Bold rum. Bold design. Bold experiences.
The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery is a unique 7,500 sq ft destination that blends craftsmanship, creativity, and culture. At its heart sits a 500-litre double retort rum still, traditionally used by Caribbean distillers, producing the bold and unconventional Dead Man’s Fingers Spiced Rum. Whether you’re here to sip, discover, or create, The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery invites you to experience rum like never before.
A Space Built Around the Spirit of Dead Man’s Fingers
The design concept was driven by one clear vision: to showcase the Dead Man’s Fingers brand while creating a place where guests can learn, discover, and immerse themselves in the world of spiced rum. Halewood’s brief challenged us to design an interior that reflects the brand’s bold tone of voice and its unorthodox market positioning.
Vibrant, mischievous, and non-conformist, Dead Man’s Fingers is authentically Caribbean at heart but born in Cornwall — playful and rebellious without ever tipping into cliché. Our challenge was to capture this spirit in a way that feels fresh, fun, and unmistakably different.
A Distillery Like No Other
The design of The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery celebrates the rebellious spirit of Dead Man’s Fingers. Working with reclaimed materials, raw industrial finishes, and bold street art, the interiors are contrasted by polished copper stills, marble-topped bars, and eclectic furniture. The result is a space that’s playful, striking, and unmistakably unique.
Bespoke design features make the venue truly one-of-a-kind. A custom skull fabric pattern, created in collaboration with Beth at BoBo1325, weaves through the upholstery, bringing together abstract botanicals and bold colours with a cheeky twist. The iconic DMF skull also appears in glowing pendant lights and graffiti murals by a local Bristol artist, tying the brand’s mischievous edge into every corner of the space.
Set across multiple levels on the steep high street leading into Clifton, the venue offers a journey as much as a destination. From the street, guests can glimpse the copper rum still and expansive bar, while below lies a glass-fronted barrel display. Upstairs, a mezzanine bar comes alive with neon lighting, industrial finishes, and a hidden speakeasy snug dressed in velvet and dark timber for an intimate, exclusive vibe.
On the top floor, the Rum & Bar School hosts immersive classes and events. Here, guests craft their own spiced rum using copper stills in teaching rooms lined with rich timbers and tiled walls. A zinc and blackened timber bar anchors the space, offering the perfect setting to learn, taste, and relax.
This bold mix of textures, art, and design delivers an atmosphere as unorthodox as the rum itself — a place to explore, create, and celebrate the spirit of Dead Man’s Fingers.
