– Independently owned gin distillers, Jim & Tonic, to open first ever rum distillery and cocktail bar at Sugar House Island in Stratford
– The new venture will see 4,000 sq ft of space transformed into a state-of-the-art distillery, complete with new rooftop bar, event space and flexible working space
– The Rum House will sit next door to the brand’s largest gin distillery to-date, which opened at Sugar House Island in 2022
– Sugar House Island is a major new 26-acre riverside neighbourhood in Stratford which is redefining the way people live, work and socialise
Sustainable urban gin company, Jim & Tonic, is expanding its leisure offer at Stratford’s Sugar House Island, with a deal to take 4,000 sq ft for its first ever rum distillery, cocktail bar and event space.
The Rum House is to be the second concept that Jim & Tonic has opened at Sugar House Island, following the successful opening of its flagship gin distillery, bar and headquarters venue in 2022. Collectively, Jim & Tonic now lease over 11,100 sq ft of space on the Island.
The Rum House will feature a cocktail bar on the ground floor, which will offer a regular programme of screenings and public events, a private events space for up to 150 people on the first floor and an open plan roof terrace bar on the top floor. The whole building will be available to hire on request.
James Mark, Founder and Head Distiller at Jim & Tonic said: “Since its inception in 2016, Jim & Tonic has evolved from one man with a van bringing quality gins and their perfect serves to the masses, to a multi-faceted company, comprising Spirit Production, Event Services and Venue Management. With the move of our corporate headquarters to Sugar House Island, we sought to establish a single Brand House that epitomizes everything our brand is about. Within this, The Rum House will be the shining star. A trend setting distillery, using the latest innovations to run as sustainably as possible. Two bars bringing our products to the masses in both high-end cocktails and perfect serves. And an open plan event space suitable for everything from a corporate session to a wedding, an art exhibition or Big Night Out. The Rum House will showcase everything Jim & Tonic stands for – sustainable, urban, innovative and fun.”
Situated in London’s Stratford district, Sugar House Island is a 26-acre urban redevelopment being redeveloped by Vastint UK, adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is creating a major new riverside neighbourhood for East London. Initial phases comprising new homes, retail and leisure, a new primary school, and new workspace have completed, with the residencies 100% let and commercial space 92% let, including to publishing house Phaidon, which relocated its headquarters from Kings Cross.
Upon completion, Sugar House Island will deliver 1,200 new homes for 6,000 residents, alongside 40,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, 624,000 sq ft of office space, a 350-bedroom hotel and 3 acres of new public realm.
The next phase of Sugar House Island, Chimney Walk, will complete in September 2023, creating further opportunities for independent amenities, and retail and leisure brands, alongside the delivery of 200,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space.
Michael Cronin, Head of Portfolio at Vastint UK, said: “Jim & Tonic was one of the first businesses to open at Sugar House Island during the initial phase of our transformation, so its hugely rewarding that the team will be expanding the business even further on the Island. It truly is testament to the strength of the offer and community we are curating here, and to the vision for this area of Stratford – one that provides an opportunity for visionary brands and businesses to test the market and grow.
The Rum House comes at an exciting time, as the next phase of our transformation, Chimney Walk, nears completion, creating even more opportunities for brands and businesses to join the community and see first-hand why Sugar House Island is one of London’s most distinctive neighbourhoods.”
Sugar House Island is located within one of the best-connected areas in London. The Island is a 5-minute walk from Pudding Mill Lane, connecting passengers to Liverpool Street within ten minutes, and 15 minutes’ walk from Stratford, with fast links to Kings Cross St Pancras and Canary Wharf. The Island is accessed by both the Cycle Superhighway and Jubilee Greenway. Since the London Olympics, over £22billion is forecast to be invested into the Stratford area by 2025.
CF Commercial and GCW are acting retail and leisure leasing agent for the scheme.
