The Spirit Run at Derby Market Hall wins Best Newcomer award

The Spirit Run Team

The Spirit Run Distillery and Bar has been named Best Newcomer at the Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards.

The awards ceremony, held at Derby Market Hall, celebrated the city’s outstanding food and drink businesses, with winners selected from more than 5,000 nominations.

Located within the former Poultry Market space at Derby Market Hall, The Spirit Run beat strong competition from fellow finalists Strutt Bakehouse and Bentley’s to take home the Best Newcomer title.

Since opening, The Spirit Run – the latest venture from Darley Abbey Wines – has established itself as one of the Market Hall’s most distinctive destinations.

The venue combines a working distillery with a stylish bar experience where guests can enjoy cocktails, locally crafted spirits, wines and beers while taking in views of the venue’s bespoke British-made copper stills.

Nichol Malia-Barlow, owner of The Spirit Run, said:

We’re absolutely over the moon to receive this award. The team works extremely hard to create new concept drinks and come up with ideas to give our customers the best experience.

We’re really excited about all the things we’ve got planned for the coming year. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that voted for us – it means the world.

The bar showcases The Spirit Run’s own spirits alongside products from other local distillers and well-known brands, complemented by a menu of expertly crafted cocktails. Visitors can also enjoy a selection of draft beers, including brews from Derbyshire’s Thornbridge Brewery, and a rotating range of discovery wines.

In addition to its drinks offering, The Spirit Run hosts immersive gin and cocktail experiences, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the distilling process before sampling the finished products.

The Best Newcomer award recognises the venue’s successful introduction to Derby’s food and drink scene and its contribution to the ongoing transformation of Derby Market Hall.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said:

Winning Best Newcomer is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the vision and dedication of The Spirit Run team. The venue has added something distinctive to Derby Market Hall, helping to create a diverse and exciting offer that’s drawing more people into the city centre – and they make amazing cocktails!

Seeing businesses like The Spirit Run succeed is exactly what we hoped to achieve through our investment in the Market Hall, and we’re thrilled to see their contribution recognised with this award.

You can find more information about The Spirit Run, on our website.