UK-based Spirit of Harrogate, owner of the Slingsby Gin brand, has been bought out of administration by a newly established firm called Brightside Spirits.

Brightside Spirits acquired Spirit of Harrogate immediately after the business entered administration on 18 March in a pre-packaged deal for an undisclosed sum.

In a statement, administrator Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency said the deal followed "an intense period of marketing".

Brightside Spirits has bought Spirit of Harrogate's "business and assets", the insolvency firm added.

In January, Spirit of Harrogate hired Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency to help it place the company into administration. Matthew Russell and Gareth Lewis were made joint administrators.

At the time, Lewis, the then proposed administrator, said the business had been struggling with financial costs and tough trading conditions.

As part of the pre-packaged sale, the Slingsby brand and product range "will continue" and some jobs will be retained, Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency said.

Lewis added the sale maintains "continuity of supply to customers across the UK".

Spirit of Harrogate's shop in the West Yorkshire town of the same name has shut "due to large overheads".

Just Drinks has asked whether any jobs were cut as part of the sale.

According to the UK business register Companies House, Brightside Spirits specialises in the wholesale of alcoholic drinks. It was incorporated in March.

Chris Williams, director of Brightside Spirits, said the group's "immediate focus" would be "stabilising the business, rebuilding production, and ensuring that the outstanding quality and character of Slingsby remain at the heart of everything we do".

He added: "Over the coming months, we will be investing in the brand, strengthening local partnerships, and exploring new ways to celebrate the craftsmanship that made this gin so special."

Spirit of Harrogate was co-founded by Marcus Black and Mike McCarthy in 2015 with Slingsby Gin being its core brand.

Black and McCarthy said: “We are pleased that the brand will continue and that some of our colleagues will support the new owners in their future journey with Slingsby. We wish them all every success and are proud that Slingsby will still be available to its loyal and longstanding customers.”

Late last year, McCarthy invested in Leeds-based Hacien Tequila. The exact value of the investment was not disclosed at the time.

He joined the Hacien Tequila business as a shareholder and was expected to take an official position on the advisory board.