Distillery Visitor Centre

Whisky, wildlife and community, reimagined through nature-led design.

In 2021 we were invited by Daniel Szor, founder of the Cotswolds Distillery, to help bring his long-term vision for the distillery and its landscape to life. With the distillery’s 10th anniversary approaching in June 2024, Daniel was keen to ensure the site not only produced exceptional spirits but also acted as a genuine force for good within its community.

A key challenge was how to manage the distillery’s wastewater more sustainably and reduce the number of tankers travelling through nearby villages. Working alongside Living Water Ecosystems, and with funding support from Berry Bros. & Rudd, we designed and delivered a wetlands treatment system, a natural, low-impact solution that turns a once-barren site into a thriving ecological haven. Through a series of biological filters, wetland cells and a willow copse, the system now manages wastewater on site while supporting biodiversity. Native trees and wildflower planting have further transformed the landscape, and even encouraged new wildlife residents, including a pair of barn owls.

Unveiled in August 2024, the wetlands system now processes all the distillery’s whisky-making wastewater, creating rich habitat for local wildlife and dramatically reducing tanker movements on local roads. Six months later, in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council’s Sustainability Team and with the support of their Tree Planting Fund, we planted over 900 locally grown native trees, along with species carefully chosen for their climate resilience.

At the same time, our brief extended beyond infrastructure to reimagining the visitor experience. Since the opening of the new Visitor Centre in 2019, numbers has been steadily growing, and there was a need to draw visitors further into the landscape. We redesigned the outdoor areas to create a temporary larger welcoming seating area, re-diverting and separating it from both visitor and commercial traffic, allowign spaces where guests can linger over lunch or drinks in a relaxed, natural setting.

Looking ahead, the next phase will further enrich the distillery grounds with botanical gardens, lakes and a central water feature, forming the heart of a new outdoor destination. These spaces are designed not only to support the Visitor Centre but to tell the full story of the distilling journey, from field to glass, in a setting that invites exploration and reflection.

This is a project being realised in stages, each one deepening the connection between people, place and purpose. Every step so far has been both rewarding and inspiring, and we are excited for the vision still to come.