Murphys take over the reins at the Pot Still

Glasgow institution The Pot Still is now under new management. Frank Murphy and his family have taken over the Iona Pub lease, and are planning to invest in the pub. It’s a return to the pub trade for father Brian Murphy who formerly owned the Arlington Bar in Woodlands, Rockafella’s in Springburn and The Hyndland Bar in Partick. Frank told DRAM, “It’s been a dream of mine to own my own pub, and when I heard on the grapevine that there might be a possibility that the Pot Still was looking for new management, I immediately sent a speculative email to Robert MacSween. Then I persuaded my father to back me.”
Frank who worked with the late Ken Storrie at the Pot Still for four years before leaving, has spent the last four years at the Clockwork in Glasgow’s Southside. He says, “It’s been a year since Ken died, and I miss him, but I am sure that he would be glad to see my back behind the bar at the Pot.” Frank will be running the pub with his dad, Brian, sister Geraldine and cousin Sean. Says Frank, “The great thing is we all have a wealth of experience in the licensed trade, and my dad is keen to learn more about whisky, for him it’s not so much about coming back into the licensed trade, it’s this particular whisky pub that has motivated him.”
Frank continues, “There are now two things that I want to focus on – people come from all over the world to see the Pot Still and sample some of its Single Malt but not enough folk in Glasgow know it’s here. Everyone should know where it is. I’d also like to introduce some more world whiskies to the pub. We currently have 233 whiskies on offer, and slowly but surely I will get that to 500.”