The North West of England is not the first place that springs to mind for wine, spirits, or craft beer. The rain, the reputation, the endless jokes about the weather do nothing to suggest vineyard country. And yet, quietly and confidently, a drinks culture has been taking root across the region that is well worth exploring. From a vineyard just outside Chester to gin distilleries above the Lake District fells, there is more to discover here.
You might be planning a day out with a partner, a weekend with friends, or want to try something different. If so, the North West has a genuinely impressive range of places where you can taste, tour, and learn. Here is where to start.
The Vineyard: Vines of Cheshire
Yes, there is a vineyard in the North West. In fact, it is closer to a city centre than you might expect.
Vines of Cheshire is a family-run vineyard located close to the village of Backford, just three miles from Chester city centre. Tours begin with a gentle walk through the vines, where visitors learn about the different grape varieties being grown and the unique conditions of the vineyard, before finishing with a wine tasting in the vineyard’s tipi or outside if the weather allows.
It is a genuinely lovely experience, and one that surprises most people who had no idea English wine was being made this far north. The vineyard grows several varieties including Seyval Blanc, Cabernet Noir, Cabernet Cortis, and Solaris. Tours must be booked in advance via the vineyard website.
Given that Vines of Cheshire sits just outside Chester, it pairs beautifully with a trip into the city itself. Spend the morning walking the Roman walls and the medieval Rows, then head to the vineyard for the afternoon. It makes for a genuinely memorable day.
For something grander, Carden Park is well known as Cheshire’s largest commercial vineyard, with a history dating back to 1988. The estate’s 4,000 vines produce up to 10,000 bottles of sparkling wine each year from Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes. Set dates for vineyard tours and tastings are bookable in 2026, or private tastings can be arranged for groups of ten or more. Carden Park is a full hotel and spa estate, so it also works well as a treat-yourself day out in its own right.
The Distilleries: Gin, Whisky, and a Foraging Adventure
The craft spirits scene in the North West is genuinely thriving, and several producers now offer visitor experiences that are well worth building a day around.
Three Wrens Gin Distillery, Cheshire
Three Wrens runs gin tasting and distillery tours on Saturdays, currently starting at 4pm and running until 7pm, with a change to 3pm until 5:30pm from July 2026. Tickets are priced at £35 per person and include a welcome cocktail, six full-size gin and tonics each paired with a different Fever-Tree mixer and garnish, a meet and greet with the distiller, and a tour of the distillery with a question and answer session. Reviews consistently praise it as a relaxed, fun, and genuinely informative afternoon. It is a particularly good option for couples.
The Forest Distillery at the Cat and Fiddle, Cheshire
Sitting high on the moors between Macclesfield and Buxton, the Cat and Fiddle pub is one of the highest in England and the setting alone makes the trip worthwhile. The Forest Distillery operates here, producing both gin and whisky, and offers tours that have attracted excellent reviews. The remote moorland location gives it an atmosphere that few distilleries can match.
Goosnargh Gin Distillery, Lancashire
This is the most distinctive distillery experience in the region by some distance. Bordering the Forest of Bowland’s southwest edges, Goosnargh Gin Distillery hosts Foraging and Distilling Days that begin with an outdoor excursion led by expert forager Adrian Rose, who helps visitors identify fresh botanicals including elderflower, meadowsweet, and wimberries.
After foraging, guests return to the distillery for a light lunch before the second half of the experience: crafting their own gin. The distillery itself is set in a cosy cottage that looks as much like a lounge as it does a laboratory. Foraging and Distilling Days are priced at £145 per person. It is expensive, but for a special occasion it would be hard to beat.
The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria
The Lakes Distillery is located on the north shore of Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria, housed in a restored 160-year-old farmhouse. Guided tours take visitors through the production of whisky, gin, and vodka. The setting is spectacular and the distillery has built a strong reputation for quality. It is well worth combining with time on the lake or a walk in the surrounding countryside.
Shed One Distillery, Cumbria
Located in the Lake District, Shed One has developed a loyal following for its afternoon gin and tea experience. Visitors are welcomed with a gin cocktail before an informative tour and a distillery-inspired afternoon tea, all in a characterful and intimate setting. Advance booking is essential.
The Breweries: A Proper Northern Pint
The North West has long been proud of its brewing heritage, and the craft beer revolution of the past decade has added considerable excitement to what was already a strong tradition. Manchester in particular is now one of the leading craft beer destinations in the country.
Cloudwater Brew Co., Manchester
Cloudwater Brew Co. is located at Piccadilly Trading Estate in Manchester, a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly station. Brewery tours typically run for around 90 minutes and include a tour of the brewery, a tutored tasting, and the opportunity for questions, with extra time in the taproom recommended. Cloudwater has an international reputation for quality and innovation, and the taproom is one of the best places in the city to drink well.
Track Brewing Co., Manchester
Also based at Piccadilly Trading Estate, Track is known for having arguably the most impressive taproom in Manchester, with direct views of the brewing vats and a large outdoor beer garden. It sits a short walk from Cloudwater, making the two a natural pairing for an afternoon.
Seven Bro7hers Brewery, Salford
Seven Bro7hers, founded by seven brothers and their sisters, has taprooms across the region including at Salford Quays and MediaCity, with the original brewery in Salford also open for tours, tastings, and drinks. Their Salford Quays location is a particularly good option given how much else there is to do in that area.
The Runaway Brewery, Stockport
Having relocated from Manchester city centre to expand, The Runaway Brewery runs Saturday tours of the microbrewery alongside a dog-friendly taproom and beer garden. It is a slightly quieter alternative to the Manchester city centre options and well worth the short journey.
Guided Tours: Let Someone Else Do the Planning
If you would rather leave the logistics to someone else, both Manchester and Liverpool have excellent guided brewery and tasting experiences available.
In Manchester, weekly craft beer walking tours run every Saturday at 1:30pm, visiting four venues over around three and a half hours including a mix of working breweries and specialist taprooms, with tastings and expert guidance throughout. Similar tours operate in Liverpool. These are an excellent option for visitors unfamiliar with the cities, or simply for locals who want to discover parts of the scene they have not yet explored.
Planning Your Visit
A few practical points worth keeping in mind before you set off.
Book ahead for distillery tours and vineyard visits. Almost all of the experiences listed here require advance booking, and popular dates fill up quickly, particularly at weekends and during summer.
Designate a driver or use public transport. Cloudwater, Track, and several other Manchester breweries are within easy walking distance of Piccadilly station, making a car-free day perfectly straightforward. The Lake District distilleries are harder to reach without a car, so plan accordingly.
Think about combining experiences. Vines of Cheshire and Chester make a natural pairing. The Lakes Distillery and Bassenthwaite Lake are a short walk apart. Goosnargh Gin sits on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, which is worth exploring before or after your visit.
The North West will never be the Napa Valley, but that is rather the point. The vineyards, distilleries, and breweries here feel like proper discoveries, and there is something genuinely satisfying about finding excellent things in places where you were not quite expecting them. That, when you think about it, is what a good day out in the North West is all about.
