2 minute read - 13th July 2023
Penderyn completes £15m Welsh distillery project
Welsh whisky producer Penderyn Distillery has announced the opening of its third distillery in Swansea. The whisky distillery, located at Hafod Morfa Copperworks, officially opens its doors on July 14. The completion of this state-of-the-art distillery is the result of a collaborative effort between Penderyn Distillery, Swansea Council, Swansea University, and several funding sources.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government Economy and Transport funding, and Welsh Government Targeted Regeneration Investment funding, and Penderyn themselves, have collectively contributed £15m to the successful realisation of this ambitious project.
The Hafod Morfa Copperworks, a site that played a pivotal role in Swansea’s copper industry during the 18th and 19th centuries, has undergone extensive restoration to accommodate Penderyn’s new distillery.
Welsh whisky producer Penderyn Distillery has opened a new distillery in Swansea, following a £15m restoration project / Picture: Penderyn Distillery
Penderyn Distillery says the heritage site will also serve as a captivating visitor attraction. While Penderyn Distillery continues to operate from its existing sites across Wales, Swansea Council remains committed to the regeneration of the copperworks and the lower Swansea Valley area. With £20m in funding secured from the UK Government’s levelling-up programme, the council aims to further revitalise the area and contribute to the ongoing city centre regeneration efforts.
Stephen Davies, chief executive officer of Penderyn Distillery, said: “Opening our new facility in Swansea is a major step forward for Penderyn as a business and a brand. We are adding a significant amount of additional production capacity to allow the business to continue its trajectory of continued high growth and also beautiful new visitor facilities that will ensure that people can experience our brand story as well as being able to discover and enjoy world class single malts from Wales.”
The new distillery adds a significant amount of additional production capacity to allow the business to continue its trajectory of continued high growth / Picture: Penderyn Distillery
Neil Quigley, Penderyn’s chief operating officer, added: “We’re delighted to be opening our third distillery in Wales, on one of Swansea’s greatest heritage sites. It’s exciting to see the site coming back to life once again, and we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors as we continue our whisky-making tradition.”
Vaughan Gething, the Welsh Government’s minister for economy, concluded: “I’m delighted the Welsh Government has been able to support this development. It’s another exciting regeneration project which further develops Swansea as a vibrant city destination. It complements other regeneration projects in the area as well as supporting economic growth and all year-round jobs, which is enabling broader private sector development and investment.”