Today, Bullards is known for its fine range of gins. But that wasn’t always the case. The story of Bullards begins in 1837 when Richard Bullard founded The Anchor Brewery in Norwich. During Queen Victoria's reign, the brewery quickly became popular in East Anglia and its beer and wine was celebrated in the region. Over time, production shifted more towards the creations of spirits. By 1963, the company was flourishing, owning many pubs, before it was taken over by Watney Mann. A consolidation by Watneys saw brewing cease at the original Anchor Brewery and sadly in 1982, after many empty years, the brewery site was demolished and along with it, the iconic landmark Bullards chimney.
The story has a happy ending, however, thanks to Russell Evans. Having developed an affinity for the brand in the 1980’s when working with the brewery, he reconnected with the original Bullard family, and together with Richard Bullard’s great, great grandson, John Bullard, reestablished it as Bullards Spirits, focusing on artisanal gin production. The company modernized its branding, featuring the ‘Tipsy Anchor’ in its packaging, and was successful right off the bat.
The first distillery in Norwich in over 150 years bagged wins for World’s Best London Dry Gin, Distillery Of The Year as well as six Global Gin Guide Awards in 2017 alone, leading to it needing to expand production capacity. In 2018, the brand left The Ten Bells Pub for the historic Crystal House, upgrading to a 400L copper column still and increasing from 500 to 3500 bottles per week. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, Bullards Spirits launched the UK's first gin refill pouches. Its Eco Project, promoting the reuse and recycling of its gin bottles, has gotten widespread acclaim and won various awards.
One of the standout products from Bullards is its Norwich Dry Gin, which pays homage to its origins through botanicals carefully chosen to reflect the local landscape and heritage. Another intriguing offering is the Coastal Gin, which boasts samphire as one of its key botanicals, giving it a unique and refreshing taste profile reminiscent of the British coastline.