If you search for a Surrey distillery, one name comes up first: Silent Pool Distillers, in converted farm buildings on the Duke of Northumberland's Albury Estate, beside the lake that gave the gin its name. It is the one we would point you to, and this is how to make a visit of it.
Where it is and how it began
The address is Silent Pool Distillery, Shere Road, Albury, GU5 9BW, within the Surrey Hills National Landscape. The company's own site says a group of friends came together in 2013. The Drinks Business puts the founding in 2014, by Ian McCulloch and James Shelbourne, so founded 2013 to 2014 is the fair way to put it. The gin launched in March 2015.
In 2023 the brand was acquired by William Grant & Sons. At that point it was exported to more than 30 countries, and a US launch followed in 2024. It is still run from the Albury site, and its own website and the Surrey Hills directory both list it as trading.
What it makes
The flagship is Silent Pool Gin, a London Dry style made with 24 botanicals and local honey. The Drinks Business names lavender, linden, chamomile and honey from Albury Estate hives. Muddy Stilettos describes it as juniper-driven, with floral lavender and chamomile layers. The bottle is teal, which makes it easy to spot on a shelf.
The still is hand-built copper, made by Arnold Holstein in the Lake Constance area of Germany, and powered by a restored vintage wood-fired steam boiler. The logs for that boiler come from Albury Estate woodland. The shop also lists a Silent Pool Distillers Collection and Green Man Spirits alongside the gins.
The tour
The guided tour and tasting lasts 90 minutes and is £25 per person. It covers the copper stills, the botanicals and the four stages of distillation. Guests get a 10% voucher for the distillery shop. One recent TripAdvisor reviewer mentioned four gin and tonic samples. Book through the distillery's tours page, and check the price and times when you do.
Dogs, including assistance animals, are not allowed on tours, for health and safety reasons.
To change a booking, email tours@silentpooldistillers.com or phone 01483 229136. Customer services answer Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and the shop picks up at weekends and bank holidays, 10am to 5pm.
Surrey Live's review of the tour called it informative and fun, and noted the site is small. It also said the car park was packed, so arriving early makes sense.
The shop
The shop is in the distillery courtyard and open seven days: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday and bank holidays 10am to 5pm. It sells the gin range, glassware, gift boxes, candles and a gin bar kit. It suits anyone buying a present, and you do not need a tour booking to go in.
The Terrace Bar
This is the part to choose if you want an hour rather than a tour. It is a covered glasshouse terrace overlooking the Silent Pool, serving Silent Pool Gin cocktails. The distillery's own site gives these hours:
Friday 12pm to 5pm
Saturday 12pm to 7pm
Sunday and bank holidays 12pm to 5pm
Last orders are 30 minutes before closing. Walk-ins are welcome. To book, email terracebar@silentpooldistillers.com on weekdays between 9am and 5pm, or for weekends phone 01483 229136 during opening hours and choose the shop option. Visit Surrey lists slightly different Friday hours, so check before you set off. Its listing also gives closures on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.
Dogs are welcome on the terrace, but must come in by the outside terrace door rather than through the distillery building. The terrace can also be hired privately through corporate@silentpooldistillers.com. See the Terrace Bar page for details.
The lake next door
The Silent Pool is a spring-fed lake, free to visit, and reviewers describe it as good for walks and picnics. A local legend is attached to it, which the tour guide tells. A short stroll before or after a tasting is an easy way to round off the day.
Who it suits
Gin drinkers will want the tour. Couples and small groups after a drink with a view will prefer the Terrace Bar on a Saturday afternoon. Anyone buying a gift can simply stop at the shop. Find out more on the distillery's own site.
