Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk

PERFECT BLEND OF OLD AND NEW AT RESTORED DISTILLERY

The interior at the restored Rosebank Distillery strikes the

perfect blend between old and new, including combining

Junckers solid Oak flooring in several spaces with restored

original timber floors and beams in other parts of the buildings.

Designed and redeveloped by architects MLA, the landmark

building once again takes pride of place on the banks of the

Forth and Clyde Canal in Falkirk.

Prioritising preservation and reuse, MLA turned what was a

series of previously abandoned, dilapidated buildings into an

experiential hospitality destination in its own right, creating jobs

and opportunities for the local community. Owned and operated

by Ian MacLeod Distilleries, Rosebank is now a working distillery

with a new, welcoming visitor centre, an academy, retail space,

offices and staff rooms.

Restoring the crumbling distillery buildings presented numerous

constraints and challenges. Half the site contained listed

warehouse buildings and some were beyond repair. A blend

of old and new was required to balance building preservation

with modern building regulations. Several buildings, including

the Victorian red brickwork building that houses the visitors’

centre with six tasting rooms, were restored with guidance from

Historic Scotland.

The redevelopment has secured the long-term future of the

site and modernised the buildings. Of considerable importance

to local tourism, up to 50,000 visitors are expected every year,

calling for robust and durable materials. Fitted in the tasting

rooms and circulation areas, Junckers Oak Variation plank

flooring, a rustic grade solid hardwood floor that aligns with the

heritage character of the original building, and Oak Herringbone

flooring which adds an elegant look to the luxury experience

spaces are both hard-wearing surfaces that can be expected to

last for 60+ years.