A CO Down spirits company has received planning approval for a new £600,000 distillery in Donaghadee.
Copeland Spirits has received planning permission from Ards and North Down Borough Council for a 6,500 sq ft distillery and visitor centre at the former community centre and picture-house on Manor Street in the town, vacant for around two decades.
The major development, being managed by Co Down-based Urban Property Solutions, will allow the company to develop its existing gin range and move into new markets, including whiskey, as part of a 125-year lease.
The significant investment will also create jobs in areas such as retail and events.
Work began on site in November, with the distillery, overlooking the Copeland Islands after which the brand is named, set to open in mid summer.
The new premises, which will replace the firm's existing Saintfield base, will include a visitor centre, events space and fully-operational gin and whiskey distillery supporting the brand to build on its current gin portfolio and introduce new brand offerings from later this year.
The distillery will maintain much of the original features of the historic building, with the centrepiece of the development a 3.3 metre-high still made by the world-renowned German coppersmith, Arnold Holstein.
Copeland Spirits founder, Gareth Irvine said the investment highlights the brand's commitment to Northern Ireland and its exponential growth since inception just over two years ago.
"We’ve worked incredibly hard over the last two years to make this a reality and now that planning has been approved and construction is well underway, it’s both rewarding and motivating to see the site being restored to its former glory as the hub of Donaghadee," Mr Irvine said.
“As a brand, we are incredibly committed to our heritage and we’re proud that our investment will create new jobs and bring additional tourism to this idyllic part of Northern Ireland.
“Our long-term ambition, strengthened by today’s announcement, is to create a world-class distillery, with a wide portfolio of spirits that offers the consumer, at home and abroad, a taste of Northern Ireland’s craftsmanship and history in the most authentic way possible. Establishing our permanent home here in Donaghadee is the new start of this journey, and with a 125-year lease on the building we envisage being part of Northern Ireland’s future story for quite some time."
“We are incredibly excited to move into whiskey – an industry that is targeting global sales of 12 million cases by 2020 and with growing interest from new markets for us including Russia. The category offers more than enough potential for a new player and our distillery will bring something fresh, energetic and imaginative to it," he added.
Earlier this year Copeland appointed William Stafford as the new head distiller, who will be responsible for the day to day distilling of gin, as well as the whiskey expansion.
