"We're proud just to still be here": Essex business reflects two years on from launching in lockdown
The gin distillery had to make hand sanitiser during lockdown
An Essex business that launched during the height of coronavirus restrictions says they're proud to have survived.
Today marks two years since the country first entered lockdown, as a measure to stop the spread of Covid-19.
A minute's silence will be held at midday to mark the anniversary.
East Coast Distillery, in Thorpe-le-Soken, produces gins inspired by the Essex coast.
The owners say it's thriving now, but the local business had a tough start.
Ben Mann is co-owner of the company: "For us, we're really proud just to still be here two years later...
"We'd been in our premises at least six months before the launch and were planning to launch at the beginning of April 2020, and then everything changed.
"Nobody knew how long that change was going to last and we had to very quickly make some hard decisions about what to do next."
They didn't want to launch the gin as planned and, to keep the business running, and aid the local community, decided to pivot: "We had the gin recipe, we'd got it bottled, we'd got it ready to launch and couldn't release it, so we used our license and alcohol to make hand sanitiser for the local hospice, some of the local care homes and the church instead."
The company's original business plans focussed on selling their gin to local bars, hotels, restaurants and pubs, but this plan had to be scrapped, as all venues were shut during lockdown, and they had to get creative: "We had to decide to focus on of social media and online sales. We did a click and collect service where people locally could come and collect their gin from the distillery with covid-safe measures."
Ben is excited now to keep growing the business, without restrictions: "It's been really lovely because what we've been able to do is develop the shop and the bar within the distillery.
"People can now come in, they can buy a range of Essex based produce alongside our gins and they can have a drink in the bar.
"We've also been able to set up regular tours so people can come in, find out how we make the gin, what goes in it and try some samples... It's a really nice way of getting close to people."
Free from lockdowns and covid regulations they're now able to pursue some of their original plans: "Now we're able to to work with other businesses, like hotels and pubs and restaurants and we're getting those opportunities to to supply them and that's brilliant."