Historic Derry distillery with links to Tyrconnell whiskey up for sale

A former whiskey distillery building in Derry, Londonderry, once home to the celebrated Tyrconnell and Inishowen brands, is on the market for £435,000. Located in the city’s Waterside area, the 13,350 sqft property dates back to the 1820s and straddles Distillery Brae, Spencer Road and Simpsons Brae. Constructed around the 1820s by James Robinson, the site was later taken over by the Meehan family, who are understood to have built Meehan’s Row nearby to house distillery workers. In the early 1830s, the business passed to the Watt family, who expanded the site systematically as part of a broader whiskey production effort. Though commercially successful, the Waterside operation was often considered secondary to the Watt family’s more dominant Abbey Street distillery, located across the River Foyle. By the 1880s, Abbey Street was reportedly capable of producing two million gallons of whiskey annually, with Tyrconnell enjoying strong popularity in Britain and the United States.

Mixed use with redevelopment potential

The building, a former bonded warehouse turned shirt factory, has seen partial refurbishment over the past decade and is currently configured for mixed commercial and residential use. Notably prominent and adjacent to Derry’s North West Transport Hub, the site offers striking views over the River Foyle and sits on a plot of approximately 0.157 acres. Accessed from Simpsons Brae, the ground floor includes an occupied retail unit. The bulk of the space is accessed from Distillery Brae, where the ground floor houses a large vaulted gym. The first floor contains two vacant open-plan suites previously fitted out as a gym and a beauty salon. The second floor, also at street level due to the split design, is divided into a number of serviced office suites, five of which are currently tenanted. A two-bedroom apartment and attic-level unit, both occupied, complete the offering.

Investment opportunity with historical depth

Currently generating an annual income of approximately £34,000, the building is being marketed by Lisney estate agents. They describe it as a “prominent and imposing” structure with significant redevelopment potential, subject to planning permission. With its links to two historic whiskey brands and a commanding location above the River Foyle, the site presents a rare opportunity to invest in a tangible piece of Ireland’s distilling legacy.