14 jobs expected to go as closure of D.E.W Visitor Centre in Bury Quay confirmed

There is widespread shock in Tullamore this morning at the news that up to 14 jobs are expected to be lost with the closure next month of the hugely-popular D.E.W. Visitor Centre at Bury Quay.

William Grant & Sons confirmed the closure in a statement early today and said it plans to move the facility to its state-of-the-art distillery on the Tullamore By-Pass next summer, creating a premium whiskey tour and experience.

Among the reasons cited for the shock closure of the flagship premises on Bury Quay are the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourist industry, and the fact that the company are anxious to make their state-of-the-art distillery as the centrepiece of their whiskey tours.

"This means that the current visitor centre is expected to close its doors next month, with 14 jobs at risk of redundancy" continued the statement.

Since opening in 2012, the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre has become an established tourist attraction in Ireland, welcoming 35-40k visitors every year.

Over the last few years, William Grant & Sons has invested more than €100 million to bring together the malt, pot still and grain whiskey production to one location in Tullamore. The Tullamore Distillery currently employs 90 people and William Grant & Sons’ commitment to the region is expected to continue through its plans to further enhance the visitor experience on site at the distillery.

Garry Moore, the Tullamore site leader: “Through our plans to relocate the visitor experience to the distillery, with its new state-of-the-art facilities, we will be in a better position to provide a new rich and immersive experience for our visitors.

“We remain committed to the town of Tullamore and, through our proposal to create a new visitor experience, we look forward to continuing to do our part to boost the local economy in the years ahead.”

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