Britain in a Bottle offers intimate look at country's drinks producers

An intimate visitor's guide to Britain's breweries, cider mills, distilleries and vineyards is hitting a bookshelf near you.

Britain in a Bottle: A Visitor's Guide is the latest release in the best-selling Bradt on Britain series. It was co-written by Ted Bruning, previously of the Good Beer Guide, and Rupert Wheeler, former managing editor of Whisky Magazine.

The comprehensive guide covers more than 340 breweries, cider mills, distilleries and vineyards across the British Isles which open their doors to visitors. Complete with photographs and maps, each entry includes descriptions, contact details and opening times. 

On their journey, the authors uncovered such gems as Bateman's Brewery in Skegness, with a visitor centre located in an old windmill; Theakston's and Black Sheep at Masham, breweries that were owned by warring factions of the same family; Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh, located in the operating theatre of a former animal hospital with gin piped to a pub on the same complex; and St Peter's near Diss, with a restaurant and visitor centre in a moated Tudor farmhouse.

It comes amid a growing interest among drinks enthusiasts and aficionados to see behind the closed doors of Britain's alcohol industry. Between 2016 and 2017 the number of visitors to Scotch distilleries rose by 11 per cent to 1.9 million, and the world of English wine is on the up with a record harvest in 2018 and more than 150 vineyards taking part in British Wine Week in 2019.

Britain in a Bottle: A Visitor's Guide is available to buy now. To receive a 30 per cent discount on a new purchase through www.posthousepublishing.com, use the promotional code BinB0420 at the checkout. 

30 October 2020 - Bethany Whymark