Secret Garden Distillery, an award-winning Edinburgh-based gin and vermouth producer, has gone into liquidation after 12 years of operation. The company, founded by two sisters, entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on July 8, 2026, and is no longer trading.
Company Background and Awards
The distillery was known for using locally-sourced botanicals grown on-site and was committed to sustainability and ethical practices. It was a member of the Good Business Charter. In November 2025, it won UK Gin Producer of the Year at the IWSC Awards. The judges praised the company for its "nature-led, sustainable distillation" and "craft-first ethos."
Previously, the distillery won two Design & Packaging Master Gold awards from The Spirits Business for 2024, and its premium gins won Gold and Silver awards at The Spirits Business Gin Masters 2024 Awards.
Liquidation Details
The business "wound up voluntarily" on July 8. Gareth David Wilcox and Mark Harper of Opus Restructuring LLP have been appointed as liquidators. A statement on the distillery's website confirmed: "Secret Garden Distillery Limited has entered creditors' voluntary liquidation and is no longer trading."
Broader Economic Context
The collapse comes amid a surge in UK business administrations. In January 2026, administrations rose by 41% compared to the previous year, driven by high-street failures, rising wages, weaker consumer spending, and higher operating costs. Official Insolvency Service statistics show 151 companies entered administration in January 2026, a 14% increase from January 2025. By late February, insolvency rates remained elevated, with significant pressures in retail and hospitality.
Sarah Rayment, managing director and global co-head of restructuring at Kroll, said: "The key question at this point in the year is whether distress and insolvencies will continue to rise given the pressures facing UK businesses. The reality is that every sector will face headwinds this year."
Todd Davison, managing director at Purbeck Insurance Services, warned that business failures can affect company directors personally. "Many directors will have signed personal guarantees to secure loans, overdrafts or trade finance," he said, noting that failed guarantees can put personal assets, including property and savings, at risk.
Other well-known brands that have entered administration in 2026 include National Car Parks (NCP), which operated for nearly 100 years, and Denby Pottery, which had been trading since 1809.
