More than 1,000 people have submitted their names to be immortalised on a special Spirits Walkway in Whitby.
The 80-metre walkway, which will be built in the shadow of Whitby Abbey, is celebrating the creation of the brand-new £2.4m Whitby Distillery, which opens to the public in the spring of 2027.
The walkway stretches from the Caedmon’s Trod footpath, running from the headland car park into Whitby town centre, up to the doors of the new distillery to the south of the abbey.
Jessica Slater, co-founder of the award-winning Whitby Distillery with her partner Luke Pentith, explained that the walkway was designed to create a sense of journey, a literal walk through local history, community and craftsmanship.
“We are absolutely delighted with the response to our walkway so far. It will be made up of cast-iron panels, each engraved with the names of those who’ve supported the build, and installation will begin shortly. We wanted to create something more uplifting, a way for people to leave a little bit of themselves in Whitby, whether they live here or just hold it close to their hearts.
“The Spirits Walkway will be a path that families can wander together, spotting their own names or those of loved ones. With a 100-year lease on the land, it’s something that will stand for generations to come, a lasting celebration of the people who make Whitby what it is.
“We’ve already had over 1,000 names submitted, from local families and businesses to visitors from across the world who have fallen in love with Whitby. There’s space for over 8,000 in total, spread across 120 cast-iron panels, and we are looking forward to welcoming many more names over the coming weeks and months, as installation gets underway.
“With Christmas looming, a panel being the ideal present for lovers of history, Whitby and gin.”
Jessica explained that the support the special walkway had received so far was a heart-warming vote of confidence in the Whitby Distillery and the amazing journey she and Luke had made, since setting up the company in 2017.
“There is a wide cross-section of people who have submitted their names and the names of their families and friends to be part of our walkway. Some are gin lovers, some are Whitby lovers, and some simply want to mark a memory or loved one in a place that means something to them.
“For many, it’s a way to root themselves in Whitby’s story, to be part of a new landmark on the headland. For us, each name feels like a vindication of what we’ve built so far and what’s still to come. It’s humbling, really. When we walk along those first panels and see familiar names, it’ll feel like being surrounded by friends.”
The cost of a single name of the walkway is £125, while two names together are £250 and three names are £375. A combined family name is £175.
Construction of the new distillery began in Spring this year, following several years of planning, design work, and heritage approvals. The site sits just south of Whitby Abbey, so every step has been taken with care to protect and celebrate the setting.
Luke Pentith explained: “We’re aiming to open the doors to the public in spring 2027. The build is valued at over £2.4 million, which for us feels like a once-in-a-lifetime investment, not just in bricks and mortar, but in Whitby’s future as a place of craft, creativity, and coastal industry.
“We started Whitby Distillery back in 2017 with a tiny copper still and a lot of hope. To stand next to the Abbey in our own distillery, surrounded by names of people who helped make it happen, will be something we’ll never forget. It will feel like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another a permanent home, built by land and sea, and by the people who believed in us from the start.”
Whitby Distillery is currently based in Botany Way and Luke and Jess are about to open a shop in Church Street, selling a range of the distillery’s much-loved drinks including their flagship and award-winning Whitby Gin.
If you’d like to have your name or your family’s name engraved on the Spirits Walkway, please visit www.whitbydistillery.com
