When we set about the repurposing of The Bottle Factory on the Old Kent Road, our vision was to bring a community of makers, creatives and urban industry back to the buildings, in keeping with the overlooked site’s incredible industrial heritage.

We commissioned talented young illustrator Marina Turmo to capture what we had in mind – a mix of making, creativity and enterprise, from workshops for brewing and light manufacture, to studios for music, creative technology and yoga.

So it’s been totally awesome to bring that vision to life, with a trailblazing community now putting down roots and making The Bottle Factory its home.

Thames Distillers, a gin distillery run by the Maxwell family, who have been distilling in London continuously since 1681, has moved into the stand-alone 3,400 sq ft Bottle House. The UK’s oldest gin-making family have relocated their distillery from nearby Clapham, alongside new offices, tasting rooms and a state-of-the-art demonstrator cocktail bar, designed in consultation with world-renowned cocktail expert Leo Robitschek.

The move has allowed Thames Distillers to retain its distilling in the capital; a factor which is critical to the customers it supplies to, many of whom, like Fords Gin, are international and drawn to the family’s deep links to London’s gin heritage.

And coming soon, locally-based ethical coffee roaster Hej Coffee will open the UK’s first all-electric coffee roastery. Combining a zero-emission roastery powered by renewable energy, alongside HQ office and servery across 6,000 sq ft, their expansion will also allow for the continued growth of their circular, no-waste delivery system for wholesale customers with their all-electric fleet.

Studios at The Bottle Factory are also proving super popular. A mix of producers, editors, photographers, marketeers, designers, and a canned drinks company have been snapping up the smaller spaces carved out for start-ups and freelancers, ranging from 140 sq ft to 420 sq ft for 1-6 person businesses.

Built in 1895, The Bottle Factory was originally home to John Mills and Sons’ Bottling Works, producing mineral water, lemonade and ginger beer. It’s a privilege to have been able to restore the buildings, protecting space for making and creativity at a time when many SMEs are being pushed further out of the capital.

And with more exciting businesses doing good things looking set to join The Bottle Factory community soon, follow to see what comes next.