New visitor centre a boon

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Friday 14th Dec 2007.

Charles Bartholomew, chairman of Devizes brewers Wadworth & Co, has hailed as a boon to the town and to the brewing industry, the new visitor centre at the Northgate Brewery.

Michael Ancram MP cut the ribbon to open the centre, which the brewery confidently predicts will attract upwards of 25,000 visitors a year.

Mr Ancram said he always tried to promote the brewery's 6X ale on his travels, but he had got a shock in Colombo, Sri Lanka, when a local man asked him if he had any of the amber nectar with him.

The man was in the tea business and had contact with a sales director who lived in the Devizes area.

Mr Ancram said: "This centre is promotional, educational and fun. It will be an enormous tourist attraction and I congratulate Wadworth's for having the foresight to do it."

Company chairman Charles Bartholomew thanked all those involved in the project, especially project manager David Dolman and builders Gaiger Brothers.

He said: "Welcome to Wadworthshire, which is not only the geographical centre of Wiltshire, but also a state of mind where you come to enjoy Wadworth's ale."

The centre gives visitors a multi-media tour of the brewing process as well as examples of the signwriters' and cooper's art and a history of the famous dray horses.

There is a bar in which to sample the company's products and a shop where merchandise can be bought.

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