Katy Nelstrop is Marketing Director at The English Whisky Co, which has just launched The Wild Santuary at the distillery in Norfolk, in partnership with Bush Adventures. Here, Katy explains all about it
Who are you and what do you do?
I am the Marketing Director at The English Whisky Co and help run the business alongside my husband and MD Andrew Nelstrop.
If you had to give a potted history of The English Distillery, what would you say?
The English Distillery was the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition by my father-in-law James Nelstrop to see whisky production return to England. Established in 2005, it is now 20 years old and has climbed the heady heights of whisky making with its whisky being crowned World’s Best Single Malt in 2024, the Distillery sells its whisky to 33 countries.
Closer to home the distillery is open to the public and is a popular tourist destination welcoming 80k visitors a year. The site is set in 10 acres of beautiful grounds with a river running through the site. You will find a wonderful bistro, great gift and lifestyle shop, increasingly popular conference facilities and most recently the co-led with Bush Adventures sees The Wild Sanctury come to fruition.
What is the latest development, with The Wild Sanctuary?
Bush Adventures are hosting a series of day events that make full use of the river and the grounds with paddle boarding, kayaking, river swimming, axe throwing… the list is endless. Our first weekend has just happened and the day by the river was glorious and a complete sell out, so hopefully we can build on that and create a really special series of events for guests to come and visit.
How has the partnership with Bush Adventures come about?
I was at a networking meeting discussing collaboration of businesses in the Breckland area of Norfolk and I met Sarah from Bush Adventures who briefed me on the business, and I just knew then the collaboration would work.
What can visitors expect at The Wild Sanctuary? Why is it such a special place, in your opinion?
The river Thet above East Harling is a very special and hidden wonderland with beautiful crystal clears waters that are flowing well even in this extraordinary year. It is particularly special as for the last few years it has been largely unnavigable, so clearing the reeds has created a very private and quiet route with a wonderful collection of wildlife living in and beside the river. The team have been clearing reeds and, as time goes on, the distance from the distillery that boats can get will increase; currently it is approx. one mile of kayaking but hopefully by next spring we will have this increased to two miles and for the more adventurous they can continue on to Thetford and beyond!
How can people find out more about it – and The English Distillery in general?
You can find out more about the dates available at The Wild Sanctuary through the summer on our website at www.englishwhisky.co.uk.
Any other plans you can share?
We are only running a handful of dates to trial this summer but look forward to a more permanent fixture of events next year.
The next Bush Experiences at the The English Distillery, Harling Road, Roudham, Norfolk, NR16 2QW, take place on August 21, 2026, with Canoe Hire, Paddle Board Hire and Wild Whisky Waters swim (beginners session). Visit The English Distillery and Bush Experiences UK.
Featured image of Katy and Andrew Nelstrop – supplied
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