Penderyn plans second distillery

Welsh whisky producer Penderyn Distillery is planning to open a second production site at a former copperworks near Swansea.

The Hafod Morfa Copperworks are the proposed site of a second Penderyn Whisky distillery

Penderyn will work with Swansea Council and Swansea university to convert the existing site into a new distillery and visitor centre.

The move follows a £3.75 million Hertiage Lottery Fund awarded to Swansea Council for the redevelopment of the Hafod Morfa Copperworks site.

An additional £189,000 development grant received by the council will also help progress plans.

It’s hoped the new development will open up jobs and attract more than 50,000 visitors per year to the new site.

“Obviously we are very excited at the prospect of opening a second distillery and visitor centre, but are aware that there’s a long road ahead,” Jon Tregenna, media manager at Penderyn Distillery, told The Spirits Business.

“Should all go to plan, then we’re looking at an opening date sometime in 2019. It would be fantastic to bring an industry that relies heavily on copper back to the famous Copper Quarter in Swansea.”

Council leader Rob Stewart told the South Wales Evening Post: “The Hafod Morfa Copperworks site and the River Tawe have both played a key role in Swansea’s history, but they’ve been dormant and underused for some time.

“This plan, with the iconic Penderyn international brand at its heart, will regenerate the site and reinvigorate the riverfront, looking to the future while celebrating our rich heritage.

“Building on the conservation work already done on site, this scheme will also attract many thousands of visitors, open up jobs and further improve a local tourism industry that’s now worth more than £400 million a year to Swansea’s economy.”

Last year, Penderyn tripled the production capacity at its existing distillery with the installation of a mash tun, washbacks and three new stills – the result of a £1 million investment.