Steel River Gin - Lemonrock

Product Information

He supports the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, donating his time and gin hampers for their prize draws. By April 2020, Steel River had to fight to keep up with demand from clients as far afield as the US.

Housed in the tap room, it’s a space for people to try Steel River beer – quite a departure for this gin connoisseur!So expect more mixers, rums, a new standalone gin brand, a range of wines and something big that I can’t even go into yet.” Suicide, especially in men, is a real problem on Teesside, and I wanted to encourage people to strike up a conversation – if that saved just one life, it was worth it.” We are also expanding our production with a new unit on Teesside where we can start our gin tastings, gin making days and sell all our products from there too. Given it will be around 4,000 sq ft of space, it will also give us a lot of room to make other drinks.

The distillery's positioning isn't merely geographical. It's deeply rooted in the ethos of bridging old and new. While its production methods pay homage to traditional distilling practices, there's a distinct contemporary flair in its product range. This fusion of tradition with modern tastes defines Steel River's brand identity. I’m very hands on,” he reflects. “I never want to let Steel River become just another faceless commodity.” Steel River Distillery has carved a distinctive niche in the competitive UK spirits market, particularly with its innovative gin offerings. Founded in an area known for its rich industrial past, the distillery derives its name from the iconic Tees Newport Bridge, a symbol of Northern England's engineering prowess.

Furthermore, their engagement with the community and dedication to quality is commendable. By prioritising local sourcing and playing an active role in regional events, Steel River has fortified its position as more than just a distillery, but a community stalwart.

It’s fun listening to a gin producer telling the history of gin, showing folks how they do it and letting them loose on their own creation. With the advent of Covid, more people were drinking at home and looking for a gin to savour – and sales went through the roof. By May 29, we will have the grand opening of the Steel River Brewhouse, with all our new beers and live bands on all day. It just happens to be my birthday too – so expect that to be one hell of a bash!”The launch of Steel River Gin in cans is timely considering that most people are looking forward to planning a staycation, a day at the races, picnics or just garden parties this summer,” says Middlesbrough-born founder Jay Byers. It’s already made a big impact in its distinctive bottles but, from April, Steel River Gin will be available in cans. In an exciting development, Steel River Drinks’ deliciously flavoured gins, with their familiar Transporter Bridge label, up light and ginflask, could soon be gracing the shelves of a major supermarket, while a national drinks distributor is poised to raise the profile of the iconic Teesside brand further.

Raise your glasses – or maybe your cans – for the latest innovative product launches from leading Teesside artisan drinks brand Steel River. We’re close to a deal with a supermarket chain – in fact we’re talking to two,” smiles founder Jay Byers, “and we’re thrilled that LWC – a national drinks distributor who only deal with established, strong, well-managed brands – have taken us on and will be introducing Steel River drinks to Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Yorkshire.” Five more fabulous gins followed the launch of Stainsby Girl – El Classico, Pink Dragon, Northern Lights, Club Tropicana and Very Berry. Ever the down-to-earth Boro lad, Jay can still be found delivering Steel River Gin in his little car, chatting to customers on social media and writing personalised “Thank you” letters that go out with every bottle of gin.

We have a full calendar of events at the Steel River HQ over the next few months, with live music, live gin making and brewery and distillery tours. From my point of view, it’s the business community’s responsibility to help those less fortunate. You are not a good company unless you do good things. I think a lot of businesses could do more. It’s such a warm feeling to think you’ve helped make someone’s life a little easier, especially in these troubled times.” Creating a range of gins that Teesside can be proud of has become a reality for Thornaby-born Jay Byers. It’s a great atmosphere and the nights have gone down a storm. So much so that we now have several Teesside firms booking up the whole 20 places for their staff to treat them and for team building.” They can also enjoy a tipple in the adjacent Speakeasy bar, see the gin making process for themselves or get hands-on at a gin school.