City centre’s first distillery and bar now open in Derby Market Hall

Councillor Nadine Peatfield at the opening of The Spirit Run on Saturday 19 July

A brand-new distillery and bar is now open in Derby Market Hall, bringing locally crafted spirits, cocktails, and a stylish new venue to the heart of the city centre.

The Spirit Run Distillery and Bar officially opened its doors to the public on Saturday 19 July, with the occasion being marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield.

The new venue will join the list of growing traders at Derby Market Hall, a Grade II-listed Victorian building in the heart of the city. The Spirit Run is the latest venture from Darley Abbey Wines, situated in the newly renovated former Poultry Market space, adjoining Osnabruck Square.

Guests at the opening of The Spirit Run
Customers at the The Spirit Run. Photo: OLSON Creative

The distillery offers a truly unique experience to visitors, allowing customers to admire the iconic stills while enjoying a cocktail, refreshing gin, or a glass of wine. It will offer high-quality spirits crafted in bespoke, British-made copper stills, built by Somerset company, BritStill. 

Innovative gin and cocktail experiences will also be available to customers, guiding them on an immersive journey through the process before tasting. These experiences, and the venue itself, can be booked for mixed groups or private parties.

Copper stills at The Spirit Run
Copper stills at The Spirit Run. Photo: OLSON Creative

The bar will specialise in spirits, featuring a strong cocktail menu and showcasing The Spirit Run’s own creations alongside those from other local distillers and well-known brands. Customers can also choose from a range of draft beers, including selections from Derbyshire’s Thornbridge brewery, and explore a select rotating list of ‘discovery wines’ for an ambitious tasting experience. 

The Spirit Run is also teaming up with fellow Derby Market Hall traders, including Cheeky Pancakes and Japanese street food trader SHIO, to offer customers some tasty small plates to go with their favourite drink. Keep a look out for IZAKAYA – a new Sunday Japanese Brunch Club featuring sushi and small plates from SHIO, paired with drinks from The Spirit Run. The event will feature on Sundays in September.

Revellers at The Spirit Run
Photo: OLSON Creative

The new addition forms part of Derby Market Hall’s phased reopening, which has seen several new traders joining the historic building in recent months. More traders are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Nichol Malia-Barlow, owner of The Spirit Run, said:

I’m absolutely thrilled that The Spirit Run is now open. We’ve had an amazing opportunity to bring something truly unique to the heart of Derby as the city centre’s first distillery. The historic Market Hall is the perfect location for The Spirit Run.

Not only will customers have a place where they can socialise and catch up with friends over drinks, but they’ll also be able to see their favourite wines, gin, rum, and more, being produced in the distillery. We welcome everyone to come and view the transformed space.

Cocktail and table lamp at Derby Market Hall
Enjoy quality cocktails for all tastes. Photo OLSON Creative

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Strategy, Regeneration and Policy, said:

It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of the opening of The Spirit Run on Saturday 19 July. The Spirit Run is a perfect addition to the iconic Derby Market Hall, offering a truly unique experience to each visitor as the first distillery in Derby’s city centre. 

I’m really proud that we are showcasing the best of Derby and Derbyshire’s local talent. The Market Hall is thriving and offers something truly unique to each visitor. I’m looking forward to announcing more traders soon.

I also can’t wait to try a cocktail that’s been made in the Market Hall; gin just happens to be my favourite tipple!

Darley Abbey Wines, which began as a wine merchant in 2007, have steadily expanded their offerings. They opened a popular wine bar at Darley Abbey Mills, known for their live music and tasting events, and established Darley Abbey Distillery in 2020. Located at the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, their home is a seventeenth-century cotton mill which once produced the finest cotton thread. Today, Darley Abbey Wines expertly crafts fine spirits in small batches, honouring the building’s rich history. 

Their first gin, The Uncommon Thread London Dry, launched in November 2022 to great success. The new Derby Market Hall distillery will allow them to increase production, expand existing and new brands, and facilitate exciting small-batch local projects and collaborations.