Whisky firm picks Fife for its new HQ

An international whisky company has announced major plans for a new headquarters in Fife, complete with restaurants, a hotel and a museum featuring one of the world’s oldest bottles of whisky.

Scotch Whisky Investments (SWI) said the “significant investment” at an old linoleum factory site near Falkland would create several local employment and tourism opportunities.

The firm wants a mixeduse development featuring a corporate headquarters building with restaurants, museum and a hotel on the site of the St John’s Works.

The new HQ would showcase single malt whisky and offer hospitality to prospective investors from around the world.

Designed to house the worldwide administrative functions of the company, the site is also intended to relocate the world-famous whisky collection of Italian Valentino Zagatti.

Displayed in the Netherlands, Zagatti’s collection is one of the largest in the world, comprising more than 3,000 bottles and almost 300 whisky brands – most of which are extremely rare.

It includes possibly the oldest unopened bottle of whisky in the world, dating from 1843, which is the centrepiece of the collection.

New community facilities included in the plans are an additional public car park, a village green, microforest and playpark.

A small number of cottages will be created on the north edge of the site for use as ancillary offices for the HQ building and visitor accommodation, with some staff quarters and specialist shops mixed in.

The shops aim to complement rather than compete with those in Falkland.

The development is part of a multi-million-pound investment in Fife, that also includes a single malt Scotch whisky storage and bottling complex in Glenrothes.

A planning application for four whisky storage warehouses, maintenance and bottling buildings, and offices at Southfield Industrial Estate on Crompton Road, Glenrothes, was made to Fife Council in March this year. A further 20 warehouses are now proposed for the 5.4-hectare site.

Proposal of Application Notices (PANs) have been lodged with Fife Council for the Falkland development and expansion of the Glenrothes complex, heralding SWI’s intent to submit planning bids for both after a minimum 12week consultation period.

An online consultation event, in accordance with Scottish Government guidance, will be held for each in August, followed by physical consultations in September at local venues. A leaflet will be circulated with the details of these.

Keith Rennie, director for Scotch Whisky Investments, said: “We are delighted to be bringing forward ambitious proposals for Falkland and Glenrothes as part of a significant investment programme for Fife.

“Our vision as a company is to showcase and educate people about single malt Scotch whisky, as well as promote investment in the commodity and provide new facilities for Falkland.

“Through this activity, complemented by the expansion of our facilities in Glenrothes, considerable employment and tourism opportunities will be delivered not just for Fife, but for Scotland as a whole.

“We look forward to engaging with the public on these proposals and keeping the community updated as they progress.”

ON SHOW: An unopened bottle of whisky dating from 1843, said to be one of the world’s oldest, would come to Fife.