Shed One Distillery
Sector:
Food & Drink – Craft spirits, tours and experiences
Location:
Furness, Cumbria
Shed One Distillery is a small business with a big reputation, known for its award-winning spirits and its commitment to the communities of Furness.
Founded in 2016, the distillery has grown steadily, moving from humble beginnings to a dedicated space where every bottle is crafted, labelled and bottled on site.
Shed One’s ethos is simple: combine creativity and quality with a genuine desire to give back.
In 2019, the team moved into an old calf shed and scaled production from a 25‑litre still to a 100‑litre still, giving them room to grow without losing the hands‑on approach they pride themselves on.
The additional space has also supported new ideas, new products and a broader visitor offer.
Today, the Ulverston-based distillery makes gins, vodkas and other spirits alongside a signature marmalade that supports its charitable arm.
“We love what’s happening in Barrow because if Barrow is helped and people are investing, then hopefully they’ll also be investing in the rest of Cumbria.”
Profits from the Marmalade Fund are donated to Furness Homeless Support in Barrow, reflecting a belief that business should be rooted in community as well as craft.
“We love sharing what we do with people,” co-owner Zoe Arnold-Bennet said. “It’s about being part of a community.”
Visitors to the distillery can book tours and tastings, create their own spirits on site and enjoy an afternoon G&T where the botanicals inspire the sweet treats.
All production happens under one roof at Shed One – making, bottling and labelling – and the space doubles as a venue for corporate away‑days, team meetings and seasonal celebrations for local firms.
The distillery’s retail distribution has grown steadily through local independents such as delis and farm shops, with Booths being a long‑standing supporter.
The supermarket is preparing to list Shed One spirits across all its Cumbria stores – a significant step for a micro‑producer navigating a wholesale landscape that can be tough for new entrants.
Shed One has also extended its reach through local partnerships, including one with the Dock Museum in Barrow for the hugely popular Dave Day.
The distillery has also worked with local students at Barrow Sixth Form on real briefs, commissioning artwork for labels and bringing a student in to develop the website – experience that helped those creatives move on to national clients. It hopes to do more partnership work of this nature in the future.
The team hope that investment and interest in Barrow will lift the wider area too, by creating opportunity that keeps young people local.
Zoe said: “Cumbria as a whole is so much greater than its little parts, and we all come together and try to support and sustain each other.
“We love what’s happening in Barrow because if Barrow is helped and people are investing, then hopefully they’ll also be investing in the rest of Cumbria. It’s not just about Barrow rising – it’s about Cumbria rising, being lifted by the investment in Barrow and being sustainable for the long term.”
“Cumbria as a whole is so much greater than its little parts, and we all come together and try to support and sustain each other.”
