01-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Former whiskey distillery with 200 years of history put up for sale
A former whiskey distillery and latterly a shirt factory is up for sale in the Waterside area of Derry.
An online listing on the Lisney website says the property, at Distillery Brae and Spencer Road was constructed around the 1820s by James Robinson, taken over by the Meehan family and subsequently the Watt Family.
It's understood the Meehan family built a street in the Waterside called Meehan's Row to accommodate the distillery workers.
By the early 1830's, the Watt family purchased the business and set out on a planned, systematic expansion of the site.
It's reported that despite being successful, the Waterside operation always laboured in the shadow of the Abbey street distillery on the opposite side of the River Foyle.
In the 1880's, Abbey Street reportedly had the capacity to produce two million gallons of whiskey a year. Its main product Tyrconnell whiskey was very popular in Britain and America.
The property comprises a four-storey split level building straddling Spencer Road, Distillery Brae and Simpsons Brae.
It has been refurbished in parts over the last ten years to create a mixed use commercial and residential property.
The property is described as a 'prominent and imposing' building located adjacent to the North West Transport Hub.
The building of 13,350sqft is said to offer 'extraordinary views' over the River Foyle.
At Simpsons Brae, the ground floor comprises of an occupied retail unit.
While, the majority of the units are accessed from Distillery Brae and comprise of a large vaulted open plan space currently occupied by a gym on the ground floor.
Due to the split level nature of the building, although this floor is classed as first floor, this can also be classed as ground floor level from
The first floor at Distillery Brae comprises of two large open plan suites, both currently vacant.
The suites have been fitted out as a gym and a hair salon and are both said to be in good condition.
The second floor is fitted out as a serviced office scheme, comprising of a number of individual rooms created by stud walling. Five of these suites are currently occupied.
A two bedroom apartment is accessed directly from Distillery Brae which is occupied.
Access to the 'attic' space, which is currently tenanted, is directly from Spencer Road.
