DRAM 407 January 2025

DRAM

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DRINKS RETAILING AND MARKETING

@dramscotland

DRAM MAGAZINE ISSN 1470-241X January 2025

/dram.scotland

LUIGI ASENI CELEBRATES

15TH

ANNIVERSARY OF BOTECO DO BRASIL 2025 GONGS

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BURNS SPECIAL

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LANDY’S

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LIDO

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DRAM DRINKS RETAILING AND MARKETING

WELCOME

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love the start of a New Year - but hardly make make any resolutions - that’s because I usually break them but one thing is for sure I plan on getting out and about more this year. So if you have plans to share let me know.

This month Nicola Walker caught up with Luigi Aseni who is celebrating the 15th anniversary of Boteco do Brasil - a lively bar and restaurant in Glasgow. Find out what he has to say on page 16.

She also reports on the new look Landy’s and Buzzworks latest opening - Lido in Musselburgh.

While Lisini opened The Vault just before Christmas too. See page 29.

This is the month that I do my annual gongs see who I have given them to this year on pages 14 and 15. A bit of fun to start the year.

CONTENTS

January 2025

FEATURES

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I certainly hope 2025 is not as challenging as we all think it is going to be. Here’s hoping.

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Until next month.

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Susan Young, Editor susan@mediaworldltd.com dramscotland.co.uk

BCB BERLIN

Nicola Walker paid a visit to the Bar Convent Berlin.

FOCUS ON BURNS

Some interesting facts to entertain your customers with.

INTERVIEW

Nicola Walker talks to Luigi Aseni as he celebrates 15 years of Boteco do Brasil

DESIGN: LANDY’S, EDINBURGH Vittoria Group unveil Landy’s

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DESIGN: LIDO, MUSSELBURGH Buzzworks launch in East Lothian.

REGULARS

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/dram.scotland

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NEWS

All the news from around the trade.

SUE SAYS

Find out what Susan Young has to say.

DRAM JANUARY 2025 3

FUNDING AIDS COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TO RE-OPEN CLOSED PUBS It looks like two Scottish community pubs are a step closer to reopening following grants by the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) which is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund . The community at Sandbank in Argyll, have been awarded a grant of £147,411 to fund a buyout of their local pub, the Oakbank Hotel while Morebattle Community Hub and Pub will acquire the Templehall Hotel in the village of Morebattle in the Scottish Borders.

The Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank (OCIS) at the Holy Loch will purchase the pub with the grant and have launched an additional fundraising campaign through a share scheme to cover the costs of renovation work.

Sue McKillop of OCIS said: “This has been a challenging 18-month long odyssey. We are all delighted by the outcome and very grateful to SLF for the award and to current owner Greg Devine for his support and patience throughout.

“The SLF award will fund 95% of the asking price as well as provide money for a part-time development worker for a year and essential repair and conveyancing fees. In this current financial climate we are very fortunate to have been successful in being awarded this amount.

“Now the hard work starts! We will be launching a share scheme very shortly. The money that is raised from the sale of shares will be used for the 5% shortfall in the asking price will allow us to carry out the essential work needed before we open in 2025 as Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank.

“With the land opposite the pub recently purchased by Scenic Sandbank to create a community garden, we will have the ability to reduce ‘food miles’ into food metres through the supply of locally grown produce.

“We have lost so many fantastic venues in this area in recent years. Hopefully our success will encourage and inspire other communities to pull together and save their local hostelries and other assets.

“The Oakbank Inn is more than a pub, it’s a community hub,” added Sue. Meanwhile the Morebattle Community Pub Steering Group have an agreement in principle to purchase the Templehall for £260,000 following contributions from the SLF and South of Scottish Enterprise, the latter contributed £80,500.

However they have set themselves a target of raising a further £50,000 by 31st January 2025 through a community share issue. Its ultimate target is £75,000 to cover immediate alterations and working capital, with a stretch goal of £100,000 to support further improvements.

The Templehall Hotel in Morebattle near Kelso has been around for more than 250 years and was put up for sale in 2022.

The Templehall Inn will run it as a community owned hub and pub with visitor accommodation, which will protect its important role as an informal social space and economic asset for the area.

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DRAM JANUARY 2025

HAT TRICK FROM THE L East Lothian gets La Dolce Vita Haddington has a new restaurant in the form of Italian eatery, La Dolce Vita situated at 14 High Street. Husband and wife, Stefano and Louise Marongiu, have taken on the unit which was previously The Grain and now, after a full refurbishment, it will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to East Lothian patrons.

This is their first foray into owning their own hospitality business, however, Stefano has previously spent 30 years working at Michelin starred restaurants. He will head up the kitchen at La Dolce Vita and will serve Italian cuisine including brunch classics, pasta dishes, foot-long pizzas and afternoon teas. The venue will even have its own Pasticceria Counter with home-made Italian pastries and cakes.

Owner, Louise Marongiu, told DRAM, “Things have been great so far! We’ve had a fantastic welcome from the people of Haddington and East Lothian. We’ve been so busy, and people have told us we’re bringing something different to the area - which is wonderful to hear.”

Paolo’s returns after 30 years Paulo’s restaurant has made a comeback to Glasgow suburb, Clarkston after over 30 years. The new Italian restaurant takes over the premises that used to be home to Michaelangelo’s on Helena Place.

The original Paulo’s was a cozy family run Italian restaurant and a cherished place for the Clarkston community before it closed its doors in 1995.

The team hope to celebrate the rich history of Paulo’s with three of the original family members joining forces with restaurant owner Steph McCrone to revive the spirit of Paulo’s with a modern twist. It will offer a fresh take on traditional Italian food, cocktails and carefully curated wines.

Owner Steph McCrone told DRAM, “We wanted to bring something new and different to Clarkston. Our customers have been very excited about the return of Paulo’s and still speak so highly of the old one – so our aim has been to revive that.

“We are offering fresh, authentic food with a relaxed vibe and great drinks. It’s an amazing new place to visit in Clarkston, but we also hope we bring back all those fond Paulo’s memories for the customers who used to come to the restaurant back in the 90s.”

NEWS DINING CONTAINERS SET FOR GLASGOW

LAZZURRI GROUP The Lazzurri Group have opened Saints of Ingram in Glasgow. This is their third new venue within the last three months. The other two openings were The Last Bookstore and Lucky Strike. The group also own Tabac and Devil of Brooklyn.

Saints of Ingram, located in the Hutchesons Hall on Ingram Street, is a day-to-night concept which offers breakfast and brunch by day and cocktails and small plates at night.

Johnathan Cranstoun, General Manager at Saints of Ingram, who moved over from The Devil’s Roast, another Lazzurri Group’ venue, comments, “We loved introducing The Devil’s Roast concept to Glasgow, transforming an already well-loved bar into a day-to-night venue.

We’ve been thrilled with the success of it, and we’re excited to bring a similar concept to Saints of Ingram.

“The team is really looking forward to bringing new life back into the beloved venue. It’s undergone some refurbishment so might not be quite as people remember, but it’s a brandnew chapter and a real privilege to be working in such a historic space.”

There is a new social and entertainment venue being planned for Glasgow’s Broomielaw from the team behind Max’s Bar, La Cheetah, Room 2 and Mikaku.

Clydeside Containers are set to submit plans to Glasgow City Council in the coming months for a dining, drinking, and live entertainment space that seats 200 guests and is made from repurposed shipping containers that it hopes to open in the Spring of 2025.

The dining hub will offer a range of street food from seven “hand-picked food vendors. The aim is to bring a world of flavours to the heart of Glasgow”. which will showcase local business and prioritise locally sourced ingredients and suppliers.

The “Drinks Container” will focus on craft drinks while the live entertainment includes a rotating lineup of local acoustic performers, live bands, comedians, and DJs. Director Dario Bernardi said, “We were delighted to break ground on the site this week, marking a significant milestone for the project. We believe these exciting plans for Clydeside Containers will not only transform the Clydeside into a vibrant social hub but also provide meaningful benefits to the local community and economy.”

NEW WHISKY BAR SET FOR CLYDESIDE Clydeside Distillery, which is housed in the former Pumphouse which once controlled entry to Glasgow’s Queen’s Dock, is opening a whisky bar next year to replace its existing cafe. The new bar is due to open in the spring of 2025 and the cafe has now been closed to allow the refurbishment to take place.

Founded by the Morrison family and by Tim Morrison, formerly of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, Clydeside Distillery opened in 2017, launching its first Single Malt in 2021 followed by its first 100% Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Malt, Clydeside Napier,

in the summer of this year – so named, because Robert Napier, the ‘Father of Clyde Shipbuilding” had his shipyard on the opposite bank of the Clyde from the current distillery.

Clydeside describe its whisky as a classic Lowland-style single malt whisky, “embodying a light, fruity character that sets us apart” which, it says also contains the “essence of Glasgow in every sip.”

The latest news also comes as the Distillery launches its first exclusive bottling for its Voyager Club members.

Revamp for Slains Aberdeen pub, Slains Castle in Belmont street has reopened following a major refurbishment with a name change to simply Slains.

Part of the Stonegate Group, the pub’s transformation has modernised the ground floor with a “vibrant colour scheme and a cosier atmosphere”, while the upstairs seating area remains largely untouched.

As part of the upgrades, the outdoor drinking area now features artificial turf, new black and gold signage, and additional furniture. Inside, eight high-definition TVs have been installed, and a mural, created by local artists, showcases a Scottish Terrier.Lorna McCarroll, General Manager at Slains, said, “We have been careful to retain the pub’s muchloved character and enhance the community spirit that is iconic to Slains, which I believe is one of the most beloved pubs in Aberdeen.”

The Tropical Café has opened in Glasgow’s Merchant City. Owned by Leo Flores, and located at 51 Bell Street, the Trinidad and Tobago inspired restaurant offers authentic dishes, tropical décor and even live music on certain nights. Leo told DRAM, “I’ve lived in Glasgow for 33 years and I started this journey because when I was entertaining friends at home. They always told me I should open a restaurant.

“When I was offered this site in the Merchant city, I thought it was ideal. I wanted to bring something totally unique that was all about taste, flavours and using all the natural spices from the Caribbean.”

DRAM JANUARY 2025 5

Matilda Tsappis Lauren Henderson

NEWS More great music venues for Inverness

Inverness businessman Gavin Stevenson, who owns the successful Gellions and Highlander bars in the city, has opened two new music-based venues called Soundbar and An Seòmar (Scottish Gaelic for ‘The Room’).

Both are located in the former Revolution space on Church Street which Gavin acquired a few months ago and has since fully refurbished.

Gavin explained, “Soundbar is a music themed bar which opens seven days a week from lunchtime till late. It will feature live music as well as a great street food and drinks offering. An Seòmar is a big multi-functional events and entertainment space.”

He added, “We’ve completely changed the look, feel and décor throughout and installed state of the art sound and light technology as well as modular staging that can change size.

“It’s adjacent to our other venues in Inverness but much larger so we’re able to do bigger live events here. The total building has a capacity over 500 throughout. We’ve had some great events already including LF System, Torridon and Talisk. Peat and Diesel, who have been friends of the business for a long time, even played the opening night. We’ve also got lots more gigs to be announced in the coming months.”

Brothers bring spirit of Ireland to Aberdeen!

Aberdeen has a new bar in the shape of O’Malley’s Irish Bar and Kitchen.

The former Café D’ag unit on Crown Street was taken over last year by brothers Phil and Ashley Adams who also own The Adam Lounge and Big Mannys’ Pizza chain.

The venue has undergone a massive Irish-themed refurbishment over the past months and promises to bring “the spirit of Ireland to the heart of Aberdeen.”

The venue will offer live music four days a week, live sports and an extensive drinks menu. The food will be supplied by Big Mannys’ Pizza and Big Mannys’ Burgers, but they are also offering a more traditional Irish pub classics menu.

Owner Phil Adams commented, “It has got off to a very fast start. We’ve had lots of customers through the doors, and everyone’s been having a great time and saying what a welcome addition it is to Crown Street. It’s brilliant to bring a new venue to the city centre.

“We took our time with the refurb as we really wanted to get it right. It’s been so well received by every one that’s come in and they love the décor and the vibe.”

Malaga Tapas branches out to Glasgow’s West End Spanish restaurant chain Malaga Tapas, which is co-owned by brothers Jamie Gonzalez-Bradley and Antonio Gonzalez, is set to open their fourth restaurant in Glasgow’s West End. The new restaurant will be situated in the former site of the Marigold Café on Park Road, Kelvinbridge and will be the sister site to branches in Pollockshields, Clarkston and Bearsden.

The restaurant will offer an authentic taste of Spain though small plates and prides itself on blending “locally sourced ingredients with imported Spanish flavours to create an unforgettable tapas experience.”

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DRAM JANUARY 2025

SCOTTISH SOMMELIERS JOIN THE RANKS OF THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS Matilda Tsappis, co-owner of Killiecrankie House in Perthshire and head sommelier of the boutique restaurant with rooms, has uccessfully passed both the Introductory and Certified Sommelier exams, one of only seven people out of a total of nine candidates who took the Certified exam to pass.

Alongside that, Killiecrankie’s restaurant manager, Lauren Henderson, successfully passed her Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory exam. She was one of only ten people to pass out of seventeen entrants.

Both Matilda and Lauren took their exams at Edinburgh’s Malmaison, guided by highly acclaimed wine educators and Master Sommeliers Ronan Sayburn, who previously worked in some of the world’s greatest restaurants including Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road, and Boutinot Brand Ambassador and Senior Wine Educator Nigel Wilkinson.

There are currently a total of 282 Master Sommeliers, indeed more people have journeyed in space compared to the number who have earned the title of Master Sommelier since its inception in 1969. The Certified Sommelier qualification is the primary certification for wine and beverage professionals in the hospitality industry and recognises beverage professionals whose knowledge, skills and demeanour are worthy of the title – Certified Sommelier.

Tom Tsappis head chef and co-owner of Killiecrankie House commented: ‘’We’re very proud of what Matilda and Lauren have achieved. Lots of hard work, studying and dedication has paid off, with them both attaining their Introductory awards, with Matilda then going on to achieve her Certified Sommelier qualification. Both of these very prestigious awards recognise their real passion for wine, and their in-depth knowledge and we’re looking forward to seeing both of them continue to share their love and passion for wine in all its forms with our guests at Killiecrankie House as their respective wine journeys continue to develop and unfold.’’

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DRAM JANUARY 2025 7 DRAM JANUARY 2025 7

Matilda Tsappis Lauren Henderson

NEWSITALY’S NO.1

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DRAM JANUARY 2025

BCB BERLIN

BY NICOLA WALKER

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here will certainly be something for UK bartenders to look forward to this year as international trade fair organiser RX are bringing BCB, the world’s largest bar and beverage trade show, to London!

It has already put on several successful events worldwide including events in Brooklyn, Sao Paulo and Singapore and on the 30th of June until the 1st of July 2025 will be introducing BCB London to their portfolio. This will be held at the Tobacco Dock in Wapping and will take over from what was formerly Imbibe Live.

I was invited to BCB in Berlin last October to discover for myself why this is one of the largest and most talked about bar industry trade shows the world has to offer.

The three-day event at the Messe Berlin exhibition halls attracted a diverse range of industry professionals from 87 countries across the world. Bartenders, brand owners and retailers attended making it the place to be, not just for networking, but for learning about product innovation and what the drinks trends are globally.

There were six halls packed with over 500 exhibitors, brands and partners. You certainly couldn’t run out of things to see and explore! There were also various bars where you could procure a cocktail and sip it leisurely while you browsed the stalls. One of the first I came across was the De Kuyper bar where I was informed by Global Brand Ambassador Max de Smit that they had served nearly 1000 cocktails in the first day alone!

The Main Stage offered a packed programme of interesting talks including subjects such as sustainability, winding down after shift and creating a community. My two favourites were the appropriately named ‘Freak in The Sheets’ (don’t worry, it was about Excel!) and ‘Femme-Forward Business Negotiation’ which featured Edinburgh resident and cofounder of the Ada Coleman Project, Kaitlin Wilkes-Back.

There is so much going on over the course of the event that it is impossible to attend every single thing. In fact, there was 79 sessions across 7 stages all on different subjects from a staggering 134 speakers.

More than 15,000 visitors attended and although the focus was mainly on continental brands, I was pleased to see a few Scottish brands exhibiting and their stands were amongst the busiest. They including Bruichladdich, The Botanist, Smugglers Spirits and Distilled Beverages. I’m sure the London event will showcase many more Scottish and British brands.

Other highlights within the event included a Low and No Bar hosted

by Amaro Bar London, the Whisk(e)y Embassy with an educational programme curated by Becky Paskin of Our Whisky Foundation and the SIP area, an advocacy program by Pernod Ricard.

I was offered everything from oysters to charcuterie and cakes to tempt you to their stalls.

A drink called Liquid Cocaine by the Monaco Cartel certainly had everyone talking about their coffee liqueur and had branding including slogans like ‘Please don’t snort liquid cocaine’ - I’m not sure if they would get away with this marketing in the UK! One of the great things about these trips are the people you meet and I was lucky to be accompanied by American influencers Jordan Hughes (@highproofpreacher) and Chris Leavitt (@notjustabartender). Although I did spend some of my time managing queues of eager bartenders who wanted a selfie with them, their company was wonderful, and they definitely got me into all the best parties!

This event is not just about the conference itself as the entire city of Berlin became a hub for bartenders, guest shifts and some great brand parties. I went to the Jagermeister party at Le Jardin and bumped into Glasgow’s Johnny Morrison on a guest shift who was truly representing Scotland by slinging out cocktails whilst wearing a kilt!

On the last evening, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend The Grand Campari Hotel, a takeover by Campari of the entire Soho House Berlin which featured different bars showcasing the art of hospitality from all around the world. My new influencer friends had ensured that we were fortunate enough to be invited to the VIP area which was fully 1920s inspired and featured decadent décor, a wonderful Italian jazz singer and a martini trolley. A nice touch was the presentation of a beautiful, signed book from The Connaught Bar in London, a wonderful memento of the event.

The whole experience was a memory to be treasured and after the spectacular event in Berlin, I will be counting down the days to see what BCB do in London. The knowledge you can gain here is phenomenal and there is a real focus on education as well as sampling all the great drinks. I recommend you consider checking it out and I will certainly be first in line!

DRAM JANUARY 2025 9 DRAM JANUARY 2025 9

BRAND NEWS Stirling Spiced Rum makes its debut Stirling Distillery has unveiled the latest addition to its range - Stirling Spiced Rum. This new 40% ABV creation expands the distillery’s offering.June McCann, Co-Founder of Stirling Distillery, comments, “Stirling has always been the gateway to the Highlands, a place steeped in history and legend. With Stirling Spiced Rum, we wanted to capture the spirit of those tales while expanding our award-winning range.

“This rum, like our craft gins and whisky, connects our customers to Stirling’s folklore and delivers a premium spirit with bold, warming flavours. It’s an exciting step forward for us.”

The new Stirling Spiced Rum joins the distillery’s handcrafted gins and the Stirling 900 Whisky Series, all created with a focus on quality, storytelling, and local heritage.

New additions to Isle of Barra Range

Isle of Barra Distillers has launched two blended whiskies - a Blended Scotch Whisky and a 10 Year Old Blended Malt.

Managing Director, Michael Morrison, who founded the distillery with his wife Katie in 2017, says, “These two blended whiskies are the perfect celebration of new beginnings for Isle of Barra Distillers and for our island. We’re getting ready to start the construction of our new distillery here on our home island, which is the next step in reaching our goal to create something that not only we can be proud of but that the wider Barra community can be proud of - giving back to our thriving island home. They’re a real taste of what’s to come from Isle of Barra Distillers.”

The whiskies join its award-winning collection of spirits, which includes Atlantic Gin, Hebridean Vodka and Island Dark Rum. Both the Blended Scotch Whisky and the 10 Year Old Blended Malt are limited to just 986 bottles each. Both can be bought from the distiller website.

Beeble Honey Tequila has hit the market.

It’s the first of its kind in the UK, infusing the richness of Beeble’s natural Wiltshire honey with blue agave blanco tequila from the Mexican agave fields of Jalisco.

As with all of Beeble’s products, sustainability is at the heart of the new offering. Initially created as a use for the leftover honey that was stuck to frames in its beehives, Beeble’s collective now also includes Honey Whiskey, Honey Vodka and Honey Rum. 10

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MUSHROOM POWERED ZOOZ New entrant to the nonalcoholic sector mushroompacked Zooz aims to give customers a new natural option at the bar.

If your venue is food-led, the team behind Zooz believe it is a perfect choice as it “tastes superb with foods as well as being a great aperitif.”

The creator of Zooz, Daniel Soos, is a former competitive swimming champion and personal trainer to top business people and celebrities. He says, “Zooz is pushing the boundaries in the world of soft drinks: it is trailblazing a whole new sub-category. So what better way for venues and their customers to kick-start the New Year. This innovative drink has already been well received by some of London’s top venues. Now we aim to widen the reach.”

It has Italian-style citrussy, bitter taste notes, is all natural, low in calories, sugar-free, and promotes wellbeing as it’s packed with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps Mushrooms.

Zooz is available in single serve, environmentally friendly, 250ml aluminium cans and you will soon be able to get it in glass too.

For trade sales contact daniel@zoozdrinks.com

Single Cask Rum is first release in Dorchadas Washed Ashore Series East Neuk Spirit Company has unveiled its first release in the Dorchadas Washed Ashore Series. The Series aims to focus on discovering rare and premium rums, distilled in their tropical origins and matured along the cold, fair shores of the UK. The first single cask to “wash ashore” is an example of the Agricole style for which the French Caribbean is renowned. Its journey began in the hot, humid climate of Mauritius, where it was matured in French virgin oak casks and once the cask reached the UK, it was re-racked into an exBourbon cask, where the cooler climate allowed for a slow, gentle finish.

“We are thrilled to launch the Dorchadas Washed Ashore Series, starting with this exceptional single cask rum,” said Sarah Banyard for East Neuk Spirit Company. “It’s not just about the flavour; it’s about the story behind each cask, the journey it has undertaken, and the experiences captured in every drop.”

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BURNS ROBERT BURNS LIVED A LIFE FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS: THE ROUGH FARMER WHO WAS AN EXCELLENT DANCER, THE PASSIONATE POET WITH A SHARP WIT, AND THE REBELLIOUS FIGURE WHO EXPRESSED DEEP EMOTIONAL SENSITIVITY. THESE FUN AND UNUSUAL FACTS SHOW THAT BURNS WAS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A POET—HE WAS A TRUE CHARACTER! HIS LIFE WAS FULL OF QUIRKS AND ANECDOTES THAT OFTEN GET OVERSHADOWED BY HIS LITERARY LEGACY. HERE ARE SOME UNUSUAL OR FUNNY THINGS ABOUT ROBERT BURNS TO SHARE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS ON BURNS NIGHT.

1. His Love for ‘Haggis’ Burns had a lifelong fondness for haggis. He even wrote an ode to it: Address to a Haggis, which remains one of his most popular works!

2.He Was a “Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em” kind of Guy Burns was known for his numerous romantic entanglements.

He fathered at least 12 children by different women, though he was never quite a model of fidelity.

3.He Didn’t Get Much Formal Education Burns was largely self-taught and had only a basic education in a local school. He learned a lot from reading books by candlelight, which probably fueled his desire to become a poet.

father, William Burnes, was a farmer who struggled with poverty.

10. He could be a Rebel Burns wasn’t just a poet—he was politically active, and his work often contained subtle (or not-so-subtle) critiques of the British government. He even supported the French Revolution, though he was never actively involved.

11. He Loved to drink Burns was famously fond of whisky and often wrote about drinking in his poems. He even reportedly kept a bottle of whisky under his bed.

4.He Was an excellent dancer Burns was known to be an accomplished country dancer. This comes as a surprise given his often rough and rugged image, but he could hold his own in a reel or ceilidh.

12. His Writing wasn’t always “Genteel” Burns could be quite crude in his poetry when he wanted to be. He didn’t shy away from earthy, sometimes bawdy language, which was considered scandalous for the time.

5. He Wrote a Poem for His Own

13. He wore a wig for

Funeral Burns penned the poem The Epitaph in anticipation of his own death. He wrote that he would be “a man who lived his life honestly, even if he had many flaws.”

formal occasions Despite his rustic image, Burns had to wear a wig when attending formal events in Edinburgh. The wig, a common fashion of the time, contrasted greatly with his simple farmer’s lifestyle.

6. He Didn’t Always Love the English Burns is revered in Scotland and often depicted as a patriotic figure, but he had a complicated relationship with the English. In fact, he often poked fun at them and their culture in his poems.

14. He was a “Romantic” in every sense Burns wasn’t just interested in love; he was deeply affected by it.

His many romantic liaisons often led to deep emotional turmoil, as seen in poems like Ae Fond Kiss.

7. His First “Hit” Wasn’t a Poem—It Was a Song Burns’ first major public success was “The Cotter’s Saturday Night”, but his popular song “Auld Lang Syne” became more internationally known, especially around Hogmanay..

15. He Had a sense of humour about himself Burns didn’t take himself too seriously. In fact, many of his works poke fun at his own foibles, as in The Twa Dogs and The Jolly Beggars.

8.He Was a Fan of “Country Philosophy”

Burns often spoke of the “wisdom” of the common folk, celebrating the simple lives of farmers and workers. This may have been partly due to his own upbringing on a farm.

9.. His Father Was a “Poor Farmer”

While many people think of Burns as a man of means due to his literary success, his early life was marked by financial hardship. His 12

DRAM JANUARY 2025

16. He Was an early advocate for “Animal Rights” Burns had a love for animals, and his poem To a Mouse is considered one of the earliest examples of animal rights poetry.

17. He Was Once an “Excise Officer” In an ironic twist, Burns worked as an excise officer, collecting taxes on goods like alcohol. Some say it was a job he took to avoid being a complete financial failure.

DRAM JANUARY 2025 13

Gongs 2025

A light hearted look at people that Editor Susan Young feels deserve a DRAM New Year honour and why.

Angela Vickers - Woman of the Year Gong Angela is CEO of Apex Hotels which over the last year has expanded into country house hotels snapping up Meldrum House Hotel and the Pine Trees, Pitlochry which has just undergone a make-over and just before the end of the year Apex bought Dunblane Hydro. As well as heading up Apex for many years she was the Chair of the Hospitality Industry Scotland and has only recently stepped back, although she still is involved - in fact she picked up the 2024 HIT Industry Award last year - a well deserved accolade. Angela also is a guiding light with many other organisations and is happy to share practices and offer advice when required.. She really is a professional and through and through and never seeks the limelight... that why she gets our 2025 Gong.

Louise Maclean Early Bird Gong

Colin Barr - Biggest Party Animal Gong There’s no doubt about it the Bier Halle’s Colin Barr is still the biggest party animal in town. I don’t know how he does it. He has been a DJ and has been throwing parties for the last 40 plus years... and still enjoys it.

He just loves entertaining and seeing folk have a good time whether in his own premises or in Ibiza - his home from home.

Louise is beginning to get herself noticed by the national media who turn to her when they need a comment or a representative of hospitality to give a viewpoint. As a key member of the Scottish Hospitality Group she is always on hand - even at 5am. As a result she has become a regular contributor to Five Live’s ‘Wake up to Money’ show... for that it means gettilng up in time for the 5am show... earlier of course to prepare...and she is great - putting across her points eloquently and succinctly and making the case for hospitality. Well done.

Fallon Cowley Multi-Tasking Gong

Blair Bowman Keeping an eye on DRS Gong Blair Bowman, knows more about the Deposit Return Scheme than most - and having been very critical, and right, about the former Scottish DRS - he is still on the case with regard to the upcoming DRS. In fact he has posed the question, “Can a DRS really succeed unless it’s UK-wide and excludes glass?” Keep up the good work Blair.

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Not busy enough with her bars and restaurants in the Maraki Group, owner Fallon Cowley branched out and opened a furniture company called Viano Interiors a few years ago with Vivien Smith, it now has shops in Clarkston and Bothwell- and only last month she also launched a beauty business in Bellshill called Wellex.

There’s no stopping Fallon, I just wish I had her energy.

DRAM 2025 GONGS

Rachel Reeves - Chancellor of Exchequer Bruiser of the Year Gong Talk about giving the trade a knock out blow - Chancellor Rachel Reeves did this in her budget when she moved the National Insurance threshold from £9,100 to £5K and increased contributions and the minimum wage. If she honestly expects that to encourage growth - she is living in cloud cuckoo land.

Her lack of understanding of how business works has meant this year she gets our gong, however the Scottish Government are not off the hook - they only passed on £22m of the rates relief to hospitality despite the fact they got Barnett cash of £145m from the UK Government.

Gordon Bell- Long Service Award Gong One of the nicest guys in the trade is Gordon Bell, and when he left Tennents/C&C In 2016 he told me he was planning on taking things a bit easier - a kind of semi-retirement with a bit of consultancy thrown in... the draw of Tennents drew him back in first as a consultant and just over two years ago he rejoined fulltime, and this year became Director of Logistics - Scotland and Group Primary for C&C. Although Tennents has had varioius owners during Gordon’s tenure - it is more than 30 years since he started selling the brand... and he is one of the few familliar faces left there.

Chris Murray Stripper of the Year Gong

David Wither and Billy Lowe Mentors of the Year Gong David Wither and Billy Lowe support a DRAM Award for Emerging Entrepreneur which sees them mentor someone over a year. The winners were Alex and Rachel Palumbo of Hey Palu & Chancho in Edinburgh.However this year they went above and beyoind - and have continued their association with some of the runners-up - who tell me that they have had some invaluable support with advice from the entrepreneurs.

Portie Graham - The most lovable dog Gong We’ve always been dog lovers at the DRAM and it is great that Manorview boss Steve Graham takes his dog Portie - a Portugese water dog with him most of the time. And he is the cutest and cuddliest dog out there and also the most exuberant too. So this year’s gong goes to Portie.

I’ve know Chris Murray for many years, first meeting him with his late father Ian at The Ship in Irvine, which Chris still owns today. I was tallking to him ahead of my move to West Kilbride when he revealed he lived there too. Thanks to Chris I got myself a lovely decorator and not only that but Chris came and lent a hand stripping wallpaper too.

A real gent. I’ve promised him and wife Lauren a New Year’s drink!

Ceri Smith Surprise facilitator of the Year Organising and keeping a surprise is not easy and I always prefer to keep our Lifetime Achievement accolade under wraps until the recipients received it and without someone on the inside - that cannot be achieved. So a big thank you to Ceri Smith of Montpeliers and the team there - who helped us spring the surprise on Ruth and David Wither. The look on their faces was priceless. And to son Craig and daughter Emma who also managed to keep the secret - mega DRAM JANUARY 2025 15 thanks.

Feliz Aniversário

BY NICOLA WALKER

B

oteco Do Brasil began its journey in Glasgow 15 years ago and the venue still hosts some of the best parties in town! The man behind it is Luigi Aseni, who is ambitious and driven, but also a lot of fun to be around, even though he does tell me he has calmed down a lot since becoming a father and now goes home at 1am rather that 4am!

I’ve known Luigi a long time. In fact, he reminds me that it was 2003, when he first came to Scotland from the small Italian town of Palo Del Colle, near Bari. It turns out that I was the DJ who played the soundtrack to his first night out in Glasgow.

He laughs, “For someone who came from the South of Italy Glasgow was ‘Glasvegas’!

“On our first night out, we went to The Garage nightclub on a Tuesday night and there was over 1000 people there. We walked up the stairs and The Killers and Franz Ferdinand were playing, and everyone was going mad!” He even jokes that I may have played a trick on him, and this is why he ended up making Glasgow his new home despite only intending to stay for three months.

Upon arriving in Scotland he started working at Stavka on Sauchiehall Street, which was owned by Donald Macleod and Michele Pagliocca of CPL at the time - a big change from what he did for a living in Italy!

He comments, “Before I came to Scotland, I had been an accountant in Italy. I spent four years working in a 16m square office with an old router making noises all day and a photocopier that was the size of a Mini Cooper and hotter than the sun! I heard that Michele was recruiting Italians to come and work

here and it was something different and a great opportunity.

“I started off in Stavka as a pizza chef and on the opening night I made 180 pizzas – by the time I got home my hands were shaking. That was the beginning of my hospitality career!

“Stavka was a very good experience, and I think the concept was before its time for Glasgow in terms of the standard, décor and offering.”

After a couple of years Luigi decided to follow the man responsible for his move to Scotland, Michele, who had decided to go out on his own. His first venue was The Butterfly and the Pig and other venues soon followed. He worked his way up through the business becoming Assistant Manager at The Shed and then General Manager at The Classic Grand. Eventually he and two others decided to take over the Classic Grand lease from Michele in 2008.

However, he was itching to move on to something with a better work life balance and that felt more personal to him.

Says Luigi, “The Merchant City was very up and coming at the time. There were good operators in the area with lots of different offers such as Maggie Mays, O’Neills, Metropolitan and lots of different restaurants. We wanted to do something different and, after talking to a few Brazilian friends, we came up with the idea of Boteco Do Brasil, which opened in 2010.”

He continues, “In the beginning there were three partners – myself, Michele and Forbes Manson. However, after the first 12 months, the others decided not to carry on and I took the leap and went out on my own. I had gained lots of knowledge from The Classic Grand, plus I was ambitious, I believed in the

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concept and I thought Boteco really reflected my personality. and that was what it was about for me.

“No matter how you were dressed, what age, sexuality or religion you were, everyone was welcome at Boteco. I wanted to create a feeling that as soon as you walked in the door you were able to leave all of the stress from life behind and feel like you were on holiday – with live music, DJs and dancers!

He continues, “Initially Boteco was only licensed till midnight.

I think we were one of the last venues to get a hybrid license from Glasgow City Council. After that the concept just exploded and lots of people were talking about it.”

After a few years Boteco Do Brasil Glasgow was performing well and Luigi set his sights on opening another unit. It was then an opportunity arose with Caledonian Heritable in Edinburgh.

The venue was just opposite the University and says Luigi, “the license and layout were perfect. We opened the second Boteco there in 2013.”

However, with this taste of success, Luigi had no intention of stopping there. First, in 2015, due to his attachment to the first Scottish venue he had worked in, Stavka (which was by then Juan Chihuahua), he decided to take on its lease with Gary Hermans. Then in 2017 he also opened Piccolino, a small Italian restaurant in Edinburgh at the same time he purchased the freehold of the Boteco Do Brasil Glasgow property from Colin Beattie.

He laughs, “I agreed to do something small with Gary but that didn’t happen as we ended up taking on this massive unit that became Mango. It was the same kind of Latin American concept as Boteco, but it was a different market due to Sauchiehall Street being more student orientated. I sold my share to Gary in 2021, and he still has it.” He explains, “I was thinking at that point I would step back a little bit as my first son had been born.” However, that didn’t happen!

Shortly afterwards he took the lease for Bar 91 in Glasgow’s Merchant City. He says, “I wanted to take on Bar 91 as for me it was part of the life of the Merchant City. I haven’t really changed it much, just a small revamp but I kept the same name and identity.”

However, that’s not all that keeps Luigi busy, as over the years he has bought land in Italy where he produces his own delicious wine called Terra.

He explains, “It started when I bought a field near Bari in Italy, in 2018. I was originally more interested in the 18th century building that was there, but then I saw the opportunity of the vineyard on the land. We started to analyse the grapes and the quality of wine we could produce.

“The first wine production was in 2020 and I’ve since bought another five fields to expand the wine production. We use this wine in all our venues as well as our own Extra Virgin Olive Oil made from the 660 olive trees growing there. We are

extremely proud of the quality of both.

“We still use the building for gatherings for family and friends.

It’s a beautiful space in the countryside for parties and the wine is already there!”

Talking of parties, Luigi is planning a big one for Boteco Do Brasil’s 15th birthday! Taking place on the weekend of the 24th and 25th of January there will be a Latin band coming from London, lots of dancers and a big homemade cake!

He adds, “I think the secret to the longevity of Boteco is that I’m still very hands on, so we can control the costs and the waste. We’ve always been careful, but now it’s more important than ever.

“We also have a great regular customer base, and we’re located close to places like Celtic Park, the Barrowland and The Old Fruitmarket - so there are lots of different events to bring people in. We have the benefit that we can easily change the layout of our tables from day to night and we’re always adding new things to the décor, menu and drinks to keep the interest.”

Another big event coming up in 2026 for Luigi will be his wedding. He recently became engaged to Skarlett who he shares two children with, Leonardo, 3, and Victoria, 2.

He smiles, “Everything is coming together in a good way. There are not so many late nights now and instead there are very early mornings. It relaxes me to play with the kids and I’m really focused on them now. I’m definitely a little bit calmer than I used to be!

“We have a very good team of 60-70 staff across all the units, so I don’t have to stay to the very end of shift anymore. We did have staffing issues due to Brexit as we previously appealed to a lot of European people that came over to study or work. It’s much more restricted now, but we’ve adapted to that.”

In 2024, Boteco Do Brasil was crowned Favela Latin American Venue of the Year at our own Scottish Bar and Pub Awards and Luigi was delighted. He smiles, “We were the original Latin bar in Scotland, and we provide the full package of great food, drinks, entertainment and a late licence. There are others now, but it just challenges us to do better. The award was a great achievement, and it’s something for the staff to be proud of, especially with the amount of hours, energy and preparation we put in.”

Luigi shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. He laughs, “I’d never say never to something else. Once I see how the English market bounces back, I’d like to expand the Boteco brand to England.”

During the interview, I had asked him to sum up Boteco Do Brasil for me and his words were, “Boteco is what you see and what you get – colourful, warm and friendly.” I can’t help feeling that this doesn’t just apply to Boteco but to his personality as well! I can’t wait to see where he is in another 15 years!

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15 FACTS ABOUT BOTECO DO BRASIL

1

Owner Luigi signed the lease for the first Boteco the day after his birthday in 2009 with a hangover, a black eye and a pair of sunglasses on! He originally leased the building but bought it from Colin Beattie in 2017.

2 3

They go through 7000 bottles of Brazilian spirit cachaça a year.

7 18

They are the flagship account for Brazilian lager Favela

9 10 11 12 13

Rock band Sepultura recently popped into Boteco whilst on tour and presented them with a signed t-shirt.

Boteco Do Brasil have a Brazilian strip signed by footballing legend Neymar when he visited Glasgow in 2013.

4 5 6

8

They produce their own wine in Italy called Terra and it is used in all their venues.

They were the first to bring popular band Quintal Do Samba to Scotland for a gig and the band still play there regularly.

Brazilian dish, Coxinha (Soft potato dough filled with chicken), is one of their bestselling dishes and they go through 500 a week!

A Caipirinha is their bestselling cocktail.

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14 15

They make all their own bread, focaccia, burger buns and pizza dough in-house.

General Manager, Marcita Copertino, has worked there since 2009 – before Boteco Do Brasil opened.

There have been lots of marriages between people who have met in the venue and they all regularly get invited to customers weddings… sounds better than Tinder!

When Boteco Do Brasil first opened there were only 490 Brazilians living in Scotland, so their aim was to attract people from all different ethnicities.

They have never switched off their coffee machine in 15 years – they say that’s the secret to keeping them all going!

The red colour used to decorate the venue is inspired by the brazilwood tree which produces red dye and which is also why the country is named Brazil!

JAMES F. KIDD & SON LTD IS ONE OF SCOTLAND’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS OF CATERING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

Congratulations to Luigi and the Boteco team on 15 incredible years!

James Kidd is honoured to have been part of your journey since day one. It’s been a true pleasure working with Luigi and his fantastic staff, supporting your restaurant’s growth and success. Here’s to celebrating this special milestone and to many more years of friendship, partnership, and delicious moments ahead!

Head Office - James F Kidd & Son Ltd, Unit 2, Seven Hills Business Park, 39 Bankhead Crossway South, Edinburgh, EH11 4EP Tel: 0131 557 2999 James F Kidd & Son Ltd, 10 Devon Place, St Andrews Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G41 1RD Tel: 0141 418 2222 Email: info@kidd-uk.com www.jameskidd.co.uk

“Congratutions to Luigi and the team on the fifteenth anniversary of Boteco Do Brasil.” www.bernardcorrigan.com | fish@bernardcorrigan.com 0141 552 4368 DRAM JANUARY 2025

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We supply coffee and fabulous looking coffee machines to many UK licensed outlets, cafés, hotels and independent retail outlets.

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INTERIOR

Visit us at significantothers.co.uk, call 0131 560 2330E or email N us TY D SIG + IDENTI T U R E info@studio-so.co.uk.

C E T I H C AR

LANDY’S 29-31 NORTH BRIDGE, EDINBURGH, EH1 1SF

DESIGN FOCUS BY:NICOLA WALKER

T

he Vittoria Group are renowned for some of Edinburgh and the Lothians most iconic eateries including Divino Enoteca, Vittoria on the Bridge, Vittoria on the Walk, Berties, Taste of Italy, and Brunswick Book Club. Now they have a new venue to add to that list.

Landy’s Restaurant has recently opened at 29-31 North Bridge in Edinburgh, the former Byron Burger site, and is set to tap into memories of the British seaside holiday. The reimagined coastal chippie may be in the city, but it is promising diners the chance to experience “proper fish and chips” as well as some contemporary twists on the chip shop experience.

Vittoria Group Director, Alberto Crolla explains, “The capital’s lively Old Town is the ideal location to expand our restaurant business to new and existing customers. Landy’s provides dining comfort food at its finest. We want to recreate the nostalgic appeal of fish and chips on the beach or by the sea with classic chip shop dishes at the heart of the menu”.

The 7000 sq. ft restaurant seats 200 covers and is set over two floors. The group has invested £2 million into the site and the restaurant has been completely refurbished with local interior designers Significant Others taking the lead alongside main contractor, Severinos. The result blends the elegance of

historic Edinburgh with playful seaside charm.

Michelle Ridley, Creative Director at Significant Others, shared, “We’ve been working with the Vittoria Group for a couple of years now and the concept was to create an urban space that also evoked nostalgic memories of the British seaside. It’s a family restaurant so we wanted to create something where the kids were engaged as well.

“The interior is seaside chic. It’s very high quality, but also has a fun and laid-back atmosphere. We have implemented a bold stripe pattern that runs through everything from the menus to the upholstery and even the tiling – it’s all bespoke.”

The interior colours are predominantly navy, red and white coupled with tongue in cheek seaside-themed decor and an open kitchen which provides diners with a full view of the cooking.

Red and white square tiles are used to create stripes which frame the kitchen. This stripe theme is used throughout and is reminiscent of the patters used in deckchairs.

Banquettes and curved booths in navy and striped navy and white leather provide comfortable eating spaces. There are also individual seats and high stools made from natural wood with red leather seats and a cylindrical red and pink striped back. This colour and design even run through to the menus on DRAM JANUARY 2025 21

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the table. In fact, all of the branding is really on point.

Natural wood elements are also integral to the design and used for the tables, flooring and even the bar front.

Lighting wise there is a wonderful mix of glass wall sconces and pendant lights. The pendant lights include large half metal and half glass spheres as well as other glass orbs which have been decorated in fishing rope.

The stripe patterns really create a smart geometrical look, however, there are plenty of other additions to warm up the space. Greenery supplied by the Benholm Group cascades from ceiling beams and brings both a freshness and warmth.

There is also shelfing which is home to more plants and vintage looking seaside inspired nik naks.

Michelle adds, “The ornaments were all sourced individually around the key concept. We have everything from ‘Landy’s ladies’ in swimsuits to more nautical items and even seagulls stealing pokes of chips. It all adds to the bigger picture and the detail is what brings everything together to create a full experience.

“From the external shop front, the picture builds and then the design is taken all the way through. It’s about layering the details as well, that’s what the customer really notices.

“We used local illustrator, Keiti, to add vintage inspired seaside illustrations. We asked her to add a lot of Edinburgh references into it, so you have Arthurs Seat and Edinburgh Castle, as a sandcastle, in the background. This brings a unique feel.”

The large murals are certainly an eye-catching feature and really bring the restaurant to life. They are black and white, tongue in cheek and drawn in a retro cartoon style reminiscent of The Broons – a real talking point!

In fact, the entire restaurant is just fun, warm and welcoming and I can’t wait to pop in again soon.

Trusted by professionals Elevating Your Commercial Kitchen Experience

We at Florigo would like to wish Landy’s every success for the future.

They have one of the most advanced frying ranges on the market today to help them produce the best fish and chips in Edinburgh.

We are very proud to work closely with Vittoria Group on another of their exciting projects.

Tel: 01527 592 000 www.florigo.co.uk

DRAM JANUARY 2025 23

Robon Ltd is an Independent family run business with twenty five years experience in the design, installation and maintenance of fire suppression systems.

We are a one stop shop for fire systems protecting critical systems in Scotland.

We service and maintain Fire Extinguishant and Suppression Systems providing both Electrical and Mechanical services in this sector.

Authorised Distributor, Installer & maintainer of Ansul R102 Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems.

Insurance approved

We were delighted to be involved with Buzzworks latest venue Lido, Musselburgh.

Robon Ltd, Block 2, Unit 14 Annick Industrial Estate Glasgow, G32 0HS

0141 778 8629 07870204176 info@robonltd.co.uk

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LIDO 166 HIGH STREET, MUSSELBURGH EH21 7DZ

DESIGN FOCUS BY NICOLA WALKER

H

ospitality giants, Buzzworks have now introduced the popular Lido brand, which already has venues in Troon and Prestwick, to the East Coast after opening in Musselburgh last month.

The venue celebrates bold Mediterranean flavours and will be open from breakfast to evening. It even features a state-of-the-art woodfired pizza oven, which Lido has become renowned for, and an open kitchen.

Stephen Buchanan, Buzzworks’ New Openings and Project Operations Manager, shared, “After months of build-up, hard work and preparation, we’re really proud of what we’ve created here at Lido. Everything from our carefully curated menus to our stylish décor and outstanding levels of service are designed to showcase the passion and care that we put into everything we do.”

Upon arrival you are welcomed by the smart Lido branding, outdoor furniture and awning. A modern floral window decal which runs across the full length of the glass doors and floor to ceiling windows is the first thing which catches your eye, as well as their trademark ‘Love Life Love Lido’ neon.

The new Lido has been designed by interior designer Jim Hamilton, who has taken Lido to a whole new level and used a range of influences throughout the design.

He says, “It’s great to see Lido start to travel now as people love the

product. The unit was previously a retail unit on the High Street and it’s always a nice challenge to work on a space like this and make it fresh and relevant.”

“The Lido design has always been Mediterranean and colourful. In Troon the colour was inspired by beach life and escapism and we wanted to bring that through to Musselburgh as well.”

The Italian word Lido means ‘shore’ or ‘bank’ and is synonymous with fashionable beach resorts, the most famous being near Venice. So, it seems only right that there are nods to Venetian patterns and influences throughout the design from the porcelain patterned tiled floor to the patterns which run through the luxurious furnishings.

There are fluted banquettes lining the window, cosy booth seating, curved booths for bigger parties with stunning bespoke matching chairs, and even leather bar stools. All this furniture is upholstered in a range of patterns, with textures and bold colours creating a classy, contemporary, comfortable and welcoming feel.

Jim adds, “There was a big box here to play with, so we’ve used textures and strong colour to fill that. It’s so important to be brave and to play with texture, colour and pattern - that’s what we’ve done here. Mediterranean food really appeals to a wide audience, so we wanted to create a design that worked from day to night and was also attractive to all age groups.

DRAM JANUARY 2025 25

“As a designer you need to make sure you tick as many of those boxes as you can such as casual, relaxed, warm, cosy and inviting.

It’s also so important to listen to the client as Buzzworks know their audience very well. You just hope the interior adds that extra layer for people.”

As well as the beach and the Mediterranean influences, Lido Musselburgh was also influenced by John Muir ‘Father of the National Parks’. The John Muir Way passes through Musselburgh and company, Art Pistol, who completed the bespoke statement murals, and the window decal were inspired by this. The result is a contemporary floral design inspired by nature which shy’s away from the obvious route and adds another layer throughout.

Some of the other eye-catching features include low hung large statement lights of varying designs which add even more interest, texture and warmth. There is also a large tree in the centre, along with other foliage, another nod to the Mediterranean and which breaks up the restaurant into cosy little sections.

Jim concludes, “I love the overall mix and palette of the design in this venue. There’s definitely a Mediterranean slant and we’ve kept that idea of comfortable, casual and playful fun. It’s great to see customers arriving now and as well as the high level of service, food and drinks, we hope the design brings a wee smile to peoples faces.”

I have a feeling it certainly will!

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WISHING BUZZWORKS CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH LIDO, MUSSELBURGH G Porrelli & Co Ltd 25 Lacy Street Paisley PA1 1QN T: 0141 889 6390 E: sales@porrelli.com W: www.porrelli.com

Blinds, Canopies and Awnings Manufacturer We are a family-run and based near Biggar in South Lanarkshire, For 40 years we have been manufacturing blinds, canopies & awnings for both the commercial and domestic markets.

WISHING BUZZWORKS EVERY SUCCESS WITH LIDO, MUSSELBURGH

Tel: 01899 221109 Email: info@albablinds.co.uk

Graham Professional Sound & Light would like to wish Lisini Leisure Ltd every success with the Vault @ Angels, Uddingston

Sound & PA suppliers & installers to the Vault

Tel: 07860 216 509 or 01698 813 330

www.grahampro.co.uk

Your No.1 Bespoke, Furniture Manufacturing & Commercial Contractor based in Scotland

Congrats to the Lisini team on the opening of The Vaults.

Maybury Contracts were delighted to have been appointed main contractor on this project.

Contact: Frank Adams Email: frank@mayburycontracts.co.uk

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THE VAULT ANGELS, MAIN STREET, UDDINGSTON

DESIGN FOCUS BY NICOLA WALKER

L

isini Pub Co. have introduced a spectacular new addition to Angels Hotel in Uddingston. The Vault is an exclusive ‘Speakeasy Experience’ that combines a relaxed atmosphere with bespoke luxury. It will primarily operate as a private function/events space and can accommodate 35 plus, dependant on the type of event. Plus, guests can enjoy a wide range of activities, such as karaoke and interactive darts, with a private bar offering.

Lynda McGaw, Commercial Director at Lisini Pub Co. says, “We are very excited in our new concept, The Vault at Angels as we believe we have captured that smaller, private elevated event space in Lanarkshire and beyond. It offers an interactive and competitive event space, a home from home, in an intimate and luxurious format. Close the Vault door and entertain or be entertained. There is no space like this we believe. It has been a great addition and very well received.”

Inspired by the clandestine charm of Prohibition-era speakeasies, the sophisticated new venue has been designed by interior designers, Space ID. Maybury Contracts were the main contractors for the refurbishment and have certainly done

a wonderful job in finishing the project to an incredibly high standard.

From the moment you wander down the exclusive walkway, which features dark cladding that stretches over head and is lit with LED’s, the space feels very special. There is then a striking faux vault door marking the entrance. Guests are even handed a key to unlock the vault—a symbolic gesture that adds to the air of mystery and exclusivity.

The first thing you notice is the dramatic brass bronze mirrored ceiling and the huge glass sky lights which allow natural light by day and a glorious view of the night sky once the sun goes down.

This ensures all the details are reflected down and makes the room seem even larger. There are brass tube lights fixed to the ceiling to give directional spots and then LED lights around the perimeter. Autumnal planting also cascades down from the sky light to meet mirrors and brings both a freshness and warmth to the room.

The walls are lined with art deco style cut glass mirrors on one side and on the other the padded upholstery from the fluted fixed seating runs all the way up the wall to the cornice. This DRAM JANUARY 2025 29

Supplier of all fixed seating, bar stools and chairs

JC Upholstery would like to wish Lisini every success with The Vault. w: jcupholstery.co.uk e: jamescairney@me.com

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t: 01698 843360 m: 07791 414970

upholstery has a boucle effect in speckled black and white.

There are also beautiful round brass and smoked glass wall lights that add a wonderful warm glow to the space and create a cosy atmosphere.

The other furniture is just as plush, from deep blue low stools with a gold tassel trim, scalloped high lounge chairs and round marble top, gold trimmed tables. The ornate, cast-iron bistro style table bases are also stunning.

The Amtico luxury vinyl flooring is another talking point as it has bold geometric patterns in a grey, black and timber effect.

Emma Richardson, interior designer from Space ID, commented, “We wanted to create a limited space that had a wide functionality to it. The dart board can be hidden when not in use and although there is a bar, it’s not a typical bar, and that can also be hidden away behind doors. It’s very subtle.

I also love the fixed seating with the pattern that stretches up the wall. It makes the space feel more comfortable and homely.”

All the bespoke décor and high-quality finishes echo the elegant sophistication of the space. It is wonderful to see a venue that exudes both luxury and comfort coupled with modern amenities and even an entertainment offering. This entertainment offering is brought to life through systems installed by Graham Professional Sound & Light.

The Vault has an unforgettable atmosphere, and I will certainly be keeping it in mind for my own little private party in the near future.

@dramscotland

SUE SAYS

/dram.scotland

Happy New Year – I sincerely hope that it is not going to be as challenging as the predictions and that the sales over the festive season, have, created a buffer for January and February.

There’s no doubt careful business planning will be required going forward. As for the putting up prices that is a no brainer.

I’ve been doing this job for 30 years and I don’t think I have ever seen more challenges thrown the way of hospitality, however having said that, there have been a couple of recessions, a pandemic, an ash cloud and much more and the trade has navigated it’s way through. It’s either that or you get out. This year many people will do just that. Is there a silver lining? It creates opportunities for those that make the decision to hang in. What would my advice be – do what is best for yourself. There is no shame in walking away from something that is no longer working for you.

They always say all publicity is good publicity but I can’t help feeling that Guinness shot itself in the foot over the festive period.

But they did put a positive slant on it – their marketing has been so good, and so many people are drinking it now, particularly women, that they ran out! The cynics amongst us might think that the whole debacle has been a great marketing stunt.

However, what an opportunity for brands such as Stewart’s to get a bigger foothold on the bar. Well done to everyone who got a sales boost – as for Guinness/Diageo – I’m sure there will not be the same problem next year no matter how well sales do.

I see that despite the fact that the Scottish Government keeps assuring the trade that they are looking at Non domestic rates reform the powers that be have now implied that if we don’t come with a solution then it will be rates as usual next year. I have been been saying this for years – we need to come up with a solution if we want change. Do civil servants have the will or the time – I don’t think so because let’s face it – politicians don’t do the leg work. Let’s go with a solution, or a couple of solutions, and maybe we will get a positive outcome.

I’ve done my own Gongs, as usual, they are tongue in cheek of course, it always amazes me how few people in the pub trade actually ever get a new years honour.

As we go into 2025 I would just like to mention a few great trade personalities who died in 2024 -

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Eddie Tobin - he was Chairman of the Glasgow Nightclub Forum, and for 20 years was Chairman of the British Entertainment and Dance Association (BEDA) as well as been a businessman he was also a great raconteur.

Janet Hood - the licensing solicitor with a big heart and the most vivacious person I think I have ever met, not to mention one of the brightest. Last but not least Ken McCulloch - who inspired so many in this industry. They all had something in common - they were all great characters who had a passion for this industry. The trade is a far duller place without them.

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DRAM DRINKS RETAILING AND MARKETING PUBLISHED BY MEDIA WORLD LIMITED e: news@mediaworldltd.com w: dramscotland.co.uk Publisher Editor Susan Young • Editorial Nicola Walker • Digital Nicola Young • Advertising: Anne Campbell • Admin Lesley Smith. Published by Media World Ltd. Subscriptions: DRAM is available by subscription for all other qualified persons involved in the Scottish Licensed Trade at the rate of £60 per annum. The publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher. Articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. © Media World Limited 2025 Printed by Stephens & George Print Group.

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SEC GLASGOW 26 TH – 27 TH FEBRUARY 2025

REGISTER FOR FOR TRADE PROFESSIONALS ONLY

FREE

Scotland’s Premier Showcase for Food, Drink, Hospitality, Retail & Tourism is BACK EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED… MEET BUYERS WHO YOU WON’T SEE AT ANY OTHER EVENT! Liquid Academy Live is ScotHot’s dedicated drinks theatre showcasing the must-stock drinks on todays market.

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visit www.scothot.co.uk Call: 01293 854408 or email: eventsteam@365-events.co.uk