Wintergills bar in Glasgow has reopened following a refurbishment which has paid homage to the venue’s art deco heritage.
The original bar and booth seating in the pub, which first opened its doors on Great Western Road in 1936, has been retained and paired with new décor and furnishings in keeping with its roots.
The refurbishment – a six-figure investment by lessee Paul Shevlane and landlord, Greene-King-owned Belhaven – also saw the pub’s lounge area opened up with the removal of a stairway to create a new area for food, drink and events where the original
cocktail bar used to be.
Lessee Paul Shevlane said the refurbishment “is the biggest change to the bar for the past 25 years”.
“We have given the Wintersgills the refresh it needed without losing its history and added new parts that fit with that classic art deco style,” he said.
Clive Chesser, business unit director for Greene King Pub Partners, said the refurbishment took in “sensitive improvements” to honour the bar’s 1930s roots.
“Although we have upgraded the facilities, customers will recognise the character of the Wintersgills is still very much there and I am in no doubt that it will continue to hold its place as one of Glasgow’s most loved bars,” said Chesser.
The Wintersgills revamp follows what Greene King claims is its biggest ever programme of garden and outside space improvements; the pubco said it part-funded outdoor revamps in more than 100 tenanted and leased pubs during spring.
Troon pub Dan McKays was among these which benefited; its garden was transformed with a new patio, improving wheelchair access at the site.
“We made the decision to invest this way to help our hard-working licensees optimise the better weather over the summer months,” said Chesser.
