The Titanic Pumphouse is to be redeveloped into a whiskey distillery and visitor centre under plans laid out by the investors behind one of Belfast’s newest whiskey producers.
Titanic Distillers, which is owned by venture capital firm Norlin Ventures and lottery winner Peter Lavery, is investing £7.6 million to transform the historic building which was used to pump water from the adjacent dry docks at what was part of the Harland and Wolff estate. It will create 41 jobs by the end of 2024, adding an additional £1 million in salaries annually to the local economy.
The move will see three large stills installed on a mezzanine floor of the building, but all of the original pumping equipment and historic features will be retained.
Due to open later this year, the distillery will go some way to restore Belfast’s once famous reputation as a major whiskey producer, Peter Lavery, Titanic Disillers Director, said.
“In the days before Prohibition, Belfast was once the largest producer of Irish Whiskey on the island of Ireland,” he said. “Whiskey has played an important part in the history of our city but there hasn’t been a working distillery here for almost 90 years.
“We want to revive this great distilling tradition and bring Belfast back to the forefront of Irish Whiskey production, while at the same time telling the story of a glorious past when we led the way globally - not just in shipbuilding but across many areas of industry, manufacturing and innovation.”
Titanic Distillers has already been selling its whiskey in Great Britain and will expand its export reach following the new development, first to the US and then globally, Richard Irwin from the company said.
““We’re very excited to embrace the history of our distillery’s location to create a unique product and visitor experience in a World Heritage Site, immersed in the spirit of Belfast’s industrial and maritime past.”
Invest Northern Ireland has provided support towards the creation of the 41 jobs and property assistance towards the redevelopment of the Pump-House. The company said 10 of the jobs are already in place and recruitment is underway for roles in operations, distilling, hospitality and sales opportunities available.
“It’s great to see the ongoing growth of the Irish Whiskey sector in Northern Ireland, and for us to be able to support this,” Mel Chittock, Invest NI interim CEO, said. “We’ve worked with Titanic Distillers since 2020, offering business advice, and our property team has offered support to create this state-of-the-art distillery and visitor centre.
“We’re also helping it to create a strong local team to drive business development and exporting, helping it to find its place on the world whiskey map.”
The news comes just weeks after the Belfast Distillery Company, which is behind the revival of the McConnell’s Irish Whiskey name, said it was regenerating the old A wing of the Crumlin Road Goal to create its new distillery and visitor centre.
