Cocktails, Comedy and Community at Conker Distillery in Southbourne

Tucked away on Stourvale Road in Southbourne, Conker Distillery might be best known for its locally crafted gin and coffee liqueur, but throughout the year the working distillery takes on a completely different atmosphere as it opens its doors for a growing programme of community events.

We were recently invited along to experience one of Conker Comedy's live stand-up evenings, bringing together locally made drinks, fresh food, comedy and plenty of good company under one roof.

Walking into the distillery, we were immediately met by a room full of chatter and laughter. The friendly bar team welcomed us in, while the event organiser talked us through what we could expect from the night ahead.

Despite being a Thursday evening, the room was already buzzing, filled with people ready to let their hair down over flowing drinks, fresh food, live comedy and plenty of conversation, including the kind of spontaneous chats with strangers that seem to happen naturally on a good night out.

At the bar, there was a great selection of cocktails showcasing Conker's own spirits. Their gins featured throughout the menu, served with fresh fruit and garnishes. Artisan pizza from The Dough Box right outside meant there was no need to go hungry either, with freshly made pizzas providing the perfect accompaniment to an evening of cocktails and comedy.

With drinks in hand and the room quickly filling, there was a real sense that everyone had come for the same reason: to switch off for a few hours, have a laugh and enjoy themselves.

Hosted by comedian Archie Brettle, the evening featured live stand-up performances in the wonderfully unusual surroundings of the working distillery.

The intimate setting worked particularly well for comedy, with the performers only a short distance from the audience and plenty of interaction throughout the evening.

There was also a meaningful side to all the laughter.A raffle held during the event raised money for Dorset Mind, helping support the local charity's work around mental health and wellbeing across the county.

There's quite a story behind the bottles lining Conker's bar.

Founder Rupert Holloway came up with the idea for Conker in 2013 while working as a chartered surveyor. At the time, Dorset had a thriving local drinks scene, but no gin distillery of its own.A year later, Rupert left his career behind and set about changing that.

The recipe for what would become Conker Dorset Dry Gin was originally developed using a tiny one-litre copper still in the kitchen of a rented home in Christchurch. After months of experimentation, recipe number 38 became the final blend and Conker went on to establish its first distillery in Southbourne, becoming Dorset's first gin distillery.

More than a decade later, the business has grown considerably, but its Dorset roots remain firmly at the heart of what it does.

The original Dorset Dry Gin combines traditional gin botanicals with ingredients inspired by the surrounding county, including gorse flowers, marsh samphire and elderberries.

Today, the Conker collection has expanded to include a range of different spirits, including Raspberry Gin, Dorset Navy Strength Gin and Port Barrel Gin, alongside its popular Conker Coffee Liqueur and Decaf Coffee Liqueur.

Visitors interested in discovering more about what goes into each bottle can also step behind the scenes through Conker's distillery tours and guided tastings.These experiences explore the botanicals and production process behind the drinks, while giving visitors the opportunity to see where Conker's spirits are made here in Southbourne.

Perhaps what stood out most from our evening was how Conker has grown. The working distillery has become a place for the local community to come together, whether that's over cocktails at the Taproom or through its varied programme of comedy evenings, quiz nights, live music, makers' markets and other events throughout the year.

Visitors can also get closer to the Conker story through distillery tours, guided tastings and drinks experiences, offering the chance to discover more about the botanicals, production process and people behind the bottles.

Our comedy evening captured that community spirit perfectly: a room filled with laughter and conversation, locally made drinks, fresh food and people enjoying a Thursday night out together with support for Dorset Mind adding an especially meaningful touch to the evening.

Whether you're interested in discovering how Dorset gin is made, fancy a cocktail at the Taproom or are simply looking for something a little different to do in Southbourne, there's plenty of reason to discover Conker for yourself.

Unit 2

163 Stourvale Road

Southbourne

Dorset

BH6 5HQ

Discover upcoming events, distillery experiences and more through the Conker Distillery website HERE

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Last Updated: August 2026