A major new dining destination is coming to Glasgow this autumn as The Ivy Asia makes its Scottish debut alongside a new larger home for The Ivy Glasgow Brasserie.
This substantial expansion of The Ivy Collection’s Glasgow city centre offering will see it move from its current Buchanan Street site to a new home in the former City of Glasgow Bank building at 30-40 St Vincent Place. It is scheduled to welcome its first guests on Tuesday 20 October.
This spectacular old-style banking hall, designed by celebrated Scottish architect John Burnet Sr, was inspired by Renaissance Florence, and features a soaring glass dome, Ionic columns, symmetrical arcades and ornate leaded glazing.
Located between George Square and Buchanan Street, it sits squarely in the city’s premium restaurant district.
The Ivy’s move will create 90 new hospitality jobs and expand brand’s Glasgow offering to more than 440 covers, with 351 at The Ivy Glasgow Brasserie and 96 at The Ivy Asia Glasgow.
The brasserie side of the operation will continue to offer premium all-day dining seven days a week, from breakfast and brunch through to lunch, dinner and cocktails.
But all the attention may be on The Ivy Asia Glasgow, as it brings the brand’s Asian-inspired dining concept to Scotland for the first time, hoping that its ‘vibrant flavours, theatrical dining and a high-energy atmosphere’ will attract a new audience to The Ivy’s collection of restaurants.
The Ivy’s restaurant operating officer for the north, Kate Cooper, said: “This is a really significant moment for The Ivy in Glasgow. We’re bringing The Ivy Asia to Scotland for the first time while giving The Ivy Brasserie a new home in one of the city’s most spectacular buildings.
“Glasgow has an incredible food and drink scene and a strong sense of identity, so it was important that this next chapter felt genuinely part of the city. St Vincent Place gives us the opportunity to do that while creating something new for both existing guests and people discovering The Ivy for the first time.”
The opening will also see Stravaigin veteran Olivia Wong take on the role of senior general manager at The Ivy Glasgow, overseeing both dining concepts.
Wong said:Â “St Vincent Place is an incredible setting for the exciting next chapter of The Ivy in Glasgow. We’re bringing something completely new to the city with The Ivy Asia, while giving our Brasserie guests a bigger home to enjoy.
“We’re proud to have been part of Glasgow’s dining scene and this move gives us the chance to build on that, bringing more people through the doors and creating a destination that feels right at home in the city.”
Marking the arrival of The Ivy Asia in Scotland, shoppers on Glasgow’s Buchanan St were treated to a performance featuring 13 pipers, eight members of the Mugen Taiko Performing Group and the Glasgow Hong Lok Dragon and Lion Dancing Troupe.
Wong added: “How amazing to be able to announce our opening date and the opening of reservations with a celebration like this. Seeing the Scottish pipers come together with the Glasgow Hong Lok Dragon and Lion dancers and the Mugen Taiko Performing Group is a brilliant reflection of what we’re bringing to Glasgow with The Ivy Asia.”
The final service at The Ivy Glasgow Brasserie at Buchanan Street will take place on Friday 4th October.
