Penderyn to build £3.75m distillery in Swansea

Welsh whisky producer Penderyn has been granted planning permission to build a new distillery and visitor centre in Swansea, with plans to redevelop a former powerhouse building as part of a three-year project.

An artist’s impression of the site in Swansea

The Aberdare-based whisky producer announced plans for the site in Swansea in July 2018, and has since worked with Swansea Council and Swansea University in order to draw up a plan to redevelop the historic Hafod Morfa Copperworks site – a 19th Century former powerhouse building.

The scheme, designed by GWP Architecture, will see a distillery and new barrel store, offices and a VIP bar built across the 12-acre site, as well as a new-build visitor centre with shop, tasting bar, exhibition space and a covered walkway that will connect the refurbished powerhouse and 60 parking spaces.

The plans have already secured a grant for £3.75m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and now also have planning permission from the council.

Penderyn owner Nigel Short said: “The plans are exciting for us as a business and for Swansea as a community with great plans for its future prosperity. 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.”

It is hoped the move will attract more than 50,000 visitors a year, thanks to the Penderyn Experience whisky tour.

Penderyn, which also produces Brecon gin and Five vodka, announced the decision at a 20Twenty Business Growth conference in Wrexham. It also plans to open a retail outlet, additional visitor centre and training hub in Llandudno.

The producer hopes construction in Swansea will begin at end of this year with the facility slated to open by 2022.