A novel “artisanal” distillery is poised to debut beneath a well-known Edinburgh city centre pub. The team behind The Black Cat on Rose Street and the recently rebranded Penny Black on Leith Street have submitted plans to transform the vacant basement on Calton Road into a small-scale, high-quality distillery.
The proposed distillery will be housed in the basement of a six-storey building at 2-6 Calton Road, which currently comprises retail, public house, and residential spaces. The plans involve a sensitive upgrade of the property, with particular attention paid to preserving the building’s original features.
The new distillery will feature a micro-distillery process as its centrepiece. The project includes the relocation of toilet and bar facilities to provide additional storage, installation of new signage on Calton Road, creation of a new internal door for public access, and display of distilling equipment to showcase the production process.
The basement, formerly home to The Bunker nightclub, has been closed for several years and is reportedly in a “poor condition”. The proposed renovations aim to breathe new life into this space, transforming it into an “attractive and interesting venue with unique character.”
This new venture adds to Edinburgh’s rich history of distilling, offering visitors and locals alike a chance to experience the craft of spirit-making in the heart of the city. The distillery’s location beneath a renowned pub creates an intriguing synergy between traditional Scottish hospitality and artisanal spirit production.
As the plans have now been submitted to council planners, the city awaits the decision that could see this exciting new addition to Edinburgh’s vibrant food and drink scene come to fruition. If approved, the distillery promises to offer a unique experience, combining the charm of a historic building with the innovation of modern spirit production.
