Danish-Japanese restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi arrives in Glasgow this December, opening both a new restaurant on George Square – and its first dedicated cocktail bar in the space below.
The Glasgow site – the group’s first in the UK outside London – is in the old Post Office building, in a space occupied until recently by Italian restaurant Doppio Malto, but perhaps best remembered as a high profile outpost of Jamie Oliver’s ill-fated ‘Jamie’s Italian’ chain.
Founded in Copenhagen in 1994 by half-Danish, half-Japanese brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek and Thor Andersen, Sticks’n’Sushi has since grown to include twelve restaurants in and around the Danish capital, 15 in London and three in Berlin.
But the brand’s arrival in Scotland is also notable for the planned extension beyond the restaurant space and into the late-night arena.
Sticks’n’Sushi’s Glasgow cocktail bar is being positioned as an elevated drinking destination in its own right, in a 60-cover space with an extensive cocktail programme inspired by Nanajūni, Japan’s 72 micro-seasons.
The intention of the evolving menu will be ‘to express subtle seasonal shifts through flavour, texture and aroma’, with highlights from the winter list including ‘Cold Sets In’, a mix of sweet potato amazake, Haku Vodka and Lapsang Souchong coconut water, and ‘Salmon Swim Upstream’, a savoury blend of Daikon Sake Ono, Muyu Jasmine, Cocchi Americano and Ukiyo Vodka, finished with pickles.
The bar will also offer an extensive selection of sake, shochu, umeshu and Japanese whiskies, complemented by small bites from the Sticks’n’Sushi kitchen.
The interior will reflect Sticks’n’Sushi’s signature fusion of Danish and Japanese design principles – warm timber, natural stone and textured, anchored by a central counter bar and open shelving.
Group CEO Andreas Karlsson said: “This marks an important next step in the evolution of Sticks’n’Sushi.
“The launch of our first standalone bar allows us to build on the strength of our brand and extend the guest experience beyond the restaurant whilst showcase creativity outside of food. It’s an exciting step in our journey and we look forward to introducing something fresh to Glasgow’s vibrant bar scene.”
