind the core range
• Local industrial connections: you’ll hear how Sheffield ties into the stainless steel story
• Time-efficient experience: 1.5 hours with limited spots for up-close guidance

Entering Portland Works: Sheffield’s gin distillery address

If you like craft drinks, but you also like a sense of place, this tour has the right tone from the start. The distillery is based at Portland Works, a grade 2 listed building opened in 1879. It’s an old industrial site, and that gives everything a grounded feeling. You’re not just stepping into a modern tasting room. You’re stepping into Sheffield’s work-world.

The building’s connection to stainless steel is part of the story you’ll hear on the tour. It’s the kind of detail that makes gin feel less like a generic product and more like a Sheffield craft line that fits the city’s industrial roots. Even if you only know Sheffield as a sports-and-culture city, the setting adds texture to the experience.

Where to meet

Meet outside the gate at the corner of Randall Street. Your guide will come down to let you in. Do yourself a favour and give yourself a little extra time, especially if you’re arriving on foot. People sometimes expect signage, but the entrance is kept simple, so staying calm and looking for the guide is the best plan.

What the vibe is like

This is a tasting visit with a friendly Yorkshire welcome. The tone stays practical. It’s not a stiff lecture, and you’re not rushed through samples. The guide talks like someone who genuinely cares about the product and wants you to leave with a better sense of what you just drank and why it tastes the way it does.

A 10-person guided tour that keeps attention on the tasting

This is built for small groups, limited to 10 participants. That matters more than you might think. When there are fewer people, questions don’t get lost, and the tasting feels more like guided conversation than a timed parade.

The tour runs for about 1.5 hours. That’s a sweet spot for many people: long enough to learn the brand story and taste multiple pours, short enough that you can still plan dinner or a pint afterward. It’s also easy to fit into a Sheffield evening.

The guide makes the difference

Guides such as Danny, Jake, and Elliot come through with the same theme: friendly, energetic delivery plus clear explanations. If you’re the type who likes to ask why a flavour works or how the botanicals were chosen, this format gives you room to do that.

The tour is in English, and it’s guided end-to-end. You get a tour of the distillery space first, then an expert-guided tasting session. The learning stays tied to what’s in front of you.

Adult-only

This visit isn’t suitable for children under 18. So if you’re choosing it for a family outing, you’ll need to plan something else.

Inside Locksley: in-house production and a small-batch mindset

One of the best parts of this visit is how often the tour brings you back to the same idea: small does not mean careless. Locksley Distilling positions itself as a quality-first distillery, and the tour reflects that with an in-house production focus.

You’ll learn about the company’s creation and development, including its start in 2015 and the continued commitment to keeping production in-house. You’ll also hear about their 10 years of distilling experience. That combination, a clear timeline plus real production details, helps you understand why the brand talks about quality as an everyday practice, not a marketing line.

What you get to see

You’ll get around their home at Portland Works and discover how products are made. The goal is not just to point at equipment. The guide explains how each step fits into the final flavour, and how their approach supports an ever-growing range of liquids.

If you care about craft spirits, you’ll likely appreciate the focus on process and consistency. When a distillery keeps production local and controlled, it’s easier to protect the taste profile you come back for.

Portland Works meets Sheffield: stainless steel and local pride

Industrial history can be a snooze if it’s presented like a museum exhibit. Here, the stainless steel connection is more like a thread that ties place to product.

Portland Works is where the building’s stainless steel story enters the tour. You’ll hear how Sheffield fits into that invention story. One detail worth knowing in advance is that the tour also clears up the common misconception that the stainless steel story is tied elsewhere. The emphasis stays on Sheffield’s role, and that local pride makes the tour feel more specific than a generic gin stop.

This is also why I think the Portland Works location works so well. Gin tasting can become a flavour-only experience if you’re not careful. Adding a strong sense of place makes the flavour lessons stick.

The tasting session: learning botanicals and origins, not just taking sips

The structure is simple and effective. You start with a welcome drink, then move through the guided tasting of the core range, with explanations along the way.

The welcome drink

Included in the price is a Locksley G&T called sunshine in a glass. It’s a great starter because it sets the baseline. You know what the brand style is like before the guide starts talking about the deeper choices.

What the guide will teach during tasting

An expert guide leads the tasting and shares:

• The origin story behind the core range products
• The botanical choice behind those core expressions

That combination is key. If you only hear about botanicals without the brand story, it can feel like a list. If you only hear the origin story without the botanic reasoning, the flavours can feel random. This tour ties both together, so you start tasting with context.

Expect an ever-growing range

You won’t just do one gin and call it a night. The tour is designed around an ever-growing range of products, so you’re tasting multiple options within the time window. That variety keeps things interesting, and it helps you find what you genuinely like rather than what you’re told is the best seller.

If you work with drinks

Even if you already know gin professionally, the format can still teach you something. The tour tends to explain choices in a way that’s practical, not just romantic. You get to compare flavours while the guide talks through why they built them that way.

Price and value: what $24 really covers

At $24 per person for about 1.5 hours, this is priced like a focused experience, not a high-ticket museum-style attraction. And the value is more about what’s included than the cost alone.

What’s in the ticket

Your visit includes:

• The welcome Locksley G&T, sunshine in a glass
• An intimate guided tour of the distillery, with insight into how products are created
• The history of Locksley Distilling’s creation and development, tied to their in-house ethos
• An expert guided tasting session, with origin stories and botanical choices
• A warm reception that feels very Yorkshire

That’s a lot packed into a short visit, especially because the group size stays limited to 10. You’re paying for the guide time plus the tasting structure, not just for access to a shop.

Bottle discounts can add up

Some people also mention leaving with bottles after the tour, and there’s even a mention of £5 off bottles of gin. If that discount is available during your visit, it can quickly turn a tasting into a smart buying decision.

Logistics that matter: meeting point, what to bring, and timing

Here’s how to make the visit stress-free.

Meeting point and finding the entrance

Wait outside the gate at the corner of Randall Street. Your guide comes down to let you in. The tour keeps the outside minimal, so arriving with a little patience saves time.

What to bring

Bring:

• Passport or ID card
• Comfortable shoes
• Warm clothing

The warm clothing note is worth taking seriously, because you may be outside briefly before you get inside.

Timing

The tour is 1.5 hours. Starting times depend on availability, so pick a time that leaves room for a meal afterward. If you’re pairing this with other Sheffield activities, treat it like a proper evening commitment, not a quick stop.

Who this tour suits best (and who should skip it)

This visit fits best if you want a guided craft-drink experience that has both flavour and place built in.

You’ll probably love it if you:

• Like gin and want to understand botanicals and product origins
• Enjoy small-group tours with time for questions
• Appreciate Sheffield’s industrial connections and local stories
• Want a tasting that feels approachable, not stuffy

You might want to choose something else if:

• You dislike gin tasting or you want only a soft introduction without any focus on botanicals
• You need a kid-friendly activity, since it isn’t suitable for under 18
• You’re expecting a giant factory tour, because this is intentionally small and quality-focused

Should you book this Sheffield gin distillery tasting visit?

Yes, if you want a guided, small-group evening that mixes Portland Works character with an actual tasting lesson. The ticket value is strong because you get a welcome G&T plus a structured tasting, and the tour keeps the focus on how the spirits are made and why the botanicals were chosen.

Book it especially if you’re visiting Sheffield and want one activity that feels genuinely local. If you’re worried about timing, the options include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and reserve now, pay later, so you can plan with less pressure.

If you’re nearby and you like learning while you sip, this one is an easy win.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the tour?

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

How long is the gin distillery tasting visit?

The duration is 1.5 hours.

How big is the group?

The tour is limited to 10 participants.

What is included in the price?

Your ticket includes a Locksley G&T sunshine in a glass, an intimate guided tour, and an expert guided tasting session.

Is a welcome drink included?

Yes. A Locksley G&T sunshine in a glass is included.

What age is this experience suitable for?

It is not suitable for children under 18.

What should I bring with me?

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

Can I pay later or cancel if my plans change?

You can reserve now and pay later, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.