PLANS for a gin distillery in the centre of Edinburgh have been lodged by a leading Scots drinks brand.
Edinburgh Gin has announced a new multi-million-pound distillery and the development includes the acquisition of large-scale premises on East Market Street, in the Old Town Unesco World Heritage Site.
The new distillery will include a visitor walk-through of the history of gin making alongside a "sensory immersion into flavour, botanicals and distilling", where people will also be able to make their own gin as part of the visit.
The company said the new premises, opposite Waverley Station and Edinburgh City Council offices, is expected to see over 100,000 visitors a year.
First-stage plans for the three floor premises - with an area of 4,452 sq ft (1,357 sqm) - include a glass-fronted entrance with a street-side view of the stills, a rooftop terrace and private gin tasting rooms.
Since the brand’s launch in 2010, Edinburgh Gin has experienced significant growth and the company says it is now seen as the industry leader in flavour innovation.
The expansion will see Edinburgh Gin increase production capacity by over 200 per cent "in line with continued demand", it declared.
Ian Macleod Distillers, the Broxburn-based parent company, which was founded in 1933, saw turnover increase by 22%, from £64.7m to £79.2m, in the last financial year while pre-tax profits were up by 32%, from £11.5m to £15.2m.
Neil Mowat, UK marketing director of Ian Macleod Distillers, said: "This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the evolution of Edinburgh Gin.
"As the ‘No.1 super premium gin brand in the UK’, Edinburgh Gin is in high demand and this investment is our commitment to continued innovation and growth.
"Working with local businesses including Staran Architects and Contagious, we are confident this will be a stunning distillery that offers a gin experience quite unlike any other."
The existing Edinburgh Gin Visitor Centre and Distillery is in the West End and is ranked among the Scottish capital’s leading five-star visitor attractions.
Its second distillery was opened at the Biscuit Factory in Leith in 2016.
Staran Architects and Contagious are leading the design of the new premises with input from various specialist designers including Rankin Fraser, Rybka and Etive Consulting.
Axiom Project Services is providing project management and quantity surveying services for the development.
The distiller added that the planning process is now under way and further announcements and updates will be released over the coming months as the project progresses.
The news comes as craft brewer Innis & Gunn unveiled plans for a new £20m facility in Edinburgh, which the company said would be the first new lager brewery in the Scottish capital in more than 150 years.
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