Following substantial investment, Partick’s Tenement Bar has relaunched as Tiltin Kiltin, with a fresh focus on catering to rugby fans.
The refurbishment and rebrand was a collaboration between Iona Pub Partnership, MD Hospitality and local husband and wife operators Stephen and Fiona McHugh who, after five years of running the Tenement Bar as they had found it, decided that a change was needed.
Sitting on Dumbarton Rd at the foot of the famously steep Gardner Street, the ‘warm, welcoming and traditional’ Glasgow pub has been kitted out with new furniture, décor, lighting, signage, plumbing and imagery that celebrates national treasures and sporting achievements, all as part of the £40k investment.
“We realised in recent years that we have lost a little bit of the buzz and new faces walking through the door,” explained the McHughs. “So when our new business development manager started earlier this year we investigated the possibility of an investment with Iona to turn the pub around and give Partick a new venue with a different feel and offering.
“Our BDM was really supportive through the initial talks on how an investment would look like for us, the expectations from both sides to make the business grow, anything we needed support on during the works and to the opening day. We couldn’t be more grateful to him and his continued support to give us the best possible chance to make the pub great again.”
But with football such a popular sport in the West of Scotland, why did the McHugh’s opt to push rugby to the fore? On a practical basis, the new offer is aimed at attracting footfall from rugby fans en route to the nearby Scotstoun Stadium, which hosts regular Glasgow Warriors fixtures. But the McHughs also aspire to tap into the sport’s upmarket tone.
“Rugby signifies so many more things than just the sport it’s inclusive and it’s respectful, an environment we want to create, so Rugby environment rather than rugby themed,” said the McHughs. “Since opening we have been supported locally by the Hawks and we have a good relationship with Warriors also, who have helped provide us with memorabilia to display.
“I suppose to sum this up as best as possible, we had a regular that has been coming in for years, he’s now bringing his wife in to join him, that speaks volumes to where we are now.”
The refurb only closed the pub for 19 days, and regulars will be pleased to hear that the original feature bar and gantry remain untouched and now showcase a range of malt and blended whiskies for every palette and budget.
Michael Dunn of MD Hospitality, the contractors who carried out the works on behalf of Iona Pub, added: “It’s a friendly pub, one of the cities hidden gems once you walk in and are greeted with that beautiful gantry bar with its small intricate details.
“We recently had the opportunity to work on another Iona Pub venue, The Piper on George Square, and their new upstairs Whisky Lounge, so to be asked again to work on another one of their pubs was something we couldn’t say no to.
“I’m confident their regulars and any new customers will love the work we’ve carried out and embrace the standard and direction Stephen and Fiona are taking the pub in.”
Operations director at Iona Pub, Alan Sayers, concluded: “After months of planning and making sure the investment was happening at the right time it’s great to see the outcome and how it’s now placed Stephen and Fiona in a fantastic position for success.
“With the addition of a manageable food offer, the venue positioned as Partick’s Home of Rugby, and alongside Stephen and Fiona’s reputation for providing first-rate customer service, the venue has become more sustainable as a business which is totally aligned with how we want to approach our upcoming investments within the estate.”
