Rachel Reeves Takes Tour of Sipsmith Distillery
Chancellor's Chiswick visit timed to coincide with UK-India Trade Deal
Rachel Reeves takes part in a mocktail making session
October 9, 2025
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited Sipsmith Distillery in Chiswick this Thursday (9 October). Her tour of the facility was timed to mark the UK–India trade deal, which the government says will generate nearly 7,000 jobs across the UK, including 2,591 in London. The visit was part of a wider government effort to highlight the role of international trade in supporting British businesses and regional economies. Part of the agreement include lower tariffs for companies like Sipsmith when they sell in the Indian market.
Ms Reeves toured the award-winning gin distillery alongside Hammersmith and Chiswick MP Andy Slaughter, meeting co-founders Sam Galsworthy and Jared Brown to discuss how small producers like Sipsmith are navigating global markets. She also participated in a included a mocktail-making session.
The visit follows a recent trade mission to India that secured over £1.3 billion in investment commitments from 64 Indian companies, spanning sectors such as engineering, technology, creative industries, and advanced manufacturing.
Founded in 2009, Sipsmith was the first copper-pot distillery to open in London in nearly two centuries and played a key role in reviving the UK’s craft gin movement. Based in a converted garage on Cranbrook Road, the distillery has grown from a small startup into an internationally recognised brand, exporting to over 50 countries and contributing to the UK’s reputation for artisanal spirits.
The Chancellor was joined by local MP Andy Slaughter on the visit
During the visit, the Chancellor described Sipsmith as “a brilliant example of British innovation and excellence,” and said the trade deal would help businesses like it grow, export, and create jobs. MP Andy Slaughter added that the deal was a “vote of confidence” in West London’s creative and entrepreneurial communities.
While the government has positioned the UK–India agreement as a catalyst for growth, some trade analysts have noted that the full impact will depend on how investment is distributed and whether small and medium-sized enterprises can access new opportunities. For Sipsmith, the visit underscored its role as both a local employer and a symbol of British craftsmanship in global markets.
The distillery continues to offer public tours and tastings.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |