‘More jobs’ hope as Zip World to take over Llechwedd deep mine
VISION TO COMBINE HERITAGE & ADVENTURE
ZIP World is taking over the Llechwedd quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog with “exciting” plans for an adventure village.
The adventure brand has reached a deal with the owners of Llechwedd to take over the deep mine tour and utilise the “phenomenal” underground and overground space while ensuring they respect the heritage side of the historic site. This will include the existing food and beverage outlets, with potential to bring other buildings into play.
Llechwedd owners JW Greaves, which first came to the site in the 1830s, will continue to be the landowner and put its focus on Plas Weunydd hotel, Llechwedd Glamping and its hydro-electric businesses.
Michael Bewick, managing director of JW Greaves & Sons Ltd, said: “We have been working with Zip World now at Llechwedd for eight years and we can all see the huge impact that has had on visitor numbers.
“When I first got involved 10 years ago, we had about 46,000 visitors. With Zip World on a normal year that is now up to over 200,000. It is a combination of adventure and heritage.
“We have taken the heritage side as far as we can go under our guidance. It needs further investment and development, and that is something that Zip World are committed to do.
“Over a period of time Zip World will control that part of the site and we will continue to run our hydro-electric businesses, our quarry and new accommodation businesses.
“The key thing is that this allows us to focus on the accommodation and development of the land and Zip World to focus on the tourist attractions, it means both parties are playing to their strengths.”
They have 45 staff with 11 staying with JW Greaves and the remainder transferring to Zip World, with no redundancies.
Andrew Hudson, commercial director at Zip World, said: “We have a great location at Llechwedd and we want to utilise some more of the underground and also want to utilise more of the above-ground as well.
“The vision is to create a unique adventure village, potentially bringing in other businesses to further enhance the experience. We will continue to invest in Bounce Below and Caverns but we are also looking at new innovative products not done anywhere.
“These could intertwine with the deep mine tour, which will stay as it is as it has been a very successful business for over 40 years.
“Zip World will look to enhance it but not change it. It will always be a heritage product, but we could have something next to it that is really exciting and different. It has to be compelling for a new audience.
“It could introduce the deep mine audience to a new product and vice versa, doing it in an exciting seamless way.”
The idea is for the adventure village to combine with the accommodation offer from Llechwedd, benefitting both businesses. They added that “language, culture, sense of place are going to be critical”.
Andrew, who said new attractions would mean more jobs, added: “We have exciting ideas, with Llechwedd helping on this.
“We have something underground that no one else is doing that will really draw attention to that space the possibilities endless’’
“We have this working relationship with Llechwedd and that has made this possible and will continue.”