A PROPERTY investor has bought the the freehold of G&J Greenall’s gin distillery, in Warrington, in a deal worth £5.25m.

Commercial property investment company Saturon has acquired the site from the Norwich Union Life Pensions Fund in a transaction part-funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

The 105,000 sq ft site on Clayton Road, in Birchwood, is leased to the De Vere Group and houses the company’s G&J Greenall gin and vodka distillery.

De Vere signed a 10-year lease on the site in 2007 and has invested £3m to create a new distillery after a blaze destroyed the original G&J Greenall base on Bridge Street in 2005.

The distillery itself remains owned and operated by the Alternative Hotel Group (AHG) and is leased to G&J Greenall.

The RBS Property finance team in Liverpool provided Saturon with a £2.6m funding package to complete the transaction.

Saturon managing director Paul Ashley said: “This is an excellent, modern site that offers us good opportunity for capital growth.

“We are always looking for opportunities to add quality sites to our property portfolio, and are very pleased to have concluded this transaction.”

Saturon is a commercial property investment company which owns and manages several industrial properties throughout the UK.

Gin production in Warrington dates back to 1761 when Thomas Dakin opened a distillery on Bridge Street.

This was subsequently acquired by Lancashire brewer Edward Greenall, who founded G&J Greenall in 1860. The modern-day site produces more than 6.5m cases of gin and vodka each year.

Andrea Kelly, relationship manager at RBS, said: “Paul is an experienced investor with a good knowledge of the UK’s industrial property sector.

“The acquisition will enhance the range of properties that Saturon presently hold in its portfolio.”