Lendus.

Still Finance

Spread the cost of a distilling still from £10,000 to £400,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a still?

Yes, stills are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £10,000 to £400,000, and most deals are written over 12–84 months with a deposit of around 15–25%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£10k – £400k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £50k

Rates From

5.4% APR

What would a still cost per month?

£70,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical still price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.8% APR
Term
12–84 months
Deposit
15–25%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Distilleries wanting to own the still outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.4% APR
Term
12–84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim the lease payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 6.1% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Add a second still without tying up capital

Representative example

On a purchase price of £70,000: a 10% deposit of £7,000, then 48 monthly payments of £1,477 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £77,896, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
100L Pot Still £12,000 – £25,000 Pilot / Nano Still
500L Pot Still £45,000 – £90,000 Small Distillery Still
1,000L Pot Still £90,000 – £180,000 Mid-Scale Still
2,000L Pot Still £180,000 – £350,000 Production Still

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Tax benefits

A still qualifies for capital allowances, so most of the purchase cost can be set against taxable profits well within the Annual Investment Allowance most brewing and distilling businesses have available in a given year. Hire purchase lets you claim allowances as the owner from day one. Finance lease and operating lease payments are typically deductible in full as a trading expense, which suits businesses that would rather smooth the deduction over the term than take it all upfront. Speak to your accountant about which structure suits your current tax position.

Market context

Operating a still in the UK requires approval from HMRC before production can begin, which is worth building into procurement timing so the still is not delivered and sitting idle while approval is still pending; ask your equipment supplier and your finance provider what lead time they typically see between order and approval. Buyers are usually either a new entrant setting up a first distillery, most commonly starting with gin because bought-in neutral spirit needs no maturation and sells within weeks rather than years, or an established distillery adding a second still for extra capacity or a new spirit line. Copper and stainless pot stills from established manufacturers hold their value over long working lives, so a used market exists, and an existing still can be used as security when refinancing to fund a second still or a move into a longer-maturing spirit.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need HMRC approval before I can finance a still?
You can apply for finance and place an order for a still before HMRC approval is granted, since the approval process and the equipment lead time often run in parallel. What you cannot do is actually distil before HMRC has approved your premises and plant, so it is worth timing delivery and any finance drawdown to line up with your expected approval date rather than having a still sit idle. Speak to your finance provider early about how they structure drawdown around this.
Why do so many new distilleries start with gin rather than whisky?
Gin is typically made by redistilling bought-in neutral spirit with botanicals, so there is no lengthy maturation wait and product can be sold within weeks of first production. Whisky needs a minimum period in cask before it can legally be sold as whisky, creating a multi-year gap between buying the still and having stock to sell. Starting with gin lets a new distillery generate revenue quickly while it builds cask stock for a longer-maturing spirit alongside it.
What deposit do I need for a still?
Hire purchase typically asks for a 15 to 25% deposit on distilling equipment, generally a little higher than for brewing vessels, reflecting that a still is a more specialised asset with a narrower pool of buyers if a lender ever needed to resell it. Finance lease and operating lease usually require no deposit, though the underlying rate on distilling equipment tends to run a little higher than on brewing kit for the same reason.
Can a new distillery with no trading history get still finance?
Yes, though options are more limited and terms are usually less favourable than for an established distillery. Lenders will typically ask for a personal guarantee, a detailed business plan and evidence that the HMRC approval process is underway or complete, since a still cannot legally be operated without it. Some lenders specialise in start-up drinks businesses and are more comfortable with this profile than a generalist asset finance lender would be.
Can I finance a used still?
Yes, used copper and stainless pot stills from established manufacturers are financeable, typically up to around 15 to 20 years old given how long well-maintained stills last, subject to an independent inspection. A used still bought to add capacity or start a second spirit line is common among distilleries that already hold the HMRC approval needed to operate additional plant.

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