Harry Gow has confirmed that a planning application has been submitted for the installation of a permanent 78-inch Empire Biscuit monument outside its Smithton bakery in Inverness.
The proposal follows the bakery’s recent recognition as the unofficial record holder for the largest Empire Biscuit, created during the Scottish Bakers event earlier this year. The oversized bake attracted widespread attention online and beyond, generating what the company described as unexpected global interest in a traditional Highland favourite.
In response to the reaction, the bakery has submitted plans for a permanent monument to mark the occasion, preserving a moment of unexpected bakery history with the proposed structure taking the form of a 78-inch Empire Biscuit positioned at the front of the Smithton shop.
Early concept drawings show a stainless steel and composite structure mounted on a raised plinth, designed to match the proportions of a traditional Empire Biscuit while remaining clearly visible from the main road and surrounding area. The proposed structure would sit on a raised base designed to withstand Highland weather conditions and remain in place as a long-term feature.
Harry Gow said the monument is intended to recognise what the company sees as a historic moment for the bakery, while also creating a light-hearted landmark for customers, visitors and those travelling through the Highlands.
The application notes that the installation could bring a small tourism benefit to the area, with the bakery believing the monument could become a recognisable stop for visitors travelling through the Highlands following the recent attention around the record-sized Empire Biscuit.
David Gow said:
“We’ve always been proud of our Empire Biscuits, but after the Scottish Bakers event earlier this year the reaction was far bigger than we ever expected. Once people started talking about records and history, we felt it was something worth marking properly, even if that meant looking at ideas we wouldn’t normally consider.”
Fraser Gow added:
“What started as a joke about making the biggest Empire Biscuit somehow turned into conversations about whether we should do something permanent. Once drawings were mentioned, it felt like the sort of thing that might actually happen.”
Fraser Gow said the bakery may also invite Guinness World Records to measure the monument once installed, as it is believed the structure could become the largest Empire Biscuit structure ever constructed.
He confirmed the family had not previously expected to be involved in monument design, but accepted that this now appeared to be part of the process following recent events.
If approved, the monument would stand at approximately 78 inches wide, making it considerably larger than a standard Empire Biscuit, but proportionally accurate to the one produced during the Scottish Bakers event.
The application is currently under consideration, and the bakery has also confirmed that informal community feedback will be gathered before any final decision is made.
Further updates will be shared once a decision has been made.
The bakery has confirmed the monument will be for display purposes only, will not be available with extra icing, and will not be included in any multi-buy offers.
If you have any concerns please contact: imperialmatters@harrygow.co.uk