A Highland distillery has applied for permission to use it facilities for live music and conferences.
Glen Ord Distillery is seeking a major variation in its current premises licence from Highland Council.
The Muir of Ord complex wants to use its visitor centre for restaurant space, conference facilties, receptions, club meetings and recorded music.
The distillery currently has to apply for temporary licences each time they do particular events.
The new arrangement will also allow on-sales between 10am and midnight, with 10pm closures on Sundays.
The application has been made by the distillery’s owner Diageo Scotland and will be considered next week by the council’s licensing board.
The council’s licensing standards officer (LSO) has written a report to the board which says they have no cause to object to the application.
The LSO said: “The applicant has carried out a review of their current operation as a distillery visitor attraction and now applies to amend the premises licence so as to allow on-sales and offer other activities and services following a major refurbishment of the premises.
“The facility now includes a visitor centre, dramming room and dramming area function suite and a staff shop along with the usual services.
“The proposed activities and services will allow opportunities for additional business and they are reasonable and appropriate for this type of operation.”
The LSO added that the 10am start of sales is to tie in with tours, with other distilleries having been granted similar times.
They added: “I am satisfied that the applicant has given full consideration to the licensing objectives and I have no cause to object to the variation of the premises licence.”
It is understood that the new licence will not result in any new changes to the visitor centre.
Glen Ord is the closest distillery to Inverness and dates back to 1838, making it one of the oldest in Scotland
