AN ULVERSTON gin company has been named as one of the best in the world after a week of successes - including receiving a boost from former Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis.

Andy and Zoe Arnold-Bennett, owners of Ulverston’s Shed 1 Distillery, are ended last week on a high when they attended two even finals via Facebook last Thursday, The National Rural Business Awards and The World Gin Awards.

BEST: The company was shortlisted for the worlds best attraction

BEST: The company was shortlisted for the world's best attraction

As both of them took place at the same time, they each watched on separate phones and relayed the results as they came in.

Mr Arnold-Bennett said: “They were the strangest awards ceremonies we’ve been to. We sat outside and shouted results at each other.

“We missed out on the Rural Business Award, Best Drinks Producer, but were thrilled that another Cumbrian business, Newlands Adventure Centre & Keswick Climbing Wall, won their category.

BRONZE: Giggle in the Ginnel gin

BRONZE: Giggle in the Ginnel gin

Mrs Arnold-Bennett said: “As for the World Gin Awards, we didn’t know if we had made any shortlists and then Andy suddenly heard our name mentioned. It happened quite quickly and so we weren’t entirely sure of the details. Thankfully, we were able to check the stream and yes, our Giggle in the Ginnel gin won a bronze award for Signature Botanical.

“And we were absolutely delighted to see that The Old Calf Shed was shortlisted in the World's Best Visitor Attraction. To get such recognition after only been open since 2019, and having had to close for most of the last year, is huge and makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

BOOST: A boost from Theo Paphitis

BOOST: A boost from Theo Paphitis

Getting celebrity recognition, the company was one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo Paphitis to his near half a million Twitter followers during his 'Small Business Sunday' scheme.

The weekly initiative was set up by Theo in 2010.