Category: NEWS

Licensing Stats reveal drastic drop in on-trade licences

Figures obtained by the DRAM from each one of Scotland’s licensing boards reveal a massive drop in on-trade licences from 13,003 (inclusive of registered clubs) in 2007 to 7,383 today. But before everyone jumps to the assumption that the number of pubs have almost halved in the last five years, licensing lawyers say the original [...]

The Tippling House to open in Aberdeen

Business partners Adrian Gomes and Andrew Sanways have taken on the lease at the former Belmont Bar in Aberdeen. The Belmont Street bar will re-open in August with a new name, The Tippling House. Gomes, who currently runs Aberdeen mobile catering company Ten Dollar Shake, told DRAM, “The name is what 18th Century Jamaican underground [...]

Scottish cities lead the way in occupancy rates

When it comes to hotel occupancy Scotland leads the way in Europe. Five Scottish cities have ranked in the top 10 European cities with the highest hotel occupany rates. No other country in Europe has five cities in the top 10. Edinburgh had the second highest occupancy rate (80.1 percent) in Europe during the past [...]

Hotel Indigo Edinburgh opens

The £8m Hotel Indigo Edinburgh opened its doors this month, marking the first Hotel Indigo property for Sojourn Hotels LLP. The company acquired the property four years ago, and the refurbishment took a total of 14 months. The 60-room hotel is on York Place, on the site of the former Osborne Hotel, and in keeping [...]

AXM opens in Glasgow

Bennets, Glasgow’s oldest gay club, has now vanished, and has been replaced by AXM. The original AXM is one of Manchester’s favourite gay clubs, and this is the company’s first foray into the Scottish market. Its Manchester club was named best bar for the North of England 2012 by Boyz magazine, and has also received [...]

Le Bistro Beaumartin opens

Business partners Richard Dubupet, Norbert Cheron and Chef Andrew Stott, trading as Artno Ltd, have taken over the lease at the former MIO on Glasgow’s Hope Street, now called Le Bistro Beaumartin. This marks the first leasehold for the three men, and the 69-cover restaurant also incorporates a separate lounge/bar area, with original bistro tables [...]

Ardsheil celebrates upgrade

Richard Paterson master blender extraodinaire… made the trip to Campbeltown recently to help Flora Grant and Marion MacKinnon of The Ardsheil Hotel celebrate the upgrading of the Ardshiel Whisky Bar, which apparently has been the talk of the town. Richard provided a master class to over 120 local Campbeltown people who have impressed with the [...]

Maclay Group and Tennent Caledonian Link Up

Just after we went to press last month, Tennent Caledonian and Maclay Inns announced that they have linked up in a deal which sees Tennent’s become the group’s main beer supplier. The transaction also sees Tennent’s taking a small stake in Maclays which will allow them to continue to grow their on-trade presence. Maclay Group’s [...]

Maclay Group and Tennent Caledonian link up

Tennent Caledonian and Maclay Inns have linked up in a deal which sees Tennent’s become the group’s main beer supplier, while at the same time providing investment support for Maclay’s expansion drive. Maclay Group’s Managing Director Steve Mallon commented, “Maclay Group has the skills and infrastructure to grow its business and in Tennent Caledonian we [...]

New name and a new look: Inverarity Morton

Stephen Russell and Hamish Martin have revealed the new look and new name for their company, Inverarity Morton, following their merger last year. Stephen Russell retains the role of MD. He comments, “We wanted to make a positive and deliberate statement with the name change. It is the fusion on an equal footing of two [...]