THE Lochside on Islay is one of the venues gearing up for the start of the legendary Fèis Ìle whisky festival this weekend.
The world-famous ‘festival of music and malt’ kicks off this Friday (26th May) and runs until Saturday 3rd June with events taking place around the island.
At The Lochside, these include live music sessions from Acoustic Soundz, The Laurettes, Rollin Drones and Atlantic Reel as well the venue’s first ever bar takeover – with independent bottler and distiller Elixir Distillers.
The company, which acquired Tormore Distillery in Speyside in 2022, is in the process of constructing a new distillery on Islay – Portintruan – near Port Ellen. It will take over The Lochside’s snug bar on Thursday 1st June, offering customers three whisky cocktails featuring its Elements of Islay whiskies: the Sea Spray Spritz, Kilmeny Cooler and the Forrest & Fog. There will also be drams available for the non cocktail-inclined.
Neil Morrison, managing director of The Rocks Leisure Group and owner of The Lochside, said: “We’ve got a great line-up for this year’s Fèis Ìle, and to be hosting Elixir Distillers’ first bar takeover at The Lochside is the cherry on top.
“We’ve got an incredible range of whisky at The Lochside – from cracking core drams to rare one-offs; and the bar takeover on 1st June will just bring another dimension. Add in our brilliant live music line-up and it’s going to be a cracker!”
In addition to The Lochside Rocks Leisure Group operates venues including Macgochans on Mull, The Benleva Hotel in Drumnadrochit and the Ben Nevis in Fort William.
