By Ian McConnell

DRINKS giant Diageo has this week launched its campaign to fill more than 150 jobs, including bartender, ambassador and performance artist roles, at its new Johnnie Walker Princes Street visitor experience in Edinburgh.

It declared it was pleased to be able to restart recruitment given tough times for people in hospitality and tourism, and job losses in the sector. The visitor experience is due to open next summer.

Other posts being advertised in the recruitment campaign include front-of-house and retail positions.

Barbara Smith, managing director of Scotland brand homes at Diageo, said: “Johnnie Walker is a whisky of exceptional character and we are looking for real characters to tell our story and to create an unforgettable experience for every person who walks through our doors.”

She added: “We know it is a difficult time for everyone across the hospitality and tourism industry with many people losing their jobs, which is why we are pleased to be able to restart the recruitment process and to create new high-value jobs in the Edinburgh economy.”

Diageo declared that Johnnie Walker Princes Street would “bring to life the story of the world’s biggest-selling Scotch whisky”, noting it was “part of a wider £185 million plan…to transform whisky tourism in Scotland”.