Bullards gin are making their three gins from their distillery on Cattle Market Street. Picture: Ella Wilkinson (Image: Archant) Bullards will be turning their distillery on Cattle Market Street into a bar and resturant. Picture: Ella Wilkinson (Image: Archant) George Bullard, a great-great-great-grandson of the brand's founder says: "We're thrilled with the hearing outcome and the continuity which it embodies".

Meanwhile, he is determined to get the gin sold abroad - and has just completed his first deal to distribute in Holland. "That really makes me happy because gin was invented in Holland, it's nice to be able to sell our gin brand to the country that started it all." Russell Evans, Bullards managing director, at their distillery on Cattle Market Street. Picture: Ella Wilkinson When I was a young lad I worked for the Norwich Brewery and actually worked on the Bullards brand which was originally established in 1837. I then went on to set up a marketing agency which I sold and I thought I would retire, but the opportunity arose to acquire the old Bullards brand and I simply couldn't resist! It pains me that such unnecessarily aggressive - and expensive - enforcement practices continue in this field of law." It is legally and financially unfair on applicants to have to defend such actions, so you can only imagine how thoroughly thrilled I am for Russell and everyone behind the amazing Bullards brand."We plan to expand our successful retail concept – it’s so important that our customers can engage with our brand, come into store and taste how good Bullards gins are. We will also be pushing our sustainability mission in the next few months, developing all areas of our production processes to meet sustainability targets. And look out for new merchandise and special projects in the pipeline, an exciting time for Bullards! Our distillery in the city centre houses a 600L copper still in the iconic beautiful glass fronted Crystal House building on Cattle Market St which was built in 1862. Russell Evans, Bullards managing director, at their distillery on Cattle Market Street. Picture: Ella Wilkinson (Image: Archant) He added that Bullards has no intention of making energy drinks, but Red Bull "also wanted us to not do soft drinks, which we do, and they also wanted us to stop doing events, which is ridiculous".

This is a man with big plans. He owns other well-known local brands he's hoping to relaunch soon, including the famous local manufacturer Boulton & Paul. Meanwhile, he's also driving forward the distribution of the gin, getting it into even more outlets. Bullards is currently the official gin partner for Norwich City Football Club and distributed nationally with Majestic and regionally with the East of England Co-op and the gin is already in some of the most prestigious venues in the UK including Harrods and Selfridges as well as local store, Jarrold.The ruling confirms the mere fact that because the two marks share a common element is not a proper basis on which to base a finding of indirect confusion", he added. However, the biggest accolade for Russell has been the recent appointment of John Bullard, a descendant of the original brewery founder, as a director. "That has been the best endorsement I could have," he said. Russell, who lives in Spooner Row, near Wymondham, with his wife and their two sons, Joe and Max, is a man that when he sets his mind on an achievement, sees it through to the end. After he 'retired' he went from smoking 40 cigarettes a day to running his first marathon, aged 52. "I spent four-five years watching my kids play rugby at school then got to a point where they didn't need me, I got bored, I kept thinking about the Bullards brand," said Russell. Last year, when news of the threat of legal action emerged, the company said in a published statement: "We do not believe it appropriate to comment on a current legal case." My view was even though we don't want to do energy drinks, I didn't want to concede to them the fact that they had the right to do so and we didn't," he said.