A vintage Rice horsebox has been recently, and lovingly, converted into The Gin Thing “mobile gin experience” by Kippen residents Sue and Cliff Hewett.
Sue had the idea towards the end of 2017, and within days the couple had travelled to the borders to buy a rather well-worn horsebox of unknown antiquity and provenance…
Although the respray should really have come last, in fact it came first as they were impatient to see the vision taking shape (and the exterior photos came in handy for marketing even at this early stage!)
Next came a few months of work, in what turned out to be a very long, cold winter. Indeed during the installation of the copper roof panels the box began to fill with snow from the open rear door! Cliff says he was very fortunate to have guidance and plenty of hard work from local resident Andy Gordon (“it was very handy to have the village handy-man, Andy, on hand to lend a hand. Very handy.”)
Aiming for the highest standards, “Senior Management” (Sue) dictated that the wooden work surfaces weren’t going to be just any old work surface. Rather, an overnight dash in thick snow to the wilds of Aberdeenshire to Cliff’s wood-working friend, Alan Smith, who supplied some raw oak boards. Days of sanding and re-sanding followed, which Cliff says he is trying hard to forget.
Eventually, however, the worktops were installed, closely followed by full electrics and then gas for hot water and the brand new coffee machine – another capability of The Gin Thing!
With the help of Stirling STEP, a professional photo shoot took place in early May, closely followed by the launch party where a certain member of The Wee Vine’s editorial team became The Gin Thing’s very first customer!
The Gin Thing is available for hire at weddings, parties and events, and further details can be found at:
Let The Gin Thing begin.
The Wee Vine 