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The owners of
the historic Coleburn Distillery have
officially begun works this month
following approval for the first phase
of the Whisky Resort at Coleburn.
The owners of the
historic Coleburn Distillery have
officially broken ground this month
after receiving approval for the first
phase of the Whisky Resort at Coleburn.
Moray Council has given the green light
for an on-site bistro at Coleburn
Distillery in Longmorn, Elgin, marking
an important step forward in the site’s
broader masterplan to develop a
world-class whisky and hospitality
resort, expected to be the first of its
kind anywhere in the world.
Set to open in late autumn this year,
The Kitchery at Coleburn will be located
within the former Piggery building.
Previously used for livestock, the
structure is being carefully transformed
into a modern bistro celebrating food
and drink made with locally sourced
Scottish produce. The project
sensitively repurposes the historic
building for contemporary use while
retaining its original character.
Created in partnership with
award-winning design studio Significant
Others, the development represents a
multi-million-pound investment in the
renowned whisky region. It is forecast
to generate 15 direct jobs, alongside
wider economic opportunities across
agriculture, logistics and hospitality.
Gwenda Smits, Director at Coleburn
commented: "This marks the first of many
milestones in the development of the
wider Coleburn Whisky Resort, The
Kitchery is just the start and breaking
ground feels like a very special moment.
"Opening the space as an initial
introduction to the site establishes it
as an integral part of what will be a
much larger offering, giving visitors
the opportunity to return year-round,
follow its progress, and enjoy the food
and beverage experience. Central to the
overall project is the sense of
community and coming together, and we
can’t wait to welcome people from both
near and far to the new bistro in the
heart of Speyside."
The architectural vision for The
Kitchery takes inspiration from
traditional forms, balanced with
carefully considered contemporary
additions. New glazed façades will
create a warm and welcoming entrance,
inviting visitors into the space. The
building’s long footprint has been used
to shape a thoughtfully designed
customer journey, with each area
delivering a distinct and evolving
experience that reinforces quality and
discovery throughout.
Guests will begin their visit in a
welcoming bar and retail area. From
there, they will move into a private
dining and tasting room, separated by a
bespoke stave wall that creates privacy
while maintaining connection. Beyond
this, the space opens into a relaxed
bistro featuring cosy booths and
flexible seating for up to 62 guests. At
the centre, a chef’s table-style
finishing kitchen will provide a
theatrical touch, adding energy and
interaction to the dining experience.
Materials will play a key role in
creating the interior atmosphere. Warm
leathers, natural timber, aged copper
and backlit rippled glass combine to
deliver a rich, layered aesthetic
inspired by the spirit of the distillery
while offering a fresh contemporary
finish.
Ruth Hay, Director at Significant Others
added: "It's an incredibly exciting time
for everyone involved. Seeing The
Kitchery come to life this year will
mark a significant milestone, and we’re
looking forward to building on this
momentum with the next phases of the
masterplan as the wider vision for
Coleburn continues to unfold."
Construction began on site last month,
including the installation of a biomass
boiler as part of a wider sustainability
commitment in collaboration with Reheat.
Neil Harrison, Director at Reheat,
commented: "We’ve been working with the
team at Coleburn on how best to underpin
their operations with low carbon energy
for some years now, and it’s fantastic
to see this first practical step being
taken on their journey to bring their
plans to reality with the installation
of a district heating network to meet
the heating and hot water needs of
multiple buildings on the site."
"There are many more steps to follow,
but their decision to opt for a biomass
system underlines their commitment to
the local economy, local sourcing, and
doing things the right way from the off,
plus a project combining listed
buildings, district heating, a
hospitality setting, and whisky is at
the centre of our competence Venn
diagram."
At the end of last year, The Distillery
at Coleburn launched its first whisky
bottling collection, the ‘Local Heros’
range, bringing together exceptional
whiskies under a shared vision
celebrating the makers, custodians and
enthusiasts whose passion continues to
connect local heritage with the global
whisky community.
The first release featured three blended
malts bottled on-site in Speyside:
'Sweet Peat', 'Big Smoke' and 'Sherry
Bomb', each offering its own distinctive
flavour profile.
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