Case study: Ad Gefrin
Case Study: Ad Gefrin
The challenge
When the Ferguson family set out to redevelop the derelict, family-owned site, they wanted to bring whisky production back in a way that honoured Northumberland’s whisky heritage and supported local people. For Ad Gefrin, regeneration meant more than reducing impacts — it meant creating long-term value for the land and community.
“It’s never too late to start, even if sustainability wasn’t part of your original design, you can embed it now. Start with one thing and do it well. Once you see it working, it naturally grows from there.”
—Fiona Mitcheson, Digital Marketing Manager
Building sustainability into the foundations
Ad Gefrin approached the redevelopment with a philosophy: we are temporary custodians and the land will be here long after the business has moved on.
From the start sustainability shaped the distillery’s physical design, with renewable energy sources installed to ensure the site runs on renewable energy both now and in the future. Recycled bottles are wrapped in recycled paper packaging.
Local materials feature throughout; during construction, fallen trees from Storm Arwen were milled and reused to create exterior timber beams.
Rebuilding local supply chains
From grain-to-glass Ad Gefrin’s whisky is truly local. Barley is exclusively grown for the distillery within a 15-mile radius and the harvested grain travels just 30 minutes away, keeping both emissions and supply chains short. Water is also sourced on-site, further rooting production in the local landscape as fresh water from the Cheviot Hills comes from the onsite borehole. This connects whisky-making to its landscape and ensures visitors can trace every bottle back to place.
Turning waste into resources
Every distillery by-product is a resource. Draff (spent grain) and nutrient-rich effluent are collected and used by local farmers. In the on-site bistro, food unsold at the end of the day is donated to the Glendale Gateway Trust. As a result, very little waste leaves the site.
The hand-beaten copper stills, like this one right, create the by-products used as natural fertiliser.
Making sustainability visible
Sustainability is part of the visitor experience. Tours show visitors how production fits into a wider system, from energy use to closed‑loop waste streams, helping visitors understand how regenerative practices work in practice. A Responsible Visitor Charter and ongoing staff training ensures every decision is explained clearly and the long-term vision of the regenerative approach from the distillery is understood.
This interactive board maps the grain-to-waste-to-resource loop for visitors to the distillery.
The Impact
This pioneering distillery has attracted increased visitor numbers to the area, employing 46 people, 80% from the surrounding area, providing stable year-round income in a traditionally seasonal economy.
Its presence has also created a ripple effect in Wooler - new businesses, including accommodation and hospitality, have opened in response to increased visitor demand. Seasonal events such as the Gadarung (Old English for ‘gathering’) bring artisan producers, demonstrations and community celebrations into the heart of the town, spreading economic benefit beyond the distillery walls.
Practical steps to build sustainability into your business:
- Map your supply chains. Know where things come from and who you’re working with. Start with one key ingredient and build that relationship well.
- Think about your energy sources and supplies. Solar panels and boiler systems ready for hydrogen conversion can provide cleaner energy and future-proof your site.
- Design waste out from the start. Ask at the design stage: what by-products do we create, and who might use them? Put them back into the local economy.
- Make it visible. Embed sustainability into how guests experience your place. Train your team on the why, not just the how.
- Tell the story that connects. Link your practices back to place, heritage and community. People respond to meaning.
- Start with one closed loop. Pick one waste stream. Map it: what is it, who needs it, how does it flow back. Then expand.
- Invest in your team. Keep people informed and up to date. Your staff are the ones keeping the system running every day.
Explore further
Inspired by what you’ve seen?
Check out the other case studies showing sustainability in action or explore the Regenerative Tourism Guide to learn more ways to stand out from the crowd, inspire staff, enhance visitor loyalty and make your business a force for good.