A sculptor behind York’s trail of ‘mystery’ cat sculptures has created a brand-new feline work – which dispenses gin.
Jonathan Newdick’s Puss & Mew was unveiled this week at a ceremony at York Distillery in front of the Sheriff of York and other guests.
The two-foot-tall work is based on an 18th Century gin vending machine which flouted the strict licensing laws designed to stop people drinking so much.
We understand this is the only ‘working’ Puss & Mew in the country since the 18th Century. An original wooden Puss & Mew is available to view at the Beefeater Gin Museum in London.
When curious visitors deposit a coin in the slot in the cat’s mouth, a bell rings and a shot of gin flows from a pipe in the cat’s paw into a waiting glass below.
The interactive artwork was unveiled at York Distillery – York Gin’s boutique distillery, tasting room and gin school in Middleton’s Hotel – on Tuesday 6 June.
Visitors will be encouraged to use it to reimagine the experience of 18th Century gin drinkers.
The 1736 Gin Act restricted the sale of gin during the ‘Gin Craze’ – when there was a moral panic about the excessive consumption of the spirit.
However, an inventive individual named Captain Dudley Bradstreet found a loophole in the law – by creating the ‘Puss & Mew’ what is thought to be the world’s first vending machine.
Bradstreet installed a cat-shaped wooden sign on the outside of his building. A gin drinker approached and asked: “Puss puss… (have you any gin)?”
Then if in luck, they would then hear a cat’s ‘Mew’ from inside – meaning gin was available.
The buyer would slip a coin in the cat’s mouth…and the thirsty patron then received a measure of gin that the seller poured through a pipe, hidden the cats paw – into the buyer’s waiting cup.
By serving the public anonymously Bradstreet avoided identification and the police did not have authority to enter the building. This “spirit of ingenuity and mischief” forms the conceptual backbone of the sculpture, says Mr Newdick.
“It’s been quite challenging because of its function. It’s the first time I’ve created
a sculpture which also has a mechanism. It makes a sound and delivers a
measure of gin – that took a bit of skill and a bit of luck. It’s also the first time I’ve
made something the public can physically interact with..”
He added that the piece is designed to evoke a sense of curiosity and unease, echoing the unpredictable nature of cats themselves.
“You get a bit of a feeling like when you approach any cat – slightly nervous,
slightly intrigued. There’s a sense of mystery to it, and the mischievous look on
its face is challenging you to have another nip!”
The sculpture has been created using cold-cure patinated bronze and Jesmonite. It is
mounted on a teak base designed for durability and engineered with longevity and public interaction in mind, combining traditional craftsmanship with the hidden mechanical elements.
York Gin said the project represents a unique collaboration between heritage storytelling,
contemporary design, the city’s ongoing creative culture as well as York’s and gin’s love of cats – the York Gin logo has a cat called Rutterkin sitting on the city walls.
Emma Godivala from York Gin said:
“I know that Jonathan doesn’t often take new commissions, so I was thrilled to
capture his imagination with this slightly bonkers idea. We’ve wanted to recreate a
real Georgian-era Puss & Mew for a few years now.
“Jonathan’s cat has moved stealthily from the 18th into the 21st century, into the
world of the modern gin lover, the cat lover, and something sinister in between. We
can’t wait for Puss to serve some of our Old Tom gin to visitors at York Distillery!”
The Puss & Mew continues Jonathan Newdick’s long-standing creation of the city’s “Mystery Cats” – a collection of feline sculptures he has carefully embedded in York’s streetscape and folklore for nearly 50 years.
Around 50 cat statues adorn York’s buildings – documented in The Mystery Cats of York book. Thousands of visitors follow the cat trail each year – and the new sculpture will feature in the new edition of the book.
This new work is expected to be included in the next edition of The Mystery Cats of York book, further cementing its place within the city’s public art heritage.
The sculpture will be accessible to the public at York Distillery when experiences and classes are not being held.
Additional Info
Jonathan Newdick
Jonathan has been making sculpture for almost 50 years, elected a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 2004. Jonathan works from his studio in York carving sculptures in wood, stone and bronze. Known for designing and sculpting York’s famous cat sculptures, Jonathan also creates semi-abstract and figurative sculptures for public and private commissions.
Jonathan Newdick’s book available at www.themysterycatsofyork.co.uk
York Distillery – a home of York Gin
York Gin makes gold-award-winning spirits in the city of York. Employing traditional
techniques used by English gin makers since the 18th Century, York Gin is also a sustainable and responsible manufacturer. Its bottles are made nearby in Yorkshire from100% recycled glass, while the neutral grain spirit is distilled in Yorkshire and made fromgrain grown on Yorkshire farms.
York Gin has an award-winning shop in the centre of York in the 16th Century Sir Thomas Herbert’s House opposite the famous Shambles. Selling its full range of gins, rum and vodka, it also showcases the best of York-made gifts and treats. The shop’s Refill Station allows customers to re-use their own spirits bottle for a significant discount – part of its sustainable and responsible ethos.
In 2025, York Gin opened York Distillery – a beautiful boutique distillery, tasting room and gin school within the grounds of Middleton’s Hotel within York’s city walls. York Distillery hosts five-star gin-making and gin-tasting experiences and cocktail-making parties. It has recently been awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award and has hundreds of five-star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google.
