The founders of Didsbury Gin, Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood, appeared on the show asking for an investment of £75,000 in exchange for a 10% stake in their business. The couple, who both worked in public relations, told The Sun that gin was “a marketing stunt for a customer who went crazy. The result is a perfectly smooth and velvety gin with notes of citrus and star anise, finished with a subtle sweetness. Described as “sweet and refined”, gin has 11 botanical ingredients including rose oil, pink grapefruit and lily root, as well as collagen.
A couple of businessmen from Geneva who were told by Dragons' Den bosses were at the tail of the comet three years ago have reported a record 3 million pounds a year, with sales that have risen by more than 1,000% since they appeared on the BBC show. The panel ruled that, given the combination of gin and collagen, the words and phrases on the label implied that the product had therapeutic effects and, therefore, violated the code rule. Jenny Campbell has invested £75,000 in the Manchester-based artisanal gin business of Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood. During the pandemic, the co-founders decided to change the production of their distillery to produce hand sanitizer, which was able to capitalize on the demand for homemade cocktails and gin and tonics.
The couple had been deliberating on whether to serve potential investors a single or double measure of gin while they waited their turn in the green room. So what was the Dragon's Den experience really like? We asked John, Jon and Sarah what they remember from their appearance in that fateful episode; here's what they said. The CEO of the vitamin company, Tej Lalvani, also made an offer to the couple, but they said they felt an instant chemistry with the “sensible northern personality” of Jenny, a gin lover. The duo behind Didsbury Gin is celebrating after securing a £75,000 investment in Dragons' Den, but their winning release nearly ended in disaster.
Sarah's participation helped Jon and John accelerate the Club's growth to the incredible gin-loving community that it is today, and continues to play an important role in the development of the Club, as it looks to an exciting future. Jenny has acquired a 33.3% stake in the business, promising to help her reduce costs and increase production, so they can offer the right price to bring their gin to larger retailers and to chain restaurants and bars. To increase its online offering, Didsbury Gin launched an entirely new website, a subscription service and bespoke boxes in partnership with Snaffling Pig to cater to those looking to recreate the bar experience at home.
