OVER 300 people flocked to Laverstoke last night for an exclusive opening of the new Bombay Sapphire Distillery.

Clients from some of the gin company’s biggest markets, including China, Spain, France and Germany, attended the black-tie VIP opening of the landmark multi-million-pound distillery at Laverstoke Mill.

And people weren’t disappointed as estate manager at the site, Will Brix, unveiled two spectacular glasshouses designed by English artist, Thomas Heatherwick.

After the big reveal, visitors had the chance to look around the glasshouses, which are made from over 700 unique pieces of glass, and a botanical dry room where Bombay Sapphire display some of the key ingredients used to make their iconic gin.

Guests were given a personal interactive guide which is equipped with a microchip to allow them to learn more about the work that goes into making the famous spirit.

When exploring the site, visitors will be able to use the maps to log into different locations to read and listen to audio clips providing more information about the work that goes into making gin.

Master distiller at Bombay Sapphire, Nik Fordham, then talked guests through the vapour infusion distillation process on a guided tour of the Dakin Still House.

Estate manager Will Brix told The Gazette: “It is quite good to put it (Laverstoke Mill) back on the map and it is amazing that we could do this.

“The fact this work will outlive me is a huge motivation. It would have been great to see it six months or a year at a time but I feel I was here every step of the way even through bleak winters.

“It has been a fantastic process. The team are glad about taking it from where it was to where we want it to be because it takes a lot of planning and the team can’t wait to open the doors (to the public).”

And one local who was at the big reveal was Laverstoke Park Farm owner, Jody Scheckter and wife, Clare.

Mr Scheckter is currently working with the gin company on a partnership that will see a Laverstoke Park Farm restaurant on the site.

The 64 year-old told The Gazette: “They have done an absolutely fantastic job. We are going to do a farm shop restaurant. We have been working with them (Bombay Sapphire) for three-and-a-half years and as soon as we get planning permission we will be setting it up.

“We have been to New York to get ideas of how it is going to look. We went to Brooklyn to get a feel of the industrial buildings because these are beautiful industrial buildings.”

He added: “It is going through planning in October and if we get it, I am thinking of opening in February or March.

"I am looking at basing it on a real family meal. People used to eat at home 20 years ago and went out for pretty food but now everybody eats pretty food all the time and hardly cooks and the restaurant will be what I call real food.”

The Bombay Sapphire Distillery will be open to the public from October 1. For more information, visit distillery.bombaysapphire.com.