THE owner of a much-loved play centre has bounced back from the despair of losing her business to set up a healthier range of alternative gins.

Mel Sims’s new drink – Mooze Booze – has six different botanical flavours, is sugar-free, vegan-friendly and has just 12 per cent alcohol.

Mel, 48, launched her new venture after being forced to close the Nurture Barn play centre in Great Bardfield.

The popular venue shut at the start of the pandemic in March and was unable to open its doors again because of social distancing rules.

Mel said: “I only thought we would be closed for a little while but it just became a nightmare.

“We got the wrong hospitality grant and when we were finally able to open, I was only allowed to have six children in at one time.

“That would have meant making about £30 a day which is just not sustainable for any business.”

Mel was forced to close the Nurture Barn make her eight members of staff redundant and for good.

She spent much of the first lockdown home-schooling 10-year-old daughter Olivia, but after putting her house on the market due to concerns about paying her mortgage, she soon came up with a new plan to make money.

She said: “The reward for each day of lockdown was a glass of wine. But that quickly became a couple of glasses or some gin and tonics.

“I was quite sad and down, and realised the alcohol wasn’t helping. It wasn’t healthy and I knew I had to reassess my life. I’m not one to stand still so I came up with the idea of making healthy gins and it’s just taken off from there.”

Mel worked with close friend Mo Lane to set up her new business and was able to secured supplies from the English Spirits distillery in Great Yeldham.

She is able to selling her alternative gins to the public and is waiting to secure a licence for them to be sold in pubs. She has also invested in a horsebox which she hopes to turn into a mobile gin bar.

And despite a tumultuous year, she admits life is looking up once again.

Mel added: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be making and selling gins back in January.

“Despite everything, my life has slowed down and I’m much healthier and happier. And the best bit is I now have a gin I can drink while still fitting into my favourite jeans.”

The botanical flavours on offer include juniper, cucumber, coriander, orange and clementine zest and macadamia nuts

For more visit moozebooze.com.