Scotland’s oldest working brewery retains maltings, kilns, vaults and brewing ranges within an evolving production site.
Quick facts
- Date
- Founded 1719; principal rebuilding 1814 and 1887
- Architect / designer
- Successive brewery owners, engineers and builders
- Type
- Historic maltings, kilns, brewhouse and industrial complex
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB24730)
- OS grid reference
- NT 66560 78375
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Sandstone maltings, triple roofs, ventilated kilns, vaulted cellars, chimney and later brick additions express successive stages of brewing. Cast-iron columns, hoist details and drying floors survive beside modern equipment.
Its story
Brewing was established at Belhaven in 1719. The complex was rebuilt and enlarged in 1814 and again in 1887, with later industrial changes adapting rather than wholly replacing the historic production buildings.
Why it is included
The Category A complex is both nationally important industrial architecture and a rare continuing use of a centuries-old Scottish production site.
What to notice
- Three linked maltings roofs.
- Kiln ventilators and surviving drying-floor structure.
- Relationship between historic ranges and modern brewing plant.
Reading the surroundings
This is an operating food-production site. Visit only through the shop or a booked brewery tour, follow staff safety instructions and do not enter production, vehicle or service areas independently.
Timeline
- 1719 Commercial brewing was established at Belhaven.
- 1814 A substantial rebuilding created important surviving maltings fabric.
- 1887 Expansion enlarged the kilns, brewhouse and production capacity.
- 2026 Belhaven continues brewing and offers scheduled tours and a shop.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Working equipment and visitor routes change with production requirements; designation does not imply access to every historic range.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Belhaven Brewery, LB24730 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Belhaven: our brewery — Current production, claimed 1719 foundation, shop, tours, address and brewing process.
- Belhaven brewery tours — Current booking, duration, capacity and visitor conditions.
Location
OS grid reference NT 66560 78375 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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