Planning permission has been granted to convert a contaminated, long-disused oil depot on Ardrishaig’s waterfront into a craft whisky distillery with visitor facilities, part of a phased waterfront redevelopment.
Argyll and Bute Council approved the distillery plan on 25 September 2026, led by developer John Moore.
Organic Architects designed the project to pair small-scale whisky production with tours, tasting spaces, a courtyard, terrace and greenhouse.
The distillery is the next phase in a wider waterfront regeneration that already reopened the nearby Steamer Terminal.
# What happened Planning permission was granted on 25 September 2026 to transform a disused oil depot on Ardrishaig's waterfront into a craft whisky distillery and visitor destination. The project is led by John Moore and designed by Organic Architects.
# Why the site matters
# What the development will include Organic Architects' plan combines small-batch whisky production with spaces for visitors. Confirmed elements include:
These features are intended to make the site both a working distillery and a place for visitors to spend time.
# Location and context Ardrishaig sits on Scotland's west coast at the southern entrance to the Crinan Canal, near Lochgilphead in Argyll and Bute. The distillery will sit within the wider Campbeltown and west Highland whisky-producing region and ties into local tourism flows.
# How this fits local plans The distillery approval is part of a phased waterfront regeneration. The first phase reopened the nearby Steamer Terminal, which began operating again and hosted a café. The distillery represents the next step in revitalizing this stretch of waterfront, shifting unused industrial land toward tourism and production.
# Practical next steps
# Wider trend Scotland has seen a wave of new distillery openings in recent years that combine production with visitor centers to diversify revenue. Distillery tourism allows producers to sell directly to visitors, host tastings and build long-term customer relationships. This project follows that model by adding tourism-focused elements to a craft production site.
# What remains unclear The planning approval confirms intent and design, but the timeline for remediation and construction is not yet public. Financial, regulatory and environmental steps required to make the site safe and operable will shape when the distillery opens.
# What to watch next Look for formal remediation plans, construction start notices and announcements about visitor opening dates. Local council filings or developer updates will contain details about timelines and any conditions attached to the planning permission.
What will replace a contaminated oil depot on Ardrishaig's waterfront? A craft whisky distillery with tours, tastings and a greenhouse has just won approval.
There is an ongoing dispute with the distillery's founder.
"This is incredibly special for our family and team."
Highland-based Arbikie Distillery has released The Signature – their ‘first-ever’ field-to-bottle single malt whisky. Arbikie The Signature contains Odyssey barley grown on the Arbikie Estate, was bottled at 48% alcohol by volume [96 proof] and is said to contain notes of apricot, banana bread and peach. Only 1000 bott
If you have been following us for a while, you will know how much has gone into getting our distillery to this point — two years of construction and a 200-year-old building that demanded nothing but the very best. But once the distillery was built, the next challenge was commissioning our copper pot stills! Martin, and
This is VinePair’s Booze News Weekly Roundup, where we gather the hottest headlines and product releases every Friday for a snapshot of what’s happening in the beverage alcohol industry. This week, we have updates on Scottish distillers’ responses to a new English single malt category, Trump to lift Irish whiskey tarif
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.