Malt bar makeover means new owner who gives a Dram!

Thursday 9 December 2010

Malt bar makeover means new owner who gives a Dram!

A Glasgow bar known for its kilted staff and vast range of malt whiskies has been renamed in a £500,000 revamp.

Family-owned pub operator Maclay Inns bought West End pub Uisge Beatha from Cougar leisure in late September.

The Woodlands Road bar has been closed for refurbishment for around six weeks and will shortly re-launch as Dram! Known for its unusual collection of stags’ heads, kilted bar staff and extensive malt whisky selection, the pub also hosted regular folk nights which were popular among tourists and foreign visitors. It was also known for a famous Spitting Image-style figure of Margaret Thatcher being strangled by a tartan scarf which appeared when the last Tory government was in power. Bosses today assured loyal customers the real ale bar would “retain all the charm and personality” which helped make Uisge Beatha an institution for decades. A spokeswoman for Maclay Inns, which also owns the nearby Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen and Clockwork Beer Co in the South Side’s Cathcart, said: “Members of the team will continue the tradition of wearing kilts in Dram! and many of the original features from the pub, including a selection of the stags’ heads, paintings and furniture will be incorporated into the venue’s renovated look.” During the transformation, the pub operator drafted in the help of neighbouring Recoat Gallery, a street art company, to transform the hoardings of the exterior and catch the attention of passers-by. Designer Dunn Interiors, was commissioned to give the bar a modern makeover which will be unveiled by Christmas. Steve Mallon, managing director of Maclay Inns, said: “We are very excited to have added Dram! to our portfolio and are looking forward to launching the venue. “We have taken care to retain the pub’s original charm and have worked closely with our designers to create a new look. “We are also pleased to announce that we will be extending Dram!’s offerings to introduce food in addition to expanding its entertainment programme to include sport, comedy and music.” Maclay plans a quiet opening next week and will officially relaunch the pub in the New Year.

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