Fanfare please! We are thrilled to announce that our very own head honchos - the founders of Craft Gin Club, John Burke and Jon Hulme - have won the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the Food & Drink Heroes awards! Somebody crack open the gin, we need a celebratory cocktail or two!

Nearly 100 founders and co-founders of 66 businesses were nominated across 11 categories, with winners determined by a panel of entrepreneurial and industry experts who assessed finalists’ entrepreneurial stories.

The People’s Choice Award was decided by a public vote on the full shortlist, which brought Craft Gin Club out on top. Hurrah!

“We’re honoured to have been awarded the People’s Choice award from Food & Drink Heroes and to be shortlisted among so many fantastic businesses.

We feel incredibly proud and lucky to be recognised by the public and thank them for their support of Craft Gin Club, especially in these uncertain times.”

— Jon Hulme, co-founder of Craft Gin Club

Jon Hulme and John Burke have helped our Club to grow rapidly since they first appeared on hit BBC television show Dragons’ Den five years ago, where they joined an elite handful of entrepreneurs to secure offers of investment from every single Dragon!

Craft Gin Club founders Jon Hulme and John Burke pitch the idea for the club on BBC’s Dragon’s Den!

With a mission to elevate the at-home drinking experience at our core, our subscription service has particularly resonated with consumers in the past year. Fuelled by the shift to online shopping and e-commerce we have all faced during lockdown, we’ve seen a whopping 100% increase in monthly subscriptions. In fact, our club now has more than 130,000 active members sipping, shaking and stirring up gin cocktails all across the UK!

We’ve also seen a huge swell in support from gin lovers for our online shop, which only features craft products handpicked by our panel of experts, and carefully curated rare, unique and special craft gins from our family of independent distillers from around the UK and the world.

Launched by the creators of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Food & Drink Heroes recognises and champions entrepreneurs within the UK’s food and drink industry.

Food & Drink Heroes judge and co-founder of Mindful Chef Myles Hopper was thoroughly impressed by Craft Gin Club while assessing the nominees for the awards.

He said: “Jon and John have created a brilliant business. One that enables customers a plethora of options, delivering different experiences to their doors every single month.” Aw, stop it Myles, you’re making us blush!

Craft Gin Club founders Jon & John celebrating their Food & Drink Heroes award along with our Director of Marketing Alex, Director of Content & Community Katy, and Dragon’s Den investor, Sarah Willingham

Founder of Food & Drink Heroes, Francesca James, said: “I want to offer my warmest congratulations to each and every one of our winners. As a first year Awards programme, we have been overwhelmed by the quality of entries, including those that weren’t able to make the shortlist. It’s incredibly encouraging to see such a vibrant mix of entrepreneurs and businesses operating in this space and doing so with such creativity and innovation during one of the most difficult years they are ever likely to experience.”

As part of the prize package, Craft Gin Club will receive two branded cars from Food & Drink Heroes’ premium partner, Adverttu for a four week period. Yippee!

Thank you again to all our supporters, and especially to anyone who voted for us and helped us to win this fantastic award. Who needs an Oscar, eh?

Right, now we’re off to celebrate with a gin cocktail - here’s to next year’s awards!