Plans for multi-million pound whisky distillery in Northumberland

A new multi-million pound whisky distillery and visitor centre is being planned in the town of Wooler in Northumberland with the owners stating that it will create up to 50 jobs in the area.

The Ad Gefrin Distillery, which will located in the former Redpath’s Yard, will be the region’s “first” whisky distillery for 200 years.

The project, which is being spearheaded by local family the Fergusons, aims to boost tourism in the area.

Subject to planning consent, the distillery and visitor centre will open in 2020 with the first single malt expected in 2028. Ad Gefrin is named after the Anglo Saxon palace beneath Yeavering Bell – the Hill of the Gods.

Alan Ferguson OBE said: “This is a very bold undertaking for our entire family, involving my wife Eileen, our five children and myself. Our ultimate aim is to develop a unique single malt whisky and a major attraction, as well as opening a new chapter in the cultural developments and traditions of Glendale. Ad Gefrin is a multi-million pound project which will totally transform this site, and we believe the community, local businesses and local producers will all benefit. Our proposal is probably one of the largest single inward investments ever made in North Northumberland. Ad Gefrin will be a key part of the long term process of much-needed regeneration in this area, and we believe it will enhance our community for generations to come.

“We are incredibly excited to bring whisky distilling back to Northumberland. Working in partnership with the local community, and with the best craftsmen in the industry, we aim to create something truly innovative and distinctively Northumbrian. We want to build a lasting legacy for the town and county that can celebrate the best of Northumberland, our culture and history now, and in the future”.

The Ferguson family

The new distillery aims to attract more people to the area in a similar vein to Glenkinchie, its nearest competitor 50 miles away in Lothian which brings in 60,000 people a year.

Jude Leitch, director of Northumberland Tourism said local feedback on the plans had been “extremely positive,” adding: “The Ad Gefrin development is extremely exciting for North Northumberland and the county as a whole. The benefits that tourism provides for our economy are significant, with £686m spent by tourists in Northumberland during 2017, an increase of 8.5% on the previous year. Our long term aim is to encourage visitors to explore all parts of our beautiful county, including our rural upland areas, and this development will encourage this to happen, providing a focal point for visitors throughout the year, creating significant numbers of new jobs and ensuring the continuation of vibrant and thriving local communities within Wooler and the surrounding area”.