This weekend (Friday 1st March) sees the opening of Glasgow’s newest pub, the Merchant on West George Street. Formerly operating as a Yates’s, the site has undergone a transformation after an investment in excess of £300,000 which has resulted in the creation of 17 new jobs.
The investment by the Stonegate Pub Company, the business that own and operate the Merchant, will see a completely new food offer, an enhanced cask ale range offering some of the best beers from craft brewers in Scotland and the opening up of the first floor which was previously used for private functions, helping creating an additional 60 covers in the pub.
A new entrance has also been created as part of the refurbishment and is now situated at the crossroads of West George Street and Renfield Street.
Work has been taking place at the site since 14th February and the Merchant will be open to customers from midday on Friday 1st March.
Speaking about the makeover of the Merchant, Paul Donaldson, general manager of the pub said: “The team and I are really looking forward to showcasing the Merchant to the residents and visitors of Glasgow. The name of the pub reflects the trading heritage of this fantastic city as will the decor inside.
“The plans to celebrate the opening of the Merchant are all in place and we look forward to welcoming customers new and existing on Friday. From 5-7pm, we’ll be hosting a VIP reception where we’ll have stilt-walkers and entertainers welcoming guests. The VIP will really set the bar for us in terms of showcasing just how vibrant the Merchant will be of a weekend. It’s all about creating the best atmosphere and bringing people together to enjoy a great night out.
“Guests will be able to sample tasters from our new menu which has a great selection of meals, from pub favourites to sandwiches, light bites and sharers as well as enjoying a glass of champagne to celebrate. We’ve also organised for Radio Clyde’s DJ Knoxy to come to the opening and she’ll be DJing from 9pm, making sure that the party goes with a swing.
“On Saturday 2nd March, we’ll be hosting a family fun day where we’ve organised face painting and a balloon artist for the children as well as giving them party bags to keep them entertained.
“Our plans for the Merchant are really exciting and we are hoping to broaden the appeal of the pub to a wider audience; whether its people looking for a quick bite to eat in their lunch hour, a place for shoppers to relax after hitting the shops, somewhere to enjoy a drink after work or a place to celebrate the weekend in real style.
“Whilst the refurbishment has been taking place, the team have all been undergoing training on all aspects of the business, so when the pub opens, we’ll be raring to go with the aim of offering some of the best customer service in the city. It’s a new era for us and we can’t wait to get up and running, providing Glasgow with a vibrant, friendly pub that customers can visit across a range of occasions.”