Corris Craft Centre celebrates 40 Years: Spotlight Feature

26/4/2022

To celebrate Corris Craft Centre's 40 years, MWT spoke to new owners Pete and Danny Cameron of award-winning Dyfi Distillery, to find out more about them and their plans for the independent craft studios on the A487 between Machynlleth and Dolgellau in Mid Wales.

Pete and Danny recently welcomed a host of tourism businesses along to celebrate the Centre's 40 years, and MWT was lucky enough to experience a guided tour of the 9 unique Corris Craft Studios and meet some of the talented Craftspeople, who stopped to tell us about their designs, opportunities for hands-on fun experiences and plans for 2022.

But that wasn't all! The centre is also the starting point for King Arthur's Labyrinth, where we sailed underground in this fantastic storytelling adventure, and explored the abandoned underground world of the old Braich Goch slate mine with Corris Mine Explorers, before enjoying lunch and refreshments in The Corris Café.

There is SO much going on in Corris!

Pictured: Pete and Danny Cameron, foraging for botanicals for Dyfi Distillery.

The brothers completed on the purchase of Corris Craft Centre in January 2022.

Q. Please tell other members a bit about you and Corris Craft Centre

Pete: While we only moved the Dyfi Distillery to the Corris Craft Centre site six and a half years ago, the craft centre itself is 40 years old this year. Not too long after it was opened, Ian Rutherford developed King Arthur’s Labyrinth and later on Corris Mine Explorers within the old slate mine tunnels and chambers. These two spectacular underground visitor attractions bring many visitors to us every year, but the experience people have when visiting extends to the craft centre too. There are nine completely independent artisan businesses, where you can meet the makers, and see them at work. We call it the best high street in Britain!"

Q. You’ve gone from owning an award winning Gin Distillery at Corris Craft Centre, to owning the whole site. How has that transition been for you?

Danny: Its a big responsibility not only because of the wonderful legacy which Ian left behind, but many jobs are dependent on the success of the whole business. But both Pete and I bring some of our own past work experiences with us, and we intend to build on the reputation we have inherited. We have a dedicated and creative team who put heart and soul into providing a great customer experience, and even with such a unique site, the people are our most important asset.

Q. What plans do you have for Corris Craft Centre going forward? What do you think the main opportunities and challenges will be?

Pete: Its still quite early days for us, even though we have operated from the craft centre for several years. But alongside our management team, we have already put some upgrading in place both below and above ground. The feedback we have had so far from visitors has been really positive, but we won’t be sitting on our haunches: we want to continually improve what’s here, as well as provide changes to keep our regular visitors wanting to come back.
We already have the convenience of accessibility, parking, a great café and so on, but its a rare place that can offer multiple wow-factors.

Q. From your point of view, what is it like owning and running a tourism business in Mid Wales?

Danny: Being part of a business where the views are equally spectacular whether you are above or below ground is a privilege, and even more so to be able to share that with the brilliant people who work here and visit here. Being just off a main road and inside both Snowdonia and the Dyfi means our catchment is quite big. We seem to be experiencing many first time visitors to the area, and what they tell us is how unique and wonderful it is here. Of course, the people who have been coming here for years already knew that!

For more information, visit www.corriscraftcentre.co.uk, or find them on Visit Mid Wales:

Corris Craft Centre
King Arthur's Labyrinth
Corris Mine Explorers

Open daily: 10am - 5pm 28 March to 30 October 2022. Free admission to Corris Craft Centre.