A HEREFORDSHIRE tourism website has spoken on a "huge loss" for Herefordshire as a popular attraction decided to close.

The visitors centre at Chase Distillery in Preston Wynne, near Hereford, is set to close its doors this weekend.

Heidi Chamberlain-Jones, managing director of Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire said that the centre, that shows visitors the skills that go into making its award-winning range of gin and vodka, would be hugely missed.

Mrs Chamberlain-Jones said: "It's such a prominent and high quality attraction for the county, and with its links to Tyrells and local produce, something that is so synonymous with Herefordshire.

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"It started off a trend that has been taken on by smaller artisan local producers and it was incredibly popular and successful.

"I've experienced the tours myself and recommended it to many people on my travels both locally and throughout the UK.

Chase Distillery was founded by entrepreneur William Chase in 2008 and has a portfolio which includes seven gins, four vodkas and an elderflower liqueur.

The range of spirits is distilled from scratch using British-grown potatoes, apples and all-natural botanicals on Chase Farm in Herefordshire.

The distillery was taken over by spirits giant Diageo last year.

Mrs Chamberlain-Jones said: "When it was taken over, we hoped that it would decide to expand the attraction side of the business and build on the success that they have created, but it's decided to go a different way, which is a real shame.

"Hopefully they will have a re-think and bring it back someday."