AN AWARD-WINNING cider producer will strengthen its partnership with an independent brewery in the new year.

Thistly Cross Cider will welcome Edinburgh Beer Factory – most famous for its flagship brew Paolozzi Lager – to its West Barns home.

The move will allow the two companies to solidify their partnership and future-proof their independent, high-quality producer status.

They will work together in tackling the post-Covid trading environment; sharing ideas, expertise and costs from the site.

Peter Stuart, founder of Thistly Cross, was hopeful the move would be complete next spring.

He said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Edinburgh Beer Factory team on site.

“To have two iconic, independent Scottish producers in one place will be very special.”

The past 18 months have been incredibly tough in the industry, with the temporary loss of business from bar and restaurant closures through lockdowns and increasing costs as a result of Brexit and the pandemic.

By moving to a freehold site, Edinburgh Beer Factory, founded by the Dunsmore family in 2014, will be able to maximise efficiency and invest into growing the production and distribution of their award-winning beers, including Paolozzi Lager, Untitled IPA and Edinburgh Lager.

The brewery is currently based on the western side of the Capital and will move along with the entire brewing team to ensure continuity of production.

Lynne and John Dunsmore, co-founders of Edinburgh Beer Factory, described the future move as “transformative”.

They said: “Having lost all our pub, restaurant and export sales for large parts of 2020 and 2021, we received fantastic support from our online and multiple grocery customers. Now, with rising costs coming from every direction, this opportunity has come at just the right time.

“The site is within the EH catchment and will allow us to work even more closely with our friends Thistly Cross, forming a real powerhouse of Scottish craft drinks.”