Business

Green light for new £7.3m Newry whiskey distillery and 'world class' tourist attraction

Michael McKeown, owner and investor of Matthew D’Arcy & Company with Andrew Cowan, chief executive, Matt D’Arcy & Company, pictured after plans for the new £7.3 million whiskey distillery in Newry were approved by the local council
Michael McKeown, owner and investor of Matthew D’Arcy & Company with Andrew Cowan, chief executive, Matt D’Arcy & Company, pictured after plans for the new £7.3 million whiskey distillery in Newry were approved by the local counc Michael McKeown, owner and investor of Matthew D’Arcy & Company with Andrew Cowan, chief executive, Matt D’Arcy & Company, pictured after plans for the new £7.3 million whiskey distillery in Newry were approved by the local council

THE green light has been given for a new £7.3 million Newry whiskey distillery - the first in the city for two centuries.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council granted permission on Wednesday for the development, which will see a distillery, bar, restaurant and visitor centre built on Monaghan Street.

As first revealed by The Irish News in September, well-known Newry businessman and entrepreneur, Michael McKeown is behind the project, which will the revival of whiskey production at the old distillery site, the original location of D’Arcy’s Old Irish Whiskey since 1817. It is hoped that once operational the new distillery will produce around 9,000 cases of single-malt whiskey each year.

Mr McKeown bought the site in February last year and the multi-million pound investment will result in the creation of a fully restored Victorian bar, restaurant and international visitors centre. The site will also be returned to its former use as a fully functioning whiskey distillery producing Matt D’Arcy & Company single malt for the premium market on the international stage. The size of the entire project site is expected to be around 14,000 square feet over several floors with the £7.3m investment spread over three years.

The restoration and build of the new distillery and facilities is expected to take around 18 months and it is expected as many as 50 hospitality jobs will be created upon completion of the project, alongside a master distiller and staff with cooperage skills to oversee the future maturation process of the whiskey.

Mr McKeown, owner and investor of Matthew D’Arcy & Company said he hopes to turn the landmark site into a "flagship international tourist attraction".

“I’m thrilled that we are now moving forward with enthusiasm and that the benefits of this great asset will be felt by the business and hospitality sectors locally and nationally.”

Andrew Cowan, chief executive of Matt D’Arcy & Company said he is confident the new venture will be "very successful".

“Our ambition is to create a world class tourist offering through the restoration of the 200 year old site famous for whiskey distillation. Our ultimate aim is to produce around 9,000 cases per year of single malt and to retain stocks for at least 10 years aimed at the premium market.

“For some years now, we have been maturing our own whiskey off site and will release a premium matured merchant Irish Whiskey in early 2019 prior to distilling at the Monaghan Street location on completion of the construction phase," Mr Cowan added.