Eden Mill announced the plans today, 8th February, with the £4 million expansion project in Guardbridge set to see historic former paper mill buildings refurbished to become Eden Mill’s new home – allowing them to increase their production of gin, beer and whisky, and create more innovative and pioneering products, and retain space for further expansion.
The plans, which have been submitted to Fife Council, will also help to increase the site's attraction as draw for tourists to the area as they include several new visitor areas, including a café/bar, visitor’s centre, shop and a presentation room.
Already listed as the number one tourist destination in Fife on TripAdvisor, the new facility will enable Eden Mill to double the number of tourists taking distillery tours from 25,000 to 50,000 a year.
Sitting within the University of St Andrews’ new Eden Campus, the development will also feature a VIP tasting area on the top floor of the distillery which will offer views over the university campus and estuary.
Pending approval of the application, Eden Mill aims to be on site by summer 2018 with the buildings operational by autumn 2018.
Paul Miller, co-founder of Eden Mill, said: “With ambitions to grow the business, it’s the right time for Eden Mill to move forward with plans for a new distillery and brewery. We have always been pioneering, and this expansion can open the door to new product development and continued success.
“To stay competitive, the spirits industry in Scotland needs to embrace new ideas and experimentation while respecting its heritage and traditions, particularly with whisky. At this new site, Eden Mill will be in the perfect position to invest in new products and lead the way with innovation.
“We firmly believe that this development will greatly benefit the local area and the wider Scottish economy, which is always what we have set out to achieve as a business.”
Subject to planning approval, the new site will allow Eden Mill to invest in product development, increase output of beers and spirits, to meet the increasing demand for their products.
The new proposal could see the drinks producer become one of the first tenants within the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus.
The Campus is currently home to a biomass Energy Centre, a key part of the University's drive to become the UK's first energy carbon neutral university.
The current Eden Mill production site, began as a brewery in 2012, before going on to become Scotland's first combined brewing and distilling site when the team began the production of Scotch whisky and gin in 2014, carrying on the tradition started by the famous Haig Family who also operated a whisky distillery there in the 19th century.
