New research from CGA reveals that nightclubbers are changing their drinking habits and choosing premium spirits and quality drinks.
According to the survey, 65% of nightclub goers who visit venues for high tempo ‘big night out drinks’ are ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to pay extra for a better quality drink with just over half of nightclub visitors saying that they are more likely to experiment with new flavours and varieties of drinks in a nightclub over other venues.
The research also shows that that the pandemic created pent-up demand for night-clubs with a third of 18-34 years olds saying that will visit clubs more often than they did in 2019 and 79% visit weekly.
But night-clubs are not just for high-tempo nights out, they also attract consumers for special occasions and after-work drinks (36%). It’s good news for clubs and their brand partners with customers more likely to look for venues with a good range of drinks that are high quality.
We know that clubs are important for reconnecting with friends but the research also reveals that they are the nights that create meaningful memories for them.
The MacMerry300 Group are set to officially open its new late-night subterranean bar and cocktail lounge, Nola, next Friday.
Operated by Dundee entrepreneur Phil Donaldson of the MacMerry300 Group, which includes other venues such as Bird and Bear, Draffens and Abandon Ship Bar and the newly opened Franks, Nola on Union Street aims to “bring opulence, imaginative drinks, and warm service to the fray”.
The 120-cover boujee space will play host to Dundee’s DJs including La Freak Records and Liam Reilly, with a programme of talent each night, seven nights a week from 10pm until 2am.
Operations director, AJ McMenemy said, “Nola is set to bring the boujee party to Dundee’s thriving hospitality scene. With sophisticated drinks, table service, and a stunning setting, we’re excited to officially launch next week.
“It’s been a long time coming and we’ve got an incredible programme of DJs and drinks to celebrate finally opening our doors.”
Big Mannys’ Pizza, which is due to open a second collection and delivery unit in Aberdeen in the next few weeks, has received a six-figure investment boost – less than a year after it was launched.
Phillip says they were inspired by the BBC TV programme Dragon’s Den to bring an investor on board, having already been approached by several potential business partners. The team wanted someone who could add extra value by helping to guide them through issues that come with operating an expanding and scalable business”.
Simon Cowie, managing partner at Aberdeen accountancy firm Infinity Partnership, has provided the cash injection for a minority stake in the business and will also advise on its transformational growth plans and become a director in the business.
Big Mannys’ Pizza was launched by brothers Phillip and Ashley Adams and consultant chef Calum Wright from The Adams bar on Holburn Street in October last year.
It has exclusive agreements to deliver to customers at The Draft Project and The College Bar in the centre of Aberdeen.
Collaboration with other north-east firms has been central to its success. Big Manny’s Pizza special-recipe dough – created by Calum – is made by social enterprise The Breadmaker, seasoning for its pizzas and chicken wings is provided by Angus & Oink, based at Dess, near Aboyne, and The Tilly Butcher supplies the steak for one of its most popular pizzas.
The founders have also developed a beer called Smashable in partnership with Aberdeen’s Fierce Beer, with a colour and texture to partner their pizzas.
Phillip said: “The collaborations have been an integral part of our story. It’s great to see north-east food and drink producers help each other and cross-promote products, and we have more collaborations on the way”.
Simon, said: “Big Mannys’ Pizza has a fantastic team and a first-rate product. I’m looking forward to working with Phillip, Ashley and Calum to take the business to the next level, ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to support this growth.”
JD Wetherspoon posted their annual result this week that show record losses for this year – at £154m the pre-tax losses are over £120m more than the previous year.Sales were down from £1.26bn to £772.6m – just under 39%.
Commenting on the results, Tim Martin, the Chairman of JD Wetherspoon plc, said, “Like-for-like sales in the first nine weeks of the current financial year were 8.7% lower than the same weeks in August and September 2019, before the pandemic started. In the last four weeks of the period, like-for-like sales were minus 6.4%.
“Total employee numbers averaged 39,025 in the financial year, which increased to 42,003 for the week ending 20 September 2021.
“On average, Wetherspoon has received a reasonable number of applications for vacancies, as indicated by the increase in employee numbers, but some areas of the country, especially “staycation” areas in the West Country and elsewhere, have found it hard to attract staff.
Buzzworks Holdings, the group behind Scott’s, Lido and Vic’s & The Vine will close its entire business on Monday 4 October to introduce a new Wellbeing Day for its workforce.
Their 13 thirteen venues across Scotland will close for the day to give over 500 team members the opportunity to meet up, get to know each other in the great outdoors and take part in activities to help boost mental health and wellbeing.
During lockdown, the Buzzworks team raised £10k at their Lido Troon pop-up cafe. Half of this was donated to industry charity Hospitality Action, who assist those hospitality workers hardest hit by the pandemic, while the other half went towards the Buzzworks Staff Wellbeing fund. The company has doubled that total, giving their teams £10k towards next week’s Wellbeing Day.
Local teams on the ground were given free rein on how the funds should be spent, with the only premise being that the outcome will make people feel great and boost their wellbeing. Activities planned for next week range from treetop adventure courses, archery and mud runs, cycling around Millport, paintballing and crazy golf at Jungle Rumble
Kenny Blair, Buzzworks Holdings MD, said, “We love asking our people for suggestions on what else we can do to create a happy, positive environment that stays with them after they finish their shifts and head home. The introduction of a Wellbeing Day is just one part of an ongoing programme of initiatives that support our people in work and at home. The two are intertwined and it’s something we are always mindful of. Now more than ever, it’s important that we all look after our own wellbeing so we in turn can look after those that matter most to us.
“Throughout lockdown so many of our people gave back to the local community by volunteering – either raising money for charities or by giving back time and donations of hot food. Now it’s time for us to give back to them and reward our people with a day where roles are reversed, they are the guest and the focus is 100 per cent on them!”
Thanks to a number of its mental health and wellbeing initiatives introduced over the past year, Buzzworks were recognised with the CIS Excellence Wellbeing in Hospitality Award in June.
Glasgow publican John Lonergan has sold The Arlington to city-based investor and businessman, David Low for an undisclosed sum. Low is the brother of current tenant Kenny Low.
The Arlington has been operated continuously on the same Woodlands Road site since 1860 making it one of the oldest pubs in Glasgow.
Said Lowe, “It’s a traditional community pub with an eclectic mix of hipsters, locals, university academics and students.
“It’s one of the city’s oldest, continuously operated pubs. I’ve been a customer for many years and it’s an honour for me to see it through the next stage of its journey.”
Low, who helped to broker the takeover of Celtic FC by Fergus McCann in 1994 – rescuing the club from the brink of collapse – said he did not plan to make any significant changes.
“In this age of corporately-owned theme bars and faceless chains, The Arlington is a rarity – a traditional, community pub for real people and, with the exception of perhaps a few cosmetic touches, I intend to leave it as it is.”
He added, “One of the great joys of The Arlington is the sense of continuity it represents. Many of its customers are people, now in their fifties and sixties, who drank there when they were students and who enjoy returning to something that doesn’t change.”
The bar, which has been operated continuously on the same Woodlands Road site since 1860 – is one of the city’s oldest surviving pubs and has a distinguished history as a favoured haunt of students and academics from neighbouring Glasgow University and a hangout for thirsty journalists, artists and writers.
Famous customers over the years have included Billy Connolly, Frankie Miller and punk band, The Clash.
It also claims to be home to the Stone of Destiny, the seat upon which ancient kings of Scotland were crowned, since 1950, when a group of four Nationalist students – and Arlington regulars – re-possessed the historic artefact from Westminster Abbey and allegedly hid it in the pub.
The stone now on display at Edinburgh Castle is a crude replica fashioned by the students, which they handed over to police when they were apprehended following the audacious raid, according to pub legend.
Low, whose investment portfolio includes a significant holding in Scotland’s only cryptocurrency, Scotcoin, is chairman of the Three Thistles plc group of pubs that includes The Clockwork, Dram! and Bauhaus in Glasgow and The Steading in Edinburgh.
The sale of the pub included the ‘Stone of Destiny’ – also known as the Stone of Scone – which will continue to be displayed prominently in a glass case in the bar for the continued enjoyment of customers and tourists.
Low said, “One of the two stones now resides in The Arlington and it’s for others to judge which is the original. It’s not for me to decide but if anyone wants to offer an opinion, they are welcome to drop by and do so over a pint.”
“I can say with some confidence the Stone will not be leaving The Arlington and the next king will not be crowned there.”
The Duke’s Umbrella is a new Glasgow pub from the team behind Royal Exchange Square’s “Glaschu” which opened during the eye of the pandemic storm in 2020.
The latest pub, which has a rustic, artisan feel, is fronted by John Molloy, Development Chef alongside General Manager Craig McKay. It will offer quality gastro pub food alongside an eclectic selection of real ales, fine wines and signature cocktails.
The pub will soon suggests Molloy be recognised as “the best fish and chips in Scotland”.
Development Chef John Molloy said, “I’ve always wanted to cook gastropub food. It’s honest, full of flavour, and for too long this style of food has been overlooked and has slipped into mediocrity. We will be giving our food the attention it deserves and treating the ingredients in the same way fine dining restaurants do. All while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere and delivering the sort of food you’ve always wanted from your local.”
“We’ve curated a menu from the finest produce, in which the ingredient is the hero of the dish, we’re keeping presentation simple, fuss free and full of flavour.”
The Duke’s Umbrella’s is situated on the corner of Argyle Street and James Watt Street and will open on 17th May.
Congratulations to Petra Wetzel and her team at WEST who on the 10th March will be celebrating their 15th birthday.
The Glasgow Green venue conceived as a nod to an authentic Bavarian beerhall with its own microbrewery is now home to two production breweries as well as a unique and airy dog and child-friendly restaurant and bar a great beer garden.
The WEST team racked their brains on how to safely celebrate a big milestone birthday with an appropriate celebration during a pandemic lockdown so executive chef Joanne Munro and head brewer, Simon Roberts put their heads together and came up with The WEST Brewery Birthday Box Beerhall Experience for two – – a beerhall dining and beer experience. They are also running a Facebook Live, beer tasting event on 10th March to mark the celebrations.
WEST Brewery founder Petra Wetzel explains, “The Beerhall Birthday Box is an authentic Bavarian beerhall dining experience with four classic German dishes – available as meat, a vegetarian and a vegan option, all accompanied with six of WEST’s top vegan beers. And what makes it special is that £5 from every box go to our local food bank.
“1 in 4 children in Glasgow go to bed hungry and 1 in 5 households are living below the poverty line. Our beloved Hospitality industry has been decimated during the lockdown which has put many businesses on the brink of collapse, however, we are well aware that many families do not even qualify for the government’s furlough scheme and are struggling on Universal Credit. We, therefore, wanted to make sure that our Birthday Box celebrations also provide food for many in our immediate neighbourhood. That is why £5 from the price of every Birthday Box will go to the Glasgow North East Food Bank in the Calton.”
She reflects “In all my years, I never envisaged celebrating a milestone birthday in a pandemic and I know that we will bounce back once the lockdown restrictions allow us to. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to welcoming our customers back and that’s why we thought of another birthday celebration – The Golden Ticket! As a special surprise, one of our Birthday Boxes will have a Golden Ticket which is a brewery tour and dinner for four!”
John McCusker, a volunteer driver for the Glasgow North East Food Bank which opened in 2013 in The Calton and which delivers food parcels in the North East area, was keen to explain “This is very generous and it will certainly help many in need. Last year we fed 5,000 families and this year, even more. It might sound a wee bit cheeky, but if WEST customers who are coming to collect their Birthday Boxes, could maybe bring down a food bank food donation and leave it with WEST… that would be really magic!”
Executive chef, Joanne Munro said, “ It was quite a challenge to pair four great German dishes with our award-winning beers and ensure the beer suits a meat however I am really delighted with the results. I wanted to make sure that everyone could manage the easy to follow instructions for each of the four delicious dishes at home and enjoy the online Beer Tasting with Simon’s chosen beers. Our founder Petra, who is not renowned for her cooking skills, trialled the Vegetarian box for us last week and if she can follow my instructions, anyone can!”
WEST has been brewing in accordance with the German Purity Law (the Reinheitsgebot which dates from 1516) since its inception and in 2016 added a dedicated events space “the Courtyard”, an internal events area which has seen WEST play host to many memorable events. The same year it also opened its second production brewery which increased brewing capacity tenfold and has allowed the brewery to supply over a thousand pubs, bars and restaurant UK wide with draught lagers, ales and wheat beers.
Head brewer, Simon Roberts chose six beers to make sure that there was a diverse range to enjoy. He explains “This line up illustrates the story of WEST. Over these six beers we demonstrate malt, hops and yeast influences. We have beers from our core, discovery and experimental ranges. We have the beer that has been here since day one, the first release in our WESTwerk range and our most recent release. In short we have six beers that we are proud of, that offer discussion points and obvious sensory differences for the tasting itself and with this line up we can show how proud we are and really celebrate our development!”
You can order from today and last orders will be @ 15.00 hrs on Wednesday, 10th of March! Delivery & collections from WEST on the Green are available on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th March.
It may have been a Scottish artist Nathan Evans who started the Sea Shanty craze but it’s an English Greene King pub manager Steve Fraser who has kicked off a sea shanty challenge for all those in the pub trade. He has written as an ode to his pub, the Mulberry Tree in Stevenage.
Steve, who has managed the Greene King pub for three years, is currently furloughed as pubs are closed during the current lockdown.
Speaking about his song, Steve said: “I have been watching the sea shanty craze started by Scottish artist Nathan Evans and thought I could write one about the pub life and covid.
“With pubs closed, us pub managers are not used to sitting at home doing nothing. We like to interact socially, we desperately miss our customers and the atmosphere of a busy pub. There’s a longing to get back to it – and that’s been the inspiration.
“And I thought it would be a bit of fun!”
Steve is the lead singer in local band The Revivals, based in Hertfordshire, which plays Britpop, Mod and 60s covers.
Greene King is now calling on its competitors to take part in a pub shanty challenge as a bit of fun for pub teams who are furloughed while pubs are shut.
Sea shanties are a type of traditional folk song and Steve’s ‘Fun Folk’ pub shanty has had already had more than 15,000 views on his pub Facebook page here.
January 2021 will see Glasgow bar BLOC+ celebrate its 20th anniversary and to mark the occasion founder and boss John Burns has published BOOC+ . He introduces the book as only he can – itself a very entertaining read – and then catalogues the last 20 years through pictures, posters and recipes which capture the bar’s voluminous, vibrant, hedonistic, moreish, irreverent history. The book also contains umpteen testimonials from past employees, the current team and bands from Frightened Rabbit to Rolo Tomassi and Clutch.
The bar was the brainchild of John who is credited with being one of Scotland’s 90s rave scene pioneers, BLOC+ grew from a simple kitsch boozer into a multi-award-winning restaurant and music venue because it was innovative, offered great food, ambitious programming and with a relaxed – some might say raw – sense of humour. Customers could wear winklepickers or workboots and could request Radiohead or Rod Stewart. Many did both.
It became the king of viral food memes, like a fried burger in a Day-Glo blue MD2020 sauce and Buckfast ice-cream, as well as their resident chef (aka The Mad Chef) going viral on Vice. Also keen to be at the forefront of environmental issues, BLOC+ offer an array of vegan cuisine too – well ahead of the current trend.
Now amidst the Covid19 pandemic and the crisis facing the hospitality industry across the globe, the bar continues to survive, promoting charity causes, advocating for young musicians and taking pride as part of a vibrant local community.
PURCHASE THE BOOK ITSELF (£20) OR A SPECIAL EDITION WHICH INCLUDES THE BOOK PLUS AN EXCLUSIVE POSTER AND A BONUS CD OR VINYL FROM OUR MUSIC LABEL (£25). PLEASE NOTE THE SPECIAL EDITION IS COLLECTION ONLY. ALTERNATIVELY EMAIL HELLO@BLOC.RU FOR A BESPOKE DELIVERY QUOTE.
A campaign to persuade bar and pub customers to “Stay Safe Stay Sound’ and not spread the virus has been created by Josh Barr, the owner of Glasgow bar The Locale, and is being shared by pub and bar owners on social media throughout the country and now they want customers to share the message too.
The move comes as bars around the country are being forced to closed for deep cleans following visits by customers with Covid-19 symptoms who have subsequently tested positive for the virus. Bars affected recently include The Kirkhouse in Shettleston, Bon Vivant in Edinburgh and Victoria in Edinburgh, The Portland Arms and The Swinton Arms in Glasgow and Angels in Uddingston and of course the Aberdeen bars and pubs.
The lost revenue and the cost of deep cleaning is putting hospitality jobs at risk but not only that it is putting pub and bar employees and fellow customers at risk of catching the Covid-19.
Lisa Wishart, MD of Lisini who has just had to close Angels in Uddingston for a deep clean after the news that a customer had visited the bar and tested positive comments, “We would like to remind everyone that people’s health and livelihoods are at stake with irresponsible behaviour. The public must have a duty of care to protect themselves and others.”
The advice to customers when it comes to visiting pubs, bars, restaurant and hotels is:
If you are awaiting a test result or have been in close contact with someone who is suspected of having Covid – Don’t go!
If you have any of the 19 Covid Symptoms – Don’t go!
If you have been in contact with someone with Covid or are awaiting a test – Don’t go!
If you are in quarantine due to overseas travel – Stay in quarantine.
The Government has also published guidelines in brief:
When in venues follow the guidelines
Complete test and protect on every visit
Sanitise regularly
Stay with your party – don’t mingle with different households
Innis & Gunn has applied to Edinburgh city council to refurbish and re-open the former Finn and Bear cafe on The Shore in Leith (pictured) as a Taproom. With Taprooms in Edinburgh’s Lothian Road, Dundee’s Tay Street and Glasgow’s Ashton Lane, this will bring Innis & Gunn’s Scottish pub estate to four.
The planning documents said, “The proposed alterations are minimal, appropriate to the building, its use and the surrounding area and proposed additional signage is of quality construction, as such we consider that the alterations proposed will not significantly alter the character of the listed building. It is requested that the application be granted.”
Innis & Gunn submitted plans for its new brewery at Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park in west Edinburgh in May.
Glasgow hospitality entrepreneurs Kevin Campbell and Toni Carbajosa, two of Glasgow’s hospitality entrepreneurs, are planning on opening the Cranside Kitchen and creating one of Glasgow’s largest beer gardens at their iconic Rotunda building in Finnieston at Tunnel Street, as soon as lockdown restrictions and licensing allows, hopefully later this month.
Under the new plans, which have been submitted to planning, the areas currently used for parking and private patios at the Rotunda, will be used as an outside space to offer meals, alcohol and other hot and cold beverages. The new outdoor venue will open seven days a week with a food market and proposed beer garden at the rear corner of the premises.
The plans, for the 200 capacity venue, include two ‘pergolas’ style marquees to cover customers, new trees and greenery, industrial walls, bespoke picnic tables and outdoor furnishings.
Restaurateur Toni Carbajosa said, “We believe that a beer garden will be a great addition for the iconic site. If the First Minister stands up on Thursday and makes the announcement we’ll be ready to go – hopefully within 24 hours. We’ve been working with the local authorities and with the licensing board and are adapting our operations in line with Government guidelines. Our teams are excited to get back to work and customers can be assured that all the necessary safety measures will be in place before we open the public.”
Strict social distancing guidelines will be in place and there will be limits on numbers at any one time to avoid crowding. The Rotunda buildings bathroom facilities will be open for customers and safe toilet management will be maintained at all times. Hygiene measures are also being prepared to make the venue safe for all customers. Staff will be wearing facemasks, gloves and a very strict 2 metre distancing rule will be in place across the site.
The food market will offer menus from five of the Glasgow’s restaurants also owned by the businessman including Rioja, Halloumi, Pickled Ginger, Kilmurry & Co and La Rotunda with a single drinks and desserts menu.
Landscaper John Henderson who created the design comments, “The design proposals aim to create an attractive and usable outdoor restaurant and beer garden area. Cranside Kitchen is located just a hop, skip and a jump away from the River Clyde walks and cycle tracks and the area will continue to offer on site parking for customers.”
Artist Impression of Cranside Kitchen – Lydia Bourhill
More bars and pubs than are ever are offering draft cocktails and food to go for customers missing their favourites.
Last month Signature Pubs opened the hatches at Morningside’s ‘McLarens on the Corner’ . They have transformed the venue into a community hub which allows customers to enjoy restaurant quality dining, street food, cocktails and craft ale in the comfort and safety of their own home. Their offering includes Neapolitan Pizza and Cold Town Beer from Cold Town House in the Grassmarket, street food from The Huxley on Rutland Street and cocktails from Copper Blossom on George Street. While its Scranavan food truck adds to the offering with a selection of street food options, including big burgers, hot dogs, mac ‘n’ cheese and classic loaded fries. Owner of Signature Group, Nic Wood, said, “We’ve had to get creative and adapt to the new social distancing rules. We think McLarens Market Corner offers people a fun way to pick up a range of fine dining menus, street food, cocktails and craft ale all in one handy location.
Black Ivy in Bruntsfield is not only presenting Lockdown ‘live’ – online video’s featuring a variety of musicians, but it now has a click and collect take-away too which including food, beer, cocktails and wine all of which are available at the weekend.
While the Canny Man in Morningside actually had lobster on their Sunday menu for takeway recently! It also does great Sunday roasts – so I hear!
Tigerlily now has ‘Tigerlily at Home’ too and is serving its famous Afternoon Tea and selection of craft cocktails at the weekend for collection and its sister venue Montpeliers is offering a Monties Take Home meal and very tasty pies are on offer.
In Glasgow there is also a fine offering – Michael and Michelle Bergson have been turning out Buck’s burgers by the bucketful while Paesano Pizza is doing an amazing trade – we hear reports of more than a 1,000 pizza’s flying out the door at the weekend! And at the Auld Hoose in East Kilbride they are doing Sunday roasts and Munchie boxes. Di Maggio’s, also in East Kilbride, is now doing take-away too.
In Dundee John Black at The Fort is doing local home delivery service in Broughty Ferry and the surrounds and also has a full schedule of online entertainment.
Why not drop us a line and tell us what you are doing?”
Dave McBryan, the Quizmaster of The Southsider pub on West Richmond Street in Edinburgh has been crowned BBC’s 2020 Mastermind Champion. The 46-year old, who is originally from Dublin, beat off competition from 96 contestants throughout the series to take home the title, in an experience he described as a “pretty nerve-wracking affair”.
Appearing with five other contestants in the final, Dave chose the View Askewniverse films by Kevin Smith as his specialist subject, and American singer Otis Redding and Olympic Fencing as his specialist subjects in his heat and the semi-final. This is the second time he has won a major TV quiz, after winning ‘Fifteen to One’ on Channel 4 in 2014.
Dave, who is currently ranked Number 2 in the Irish Quiz Rankings and is a member of the Irish Quiz Team, has been competing in quizzes for seven years and has been the quizmaster of The Southsider for over five years. His quizzes were as popular as ever until the pub was forced to close during lockdown, drawing over 20 teams every week.
David Moore, General Manager of The Southsider, said, “I am so delighted for Dave, his win is truly well-deserved. It is a real privilege to have him as our Quizmaster, his quizzes are a highlight of our week at The Southsider. He really is a professional and I am looking forward to what he has instore for our quiz programme when we are back open again.”
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