Ardnamurchan launches following major refurbishment
WEST coast produce and Scottish beers and spirits take centre stage at new Glasgow bar and restaurant Ardnamurchan.
The venue opened in the former Trader Joe’s pub on Hope Street following a £430,000 refurbishment of the unit by Star Pubs & Bars and Glasgow operators Neil Douglas, who owns Cafe Antipasti on Sauchiehall Street, and Billy Mcaneney, whose venues include Baby Grand Bar & Grill, Ad Lib, Websters and Cottiers.
The five-month revamp saw the former pub interior stripped out and replaced with a “natural but contemporary” design with features including exposed brickwork, wooden floors and Harris Tweed fabrics.
Taking its name from the peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, to which the family of Neil’s wife Julie has a connection stretching back generations, Ardnamurchan aims to celebrate Scottish produce with a special focus on west coast suppliers.
Ingredients on the menu include black pudding from Stornoway, halibut from Gigha and smoked trout and salmon from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull; while the drinks range includes more than 50 Scotch whiskies (the venue is said to be the first in Glasgow to stock whisky from Ardnamurchan Distillery), and a selection of Scottish gins and beers, including Caledonian Three Hop and Coast to Coast on draught.
Neil said: “Glasgow is the gateway to the west coast and we felt there was an opportunity to showcase the fantastic quality and range of the food and drink that comes from there as well as further afield in Scotland. It’s early days but customer feedback has been very positive with people telling us they feel Ardnamurchan is bringing something different to Glasgow.”
Star Pubs & Bars MD Lawson Mountstevens said the Ardnamurchan revamp was “a partnership combining significant funding from Star and the vision of Neil and Billy”.
