WELCOME TO
McCONNELL'S DISTILLERY
Located in the historic A-wing of Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, McConnell’s Distillery and Visitor Experience is now open.
BELFAST BORNTM
Our state-of-the-art distillery in the heart of North Belfast is housed within a restored listed building. Offering guided tours that uncover the unique history of an iconic Belfast brand, McConnell’s Irish Whisky, you’ll hear the stories of Belfast’s illustrious distilling past in a landmark setting.
Join us to find out more about a brand born in Belfast in 1776, that is now being restored globally. You’ll learn about the distilling process and of course, taste some of McConnell’s award-winning Irish whiskies along the way.
McConnell’s Distillery also offers visitors a fantastic shop to pick up gifts, an all-day café, plus a fully licensed bar to enjoy after the tour. The distillery offers a unique setting to host your own event and we welcome enquiries.
A TASTE OF THE EXPERIENCE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE YOUR OPENING HOURS?
McConnell’s Distillery is now open. The Distillery and Visitor Experience is open Monday – Sunday, 9.30am – 5pm. Our tours run on the hour and our café serves food and drinks throughout the day.
HOW LONG DOES A TOUR LAST?
Our signature tour lasts approximately 1 hour.
IS THERE A CAR/COACHPARK?
Yes, you can park right outside our Distillery. There is ample free carparking for visitors, just make your way there via Summer Street and follow the signs to the carpark.
ARE THE TOURS GUIDED?
Our tours are led by our professional guides who will share stories along the way and of course, let you sample some of our award-winning McConnell’s Irish Whisky along the way.
DO I NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE?
To make sure you get the slot you want, we recommend you book in advance via our website, but if your plans are more flexible, you can certainly book at our reception desk on arrival. Just be prepared to wait in our line if it’s a busy day or browse our beautiful shop.
IS THE TOUR ACCESSIBLE?
We have a lift for access to all floors and an accessible till point. Whilst we are working within a grade A listed building, we have renovated the space with accessibility in mind. There may be one or two parts of the tour where wheelchair users may need additional access support from our team.
CAN I TAKE PHOTOS/VIDEO?
We’d love you to! Make sure to take plenty of photos and tag us in @mcconnell’s distillery during your visit.
CAN CHILDREN COME ON A TOUR?
Our tour is only suitable for 10yrs plus and of course you need to be 18yrs+ to sample the whisky.
CAN I PURCHASE MCCONNELL’S IRISH WHISKY DIRECTLY AT THE DISTILLERY?
Yes, you can purchase our 5 year and our Sherry Cask McConnell’s Irish Whisky directly on site. For something extra special, you can also purchase our 20 year-old single cask distillery exclusive.
CAN I VISIT THE CAFÉ/SHOP WITHOUT A TOUR TICKET?
Visitors are very welcome to call in for a coffee and a signature bun any time of day. If you’d like to enjoy the full tour, you can purchase a ticket here.
WHY IS THE DISTILLERY IN A GAOL?
In bringing McConnell’s Irish Whisky back home to Belfast, Belfast Distillery Company along with our US investors, want to add as much value as possible to the city and its people. Restoring this part of the Gaol and giving it back to the people of Belfast as a world-class visitor attraction that employs almost 50 local people is our way of making a real difference to the city.
HOW DO I BOOK A GROUP TOUR?
You can book groups of up to 10 directly on our website. If you are contacting us as a tour operator or independent travel company, bringing more than 10 guests, please contact us on the email below to find out about group rates. tickets@belfastdistillery.com
HOW DO I GET THERE?
We’re situated in the A-Wing of the Crumlin Road Gaol. If driving from Belfast city centre, follow the brown signs to the Crumlin Road Gaol, continue past the Gaol on your right hand side, take the first right after the GO garage onto Clifton Park Avenue, take the next right into the Gaol carpark and continue straight down to the bottom carpark. You’ll see our entrance way marked by McConnell’s green barrels. View directions on Google Maps
I WOULD LIKE TO HOST MY OWN EVENT AT THE DISTILLERY – WHO DO I CONTACT TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY?
Please email events@belfastdistillery.com for all event enquiries.