'Bottoms up' for winners of Grow with the Show: Bottomley Distillers 25 Apr

Award winning Pin Gin – a boutique London dry gin distilled and hand made in Louth – will be at the Lincolnshire Showground on 20 and 21 June for the first time, trading in front of more than 60,000 visitors.

Believed to be the first ever gin to be produced commercially in Lincolnshire, Bottomley Distillers, was set up in March 2017 by Louth couple Alan Bottomley and his partner Amy Conyard.

Thanks to the growing popularity of gin across the UK, the start-up has had an exceptional first year of trading, producing an average of 200-300 bottles every week.

Amy said: “It is an honour to win the competition and we are incredibly excited to be exhibiting at the Lincolnshire Show. It is always amazing to win something, but an award associated with the Showground is extra special!”

Grow with the Show is open to young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 years old and aims to help Lincolnshire start-ups by giving them the platform and tools required to excel in the early stages of becoming a new business owner.

It is open to businesses under three-years old and offers the winners a chance to have their very own stand at the 2018 Lincolnshire Show.

Amy added: “The show gives us a great opportunity to make people aware of our brand and show off what we do. Each time we exhibit somewhere, it is all about brand awareness and in each new place we are getting the chance to meet new people and a different type of audience.

“Visitors will not only be able to sample and purchase Pin Gin from our stand but we will also have a bar in the food court with a small seating area so people can sit back and enjoy a gin and tonic! We have also just launched our new strawberry infused gin just in time for summer so we are expecting that to go down well with gin fans!”

Pin Gin will also receive a £250 cash prize, expert mentoring from Sparkhouse, an invitation to the Lincolnshire Media Business Awards and free business stationery designed by Root Studio.

The runner up of Grow with the Show was Market Rasen-based Designed for Dogs, which specialises in making luxury dog products. The business will receive £100 and two society guest badges providing free admission to the Lincolnshire Show over the two days and access to the exclusive members’ area.

Holly Bryant, owner of Designed for Dogs, set up the business in April 2017 which produces luxury handmade dog beds and blankets using high quality materials, including memory foam and a waterproof lining.

Holly said: “We are thrilled to get second place in Grow with the Show and we have never been to the Show before which makes it even more exciting! We were initially drawn to the competition because of the business mentoring aspect, which as a new business it is really important to get all the help and support you can. The Grow with the Show competition is a great idea to help new businesses get off the ground.

“We will be at the Show with all our products which will be available to buy and we will also be able to take orders for made to measure products. It is a really exciting time for our business and we are really grateful for all the support from the Lincolnshire Showground.”

For more information or to buy tickets, visit lincolnshireshow.co.uk.