Sheffield: Gin Distillery Tasting Visit with Guided Tour

Sheffield’s gin story begins in an unlikely place: Portland Works, the 1879 Grade 2 building known as the home of stainless steel. Inside, Locksley Distilling has been making small-batch spirits since 2015, and this 90-minute visit links the old industrial setting with modern craft production. You get a G&T, a guided look at the distillery, and a tasting of its growing range.

I like the small group of up to 10, which gives the tour a personal feel without turning it into a private splurge. I also like the mix of local history and practical gin-making, with guides including Jake, Danny, and Elliot bringing their own friendly style to the session. The main drawback is the meeting point: you wait outside the gate on Randall Street, and the entrance can be hard to spot.

Key points

• Portland Works setting: Tour a Grade 2 listed Sheffield building opened in 1879 and tied to the invention of stainless steel.
• Production kept in-house: Learn how Locksley makes its spirits and why a small distillery chooses to control each stage.
• Guided tasting: Sample the core range while hearing the story behind the botanicals and recipes.
• A G&T included: Start with a Locksley gin and tonic described by the distillery as sunshine in a glass.
• Small adult-only group: The experience lasts 1.5 hours and is limited to guests aged 18 and over.
• Good bottle-buying potential: A £5 discount on bottles has been offered with the tour, though you should confirm the current terms.

Portland Works gives the tour its Sheffield character

The building is not just a backdrop for the gin. Portland Works opened in 1879 and is a Grade 2* listed site with a strong connection to Sheffield’s industrial past. It is also known as the home of stainless steel, a detail that gives the visit a sense of place before the first glass is poured.

That setting matters because Locksley’s story is tied to the city. You are not visiting a generic tasting room designed to look old. You are entering a working part of Sheffield with its own industrial identity, then seeing how a newer maker has taken space there.

The contrast is one of the best parts of the experience. The building supplies the age and character, while the distillery supplies the modern craft focus. If you enjoy learning how a drink fits into its surroundings, this is more rewarding than a simple bar tasting.

You should pay attention to the arrival instructions. Wait outside the gate on the corner of Randall Street, where your guide comes down to let you in. The distillery cannot place signs or other items outside because of insurance restrictions, so the entrance may not be obvious from the street.

That is a small nuisance, but it is easy to manage if you arrive with the meeting point details open on your phone. If you have trouble, calling the distillery is the sensible move rather than wandering around Portland Works looking for a public entrance.

The opening G&T sets an easy pace

The visit begins with a Locksley G&T. It is a useful introduction because you taste the spirit in the familiar format most people associate with gin, rather than starting with a neat sample before you know what to expect.

The drink also gives the group time to settle in. This is not presented as a formal lecture where you sit quietly and wait for technical facts. The tone is social, and the guides are there to explain the drinks in plain language.

That approach suits mixed groups. You do not need to be a gin expert, bartender, or serious spirits collector to follow along. At the same time, the tasting has enough substance for people who already know their way around a bottle. One bartender found the session taught them far more than expected, particularly through the combination of Sheffield history, distillery history, and the company’s inventive approach.

The balance is important. A tasting can become too technical, especially when it focuses on production terms without explaining why they affect the final drink. Locksley’s format appears aimed at making the information useful at the glass, so you can connect the method with the flavor.

See how Locksley keeps production in-house

The guided tour gives you a look around the distillery and explains how the products are made. The central idea is Locksley’s continued effort to keep every part of production in-house. That tells you something about the company’s priorities: this is a small producer that wants control over the character and quality of its liquids.

You will hear about the distillery’s creation and development since the start of 2015. Ten years of distilling experience gives the talk some useful context. The point is not simply that Locksley has been around for a while, but that the team has had time to test ideas, refine recipes, and build an expanding range.

The small scale is part of the appeal. Locksley does not aim to be the biggest distillery. Its stated ambition is to be the best it can be, with a focus on careful production and artisan drinks. You can judge how much that matters to you, but the tour lets you see the thinking behind a small maker instead of treating the bottles as mysterious finished products.

The exact equipment and production steps are not set out in the available details, so you should not expect a full technical masterclass on every piece of machinery. You will, however, get a detailed explanation of how the range is created and why keeping control of production matters to the team.

That distinction helps set expectations. This is a guided introduction with tasting, not a professional distilling course. You learn enough to understand the work and the choices behind the drinks, then taste the results.

The tasting explains botanicals one glass at a time

After the tour, the tasting moves through the core range. The guide explains the origin story and botanical choices behind the products, giving you a reason to pay attention to differences between each pour.

Botanicals are where gin starts to become personal. They shape aroma, flavor, and the way a spirit works in a mixed drink. Hearing why a distillery selected particular ingredients gives you a better way to assess the samples than simply asking which one is strongest.

The range is described as ever growing, so the exact lineup may change. That is worth keeping in mind if you are booking because of a particular bottle. The core products are the reliable focus, but special brews and newer releases may appear depending on what Locksley is making at the time.

You should expect several samples rather than a single token taste. The format leaves room to compare the products, ask questions, and work out which styles suit you. If you do not normally drink gin, the guide-led structure should make the tasting less intimidating because you are given context before moving on.

The samples are also a practical way to decide whether to buy a bottle. A shop purchase after a tasting is more useful when you have tried the spirit in a measured setting and understand its intended character. One useful detail reported during the experience is a £5 reduction on bottles, though you should check that this offer still applies when you visit.

There is a minor practical point here: pace yourself. A 90-minute session with several samples can feel gentle, but alcohol adds up. Eat beforehand and use the tasting as a chance to compare, not as a race to finish every glass.

Jake, Danny, and Elliot shape the experience

The guide can make or break a small distillery tour, and Locksley’s named guides have different strengths.

Jake is described as especially enthusiastic and able to answer questions about gin and related drinks. His style appears energetic without being too formal, which helps if you want a lively introduction rather than a dry production talk.

Danny has led an evening tour with a friendly and informed manner. That timing could work well if you want to add the visit to a night in Sheffield, though the exact start times vary and need checking when you book.

Elliot has been praised for finding a good balance between facts and fun. That is the sweet spot for this kind of activity. You want real information about distilling, but you also want to enjoy the drinks and the people around you.

The guide may change, but the format stays personal because the group is capped at 10. You can ask questions without having to interrupt a large crowd, and the guide can adjust the explanation for beginners or people with more experience.

The reviews of the guides are consistently warm, but you should still remember that this is a small operation. A relaxed, owner-led feel is part of its charm, yet it may not have the polished choreography of a major commercial distillery. If you value personality and access over slick presentation, that trade-off works in your favor.

How much value do you get for $24?

At $24 per person, the price is reasonable for a 1.5-hour experience that includes a G&T, a guided distillery tour, a historical setting, and several tastings.

The value is strongest if you care about more than alcohol samples. You are paying for the explanation of Locksley’s production choices, the story of the company, the connection to Portland Works, and the opportunity to compare products with a guide beside you.

A bar might let you taste gin, but it will not normally explain how a local distillery developed its range or how its work fits into Sheffield’s industrial past. A larger distillery might offer a longer route, but a small group can give you more direct contact with the people behind the bottles.

The price is less compelling if you only want a quick drink. This is a sit-down-and-listen kind of outing, even though the atmosphere is informal. You should book it because you want to understand the drinks, not just because you happen to be passing through the city.

There may also be a financial benefit if you plan to buy a bottle afterward. The £5 bottle discount has been part of the experience, but confirm the current arrangement before counting it as part of your budget.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start gives you some flexibility, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your Sheffield plans are still moving around. These details are useful, but the real value comes from the tasting and the small-group format.

Who should book this Sheffield gin tour?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy craft drinks, local production, and places with a strong connection to city history. It also suits couples, friends, and small groups looking for a manageable evening activity rather than a full-day excursion.

Gin beginners should feel comfortable here. The guides explain the products and botanicals, and the tone is directed at ordinary drinkers rather than only industry professionals. You can learn at your own pace and ask basic questions without needing specialist knowledge.

People who already work in hospitality may also get more from the visit than expected. The combination of recipe development, production choices, and tasting gives experienced drinkers something to think about beyond the standard gin-and-tonic routine.

It is not suitable for children under 18, and the activity is strictly for adults. Bring photo identification, comfortable shoes, and warm clothing. The building may feel cool, and practical footwear makes more sense than dressing for a cocktail bar.

I would skip it if you dislike gin, cannot drink alcohol, or want a broad Sheffield sightseeing tour. The local history is an important part of the experience, but the main focus remains Locksley’s spirits.

A few practical tips before you arrive

Allow extra time to find the gate on Randall Street. Since the distillery cannot place signs outside for insurance reasons, arriving exactly at the last minute could leave you flustered.

Wear warm layers and comfortable shoes. The instructions specifically call for both, and the industrial building setting is more practical than polished.

Bring a passport or ID card. The activity is for adults aged 18 and over, so identification is part of the preparation.

Check the starting time when booking. The visit lasts 1.5 hours, but the available start times can vary.

Keep your group size in mind. With no more than 10 people, the session is intimate, but that also means places may be limited on the date you want.

If you hope to buy a bottle, leave room in your luggage and ask about the current £5 discount. Locksley also has an online store, which is useful if you decide after returning home that one bottle was not enough.

Should you book Locksley Distilling?

Yes, if you want a friendly, local, adult-only activity that combines gin tasting with a real sense of Sheffield place. The strongest reasons to book are the Portland Works setting, the small group, the in-house production story, and guides such as Jake, Danny, and Elliot who make the information easy to follow.

I would set expectations correctly. You are not getting a large-scale visitor center or a long technical course. You are getting a compact, personal introduction to a small distillery, with enough history, method, and tasting to make the $24 price feel fair.

Book it if you are curious about how gin is made and want to meet the people behind a Sheffield spirit. If you only want a drink, spend the money at a bar instead.

FAQ

How long does the Locksley Distilling tour last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours. Check the available start times when booking.

Where does the tour meet?

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

What is included in the visit?

You receive a Locksley G&T, an intimate guided tour of the distillery, an explanation of the company’s development and production methods, and a guided tasting of the core range.

How many people are in each group?

The activity is limited to 10 participants, making it a small-group tour.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. The experience is not suitable for children under 18.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and warm clothing. The tour is conducted in English.