Maidstone Distillery: Maidstone, Kent

The Maidstone Distillery is a craft distillery in the centre of Maidstone, Kent, England, in the old Corn Exchange in Market Buildings. The sources we found describe it as a gin distillery with a visitor centre and bar. We did not confirm a whisky release.

Where is Maidstone Distillery?

The Food Standards Agency lists the business at 5 The Corn Exchange, 18 Market Buildings, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1HP. KentOnline says the distillery is in an historic structure dating back to 1835 that once housed the county town's corn exchange.

Who runs it?

KentOnline reported in April 2020 that the distillery is the work of husband and wife Darren and Samantha Graves.

History and heritage

• KentOnline says Maidstone made spirits famous across Europe for about 150 years in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Darren Graves said the aim was to revive that legacy.

• In April 2020 the team switched from bottling gin to making hand sanitiser for local health and public services, after HMRC relaxed licensing rules during the coronavirus crisis.

• A Made in Kent video from November 2021 says gin has been crafted at the distillery's location since 1785. That is the programme's wording and we have not verified it.

Visiting

TripAdvisor lists The Maidstone Distillery with several hundred traveller reviews, and visitors describe cocktail making experiences. Check the distillery's own website for current tours and opening times.

Gaps

We did not find a source naming a whisky product, stills or capacity, so those are not covered.

Sources

Sources: KentOnline, 4 April 2020; Food Standards Agency rating entry; Buy Local Food and Drink Kent; TripAdvisor listing. Read on 21 October 2026.