The former Mercantile pub on Dundee’s Commercial Street opens its doors for the first time in four years this weekend as The Barrelman with a new look following a £630,000 refurbishment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars and new licensees Tommy and Jacqueline Fox.
The pub in a grade-A listed building was originally scheduled for April, the opening was delayed by lockdown. It will open from Saturday 26th September from 11am and employs 25 people.
The Barrelman’s interior is made up of exposed brickwork, wooden floors and a glass stage plus a subtle nautical nods. Spread over three floors, it’s capacity is 120 even with social distancing, boasting a bar, dining area, zones with booth and soft seating and a mezzanine-level function space as well as outside café style seating. Other changes include new toilets, a new kitchen and massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
Says Tommy, “Local interest has been huge. It’s exciting to be finally opening. The Barrelman looks totally different to anywhere else in Dundee now. Anyone who comes is blown away; they can’t believe it’s the same place.
“The centre of Dundee is picking up again but with bars and restaurants operating at reduced capacity, it’s difficult to get into many places. We feel very fortunate that The Barrelman is such a big airy venue where customers can easily space out. It can accommodate 120, so people can safely enjoy drinks, a meal or a great night out in a fantastic atmosphere with a social buzz around them.”
Brian Davidson, Star Pubs & Bars operations director for Scotland, said, “Tommy and Jacqueline are highly professional operators with great vision and we wish them well. The Barrelman is certainly worth the wait – it looks amazing and it’s totally unique. This is a major development that will really add to Commercial Street and the centre of Dundee.”