SCOTLAND’S First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially opened Thistly Cross Cider’s new cider shed.

The building, at West Barns Steading, will be home to the company’s pressing and tasting rooms, with fermentation and blending rooms already in operation.

The First Minister cut the ribbon, with Peter Stuart, head cidermaker at Thistly Cross Cider, delighted to welcome both Ms Sturgeon and her party colleague DJ Johnston-Smith, the SNP candidate for the East Lothian constituency at next week’s Scottish elections, to the premises on Tuesday.

The First Minister sampled a cider during the visit and Mr Stuart was confident she was impressed with the products on offer.

He said: “Nicola stayed for nearly an hour and she did have a wee try of a cider.

“She was impressed to find out that we produce a whole range of ciders and she picked out our elderflower cider.”

The SNP leader was given a tour of the company’s premises, on the outskirts of Dunbar.

The visit came about through Thistly Cross Cider’s connection with Mr Johnston-Smith.

He was previously the landlord of the Sheep Heid Inn, in Edinburgh, and, according to Mr Stuart, helped Thistly Cross Cider to get noticed on a national stage, after featuring the newly-launched fruit ciders at a beer and cider festival.

Ms Sturgeon also visited Dunbar High Street, where she was greeted by activists and passers-by.

Mr Johnston-Smith described it as “a great pleasure” to welcome the First Minister to the town.

He added: “I was equally delighted to be able to take Nicola to Thistly Cross Cider to meet head cidermaker Peter Stuart.

“I am very proud to have been one of Peter’s earliest customers when I was landlord of the Sheep Heid Inn, so it was truly fantastic to bring the First Minister to see just how far this now internationally-renowned East Lothian brand has grown since those early days."