The buyers of the Fábrica do Inglês in Silves have announced that the Cork Museum will be renovated and reopened, along with a boutique hotel on the site.
The Fábrica do Inglês, a cultural entertainment complex, has been closed since 2010.
The complex was purchased by real estate developers Antrix and Carvoeiro Branco, who plan to renovate the complex's 19th century historic buildings, including the old 'chalet', which will be restored to continue operating as a tea house, reopen the Cork Museum, and create a 50 room boutique hotel, with an investment of 25 million euros.
The works are expected to begin in 2026, with an estimated completion time of two to three years.
The Founder of Carvoeiro Branco real estate developers, Erik de Vlieger, said that the starting point is the reopening of the museum, which was distinguished in 2001 as the best industrial museum in Europe - a year in which it received more than 100 thousand visitors. This could reopen before the summer of next year.
"The opportunity to, almost heroically, bring life back to such an emblematic space — which ended up being abandoned after a poorly managed investment — represents not only a challenge, but also a duty of patrimonial responsibility," he said.
The future offices of Antrix and Carvoeiro Branco, which are based in the Algarve, are also planned to be located inside one of the renovated historic buildings, in a project that is expected to create around 80 new jobs.
Without wanting to disclose the purchase price, the official emphasized that the abandoned and deteriorated state of the Fábrica do Inglês contrasted with its immense value in terms of architectural, cultural and historical heritage.
"The weight of its history, linked to the Algarve's industrial heritage and the daily lives of so many generations, made the need for intervention even more urgent. Today, we have before us the opportunity to restore this property to its former splendour and once again place it at the service of the community and the region."
The Fábrica do Inglês was built in 1894 as a cork processing unit. In 1908, Victor Sadler, a British citizen, was hired to manage the factory, becoming forever associated with its identity and the origin of the name “Fábrica do Inglês”.
After the closure of industrial activity, the complex was rehabilitated and, in 1999, opened to the public as the Cork Museum. In subsequent years, it also hosted concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events, reinforcing its role as a dynamic cultural centre.
The unit remained active for several years after its conversion, but ended up closing in 2010, following the insolvency of the management company.
The space was classified as a Monument of Municipal Interest and its classification as a Monument of Public Interest (MIP) was proposed, a process that was never completed.
Source https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/ - photo by CM Silves
