'Unique' micro whisky distillery planned at hotel in Highland capital
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Revised plans have been revealed to create a “unique” micro whisky distillery after a city centre hotel changed its mind about developing a microbrewery.
Development has started on site at the Glen Mhor Hotel in Ness Bank after Highland Council approved plans to create a craft microbrewery.
But the hotel has now lodged a new application seeking a change of use from the previously-approved project.
A supporting statement says: “It is now proposed to create a first-class visitor experience, unique to Inverness, as a micro whisky distillery.
“The intention is to provide a visitor attraction showcasing the best in Scottish produce and taking the visitor along the journey involved in the production of malt whisky.”
It comes on the heels of getting approval last summer for a £2.5 million pioneering ground-source heat pump to be installed – the first of its type in Scotland.
The hotel is located in the riverside conservation area close to Inverness Castle which is also undergoing a multimillion-pound transformation to create a gateway tourist attraction celebrating the spirit of the Highlands.
Hotel owners Jon and Victoria Erasmus secured the go-ahead for the microbrewery in 2015 after a previous application was rejected.
Permission, including listed-building consent for the demolition of an extension to the rear of a C-listed cottage, has been largely implemented and development is ongoing on site.
A design statement lodged with the new application says the change from brewery to distillery involves a revised internal layout, removing the requirement for the previous beer hall and restaurant and concentrating instead on creating a quality experience with whisky tasting and a bar area.
Key amendments include siting the proposed still room at the rear of the site within the approved new build section.
It will occupy the full height of the building with the upper floor area only accessible to staff and by a walkway gantry.
Other key changes include alterations to the main entrance located at the back of the existing cottage.
It is proposed to alter the cottage to provide improved reception, circulation and waiting area for visitors and to upgrade the external fabric and setting of the cottage with landscaping.
A glazed two-storey link will link the cottage and the proposed new extension.
The supporting statement says: “The intention has been to design an extension that is of an appropriate scale and massing while providing the necessary infrastructure required to support the development.
“The applicant is owner of the buildings located to the south, and it is the longer-term objective to gradually improve and replace the existing extensions that are located to the rear of the majority of the existing buildings.
“Several of these are of a form, scale and massing that do not enhance the character of the conservation area and the opportunity to consider appropriate alterations is the longer-term objective.”
It also says the distillery process differs from that of the brewery and will reduce the number of deliveries required.
It states similar facilities elsewhere in Scotland, most recently in Edinburgh and Glasgow, had not had issues with noise or odour.
It adds: “The revised use as a distillery offers a facility not otherwise on offer within the city and will enhance existing tourist facilities.
“Its location at Ness Bank, close to the city centre and main thoroughfares, river walkway and with easy access to the newly refurbished castle as a tourist destination, demonstrates that this facility complements the existing range of attractions on offer.”
Following a review of the car park, it is also proposed to provide 47 spaces – an increase of 11.
