Portobello Star, Leelex Ltd., Notting Hill, London, UK.

Gerald “Ged” Feltham is the entrepreneur owner and Managing Director behind Leelex Ltd. an Entertainment based company from Leeds, which he started in 2000. With 4 bars based in Leeds, a music label (called “Dead Young Records”) and a 5th bar in London they continue to go from strength to strength. Ged has been joined by a small team of people, including Paul Andrew Lane (Operations Director) in 2002, and Jake F Burger (Drinks Director) in 2004.

Their bar in London, the Portobello Star in Notting Hill, opened in 2008 and is well established with the site having operated as a drinking establishment since 1740. In 2011 they expanded the bar’s operations to include a Gin museum (the second smallest in London) and distillery occupying two floors above the bar, they’ve collectively dubbed the “Ginstitute”. The Gin Parlour styled museum, whilst small, covers the history of Gin and has a number of rare and interesting exhibits.

The Still Room is accessible by advance booking only and is for people to taste and make their own Gin. Equipped with a small 30-liter copper pot still from Portugal called “Coppernicus”, believed to be the smallest working licensed one in London, there are also around 40 single distillates made from various botanicals. The sessions are tutor led with lots of tasting and blending to make your own uniquely personalized Gin to take home (along with a bottle of their Portobello Road Gin). Details of each Gin are kept so further bottles of your own Gin can be purchased at anytime in the future.

Portobello Star and Leelex Ltd.

Portobello Road No. 171