A WHISKY producer is set to open a new distillery and visitor centre in Llandudno town centre as part of a £5million development.
Penderyn Distillery will launch its second distillery at the 19th century Old Board School on Lloyd Street. The grade II listed building was formerly Conwy Council Archive, which moved to the Conwy Culture Centre in 2019.
A Faraday still has been installed to produce the first peated barley single malt whisky in Wales upon the launch on Monday, May 17, while the visitor centre will open on June 1.
Neil Quigley, director of operations for Penderyn, said: "Since its inception three years ago, this has been a hugely exciting and challenging project. I'm pleased to have kept this remarkable renovation on time and on track."
The development received a £1.4m grant from the Welsh Government’s ‘Tourism Investment Scheme and the Food Business Investment Scheme. The plan was also backed by Conwy County Borough Council as part of its economic growth strategy for jobs and tourism.
Dafydd Pesic-Smith, Penrhyn Distillery site manager, and Bethan Morgan, commissioning distiller. Picture: Graham Hembrough
More than nine million tourists visit Llandudno each year and the whiskey maker has planned for an annual estimate of 60,000 visitors to its business.
A booking system for tours will be launched in May, and will be restricted to eight visitors per tour rather than the usual 20 while coronavirus restrictions are in place.
Penderyn Distillery, based in Aberdare in the Brecon Beacons, won double gold medals for its peated single malt whisky at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition last year.
It may be some time before whisky fanatics can sample the product, however, as whisky must in a barrel for three years and a day according to food law.
Stephen Davies, CEO of Penderyn Distillery, said: “Penderyn has always had a loyal following in North Wales. But with the South separated from the North by mountains and lakes, Penderyn has finally brought the country together.
“By opening in Llandudno, visited by 9.6 million tourists every year, we’re saying ‘Welcome home to Wales and to Penderyn’.”
The company is also planning to open its third distillery at Swansea Hafod Copperworks in 2022.
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