New site for Welsh whisky distillery

12-Nov-2018 - Last updated on 12-Nov-2018 at 11:52 GMT

An artist's impression of the new Penderyn Distillery site

Swansea’s former Hafod Morfa Copperworks site will be transformed into a whisky distillery and visitor centre, thanks to a £3.5m grant from the National Lottery.

Penderyn Distillery officially launched in 2004 and exports to China, Russia and Australia. It has got involved with the regeneration to help bring awareness of the region.

The grant, raised by National Lottery players, will also pave the way for Penderyn to create a visitor centre that is expected to attract up to 100,000 visitors a year.

The 12.5-acre former copperworks site dates back to 1808 and in its 19th-century heyday, copper ore from North America, Cuba, Australia and South America was smelted at the site, putting Swansea – or ‘Copperopolis’, as it was known, at the centre of a global web of copper trading connections.

The multi-million pound transformation will include: a new-build visitor centre with shop, tasting bar, exhibition space and toilets; the creation of a distillery, offices and VIP bar in the fully refurbished Grade 2-listed powerhouse building; a new barrel store in part of the Grade 2-listed rolling mill; and a new-build covered walkway connecting these buildings.

Penderyn owner Nigel Short said: “Penderyn wants to be a part of the regeneration of the copperworks and repeat the success we already have with our Welsh single malt whisky and other products. These plans are incredibly exciting for us as a business and for Swansea as a forward-thinking city.”

Baroness Kay Andrews, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, added: “The Hafod Morfa copperworks will be given a chance to return to its former glory, thanks to National Lottery players, and play a vital role, once again, in the fortunes and history of Swansea and its community.”

Earlier this month, Diageo GB managing director Charles Ireland announced that he is to step down from the role at the end of the year. He will be replaced by current managing director for global travel Dayalan Nayager.

Meanwhile, tea and alcohol infusion creators Vincent Efferoth and Lukas Passia appeared on BBC Two show Dragons’ Den. The duo behind Noveltea turned down a variety of offers from the Dragons, not wanting to give away too big a stake in their business.