Ged Feltham, founder of Portobello Road Gin has been named by The Drinks Business as the Man of Year for 2017.

A bartender by trade, Ged Feltham is the founder and driving force behind the UK’s fastest growing independent gin brand. Just five years ago, he developed a new brand in an upstairs flat above a 19^th century drinking den, Portobello Star, on London’s world famous Portobello Road.

Called Portobello Road Gin, the brand has quickly established itself as a favourite amongst trade professionals and the brand has experienced a 31% YoY growth. Furthermore, last year, it was the only London Drin Gin to be awarded the ultimate accolade of Master in the Spirits Masters.
Over the past 12 months, Feltham has spearheaded new international expansion for the brand and at the same time he has designed and opened a multi-million-pound site on Portobello Road for the brand’s new residence, production site and educational centre, called The Distillery.

The judges praised his entrepreneurial tenacity that has resulted not only in success for his brand but also played a part in the global ‘ginaissance’ currently being enjoyed by the gin category as a whole.