Arran Brewery has secured approval from North Ayrshire Council for the construction of sake brewery in Dreghorn which is said to be the first of its type in Scotland.

Work under the project includes the construction of a bottling facility, a beer hall, a brewing school, and a research and cultural center.

Arran Brewery managing director Gerald Michaluk said: "We are very pleased to have received planning permission and will now be seeking building warrants so work can start in earnest.

"These are exciting times for craft breweries and especially Arran Brewery which has done particularly well with the success of Arran Blonde, Scotland’s best-selling packaged craft beer".

The brewery equipment such as rice boilers are being imported from Japan for the project.

The sake is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.

The brewery will use Japanese varieties of rice grown in the US for the production of sake, which will be sold in Japan, where Arran Brewery currently sells beer.

Arran Brewery plans to employ over 30 people at the site.

The visitor center at the site will house permanent exhibitions showcasing Japanese art, culture, and distilling history.