WINCHESTER Distillery’s successful crowdfunding campaign has now closed at more than £100,000 over target.

With over 700 investors on board, the funds of nearly £500,000 will now buy equipment to increase production of its premium gins and vodka, allowing the team to pursue opportunities to sell the spirits nationally and overseas.

Installation of a brewhouse will also be possible, enabling production of rum and at a later date, whisky. More jobs will be created and the site in Old Alresford further developed to allow more visitors and a gift shop to be created.

This is the first time external investment has been sought for Winchester Distillery since Founder Paul Bowler started the business in 2014 from his kitchen at his house in Upper Brook Street.

The campaign was managed via Crowdcube, the UK’s most popular crowdfunding platform. Additional funds pledged will go towards the creation of an interactive botanical garden at the distillery, the redesign of the website and a rebrand for Winchester Distillery and its spirits ranges.

Mr Bowler said: “In these uncertain political and financial times we weren’t sure how our crowdfunding campaign would be received, so to close last week not just on target but exceeding it by over 25 per cent was incredible. Thank you to everyone who has been involved and who has invested both locally and further afield. We can’t wait to get underway with our expansion plans so we can reach new markets and welcome more visitors at the distillery.”

For more information about Winchester Distillery’s crowdfunding campaign (now closed) please visit http://crowdcube.com/winchesterdistillery.

What investors got for their money:

£20+ Have a Gin and Tonic on us at one of our distillery events!

£50+ Numbered bottle of our limited edition Investor's gin

£100+ Gift box containing numbered bottled of our limited edition Investors gin complete with two branded glasses and cocktail-making kit

£500+ 1 x 70cl bottle of Batch #1 of our limited edition inaugural Golden Rum on release

£1,000+ 1 x 70cl bottle of Batch #1 of our limited edition inaugural single malt Hampshire whisky on release

£5,000+ Private Blend Academy gin-making experience and cocktail masterclass for you and up to 10 guests

£10,000+ Fill a 30 litre oak cask with rum, to be bottled and labelled by you after barrel ageing

£25,000+ Fill a 30 litre oak cask with single malt whisky, to be bottled by you with your own label after 36 months ageing