The £40k refurbishment, rebrand and relaunch of Tiltin Kiltin on Dumbarton Road, in Partick is now complete marking a new chapter for the venue which was once called Tenement Bar.
Husband and wife operators Stephen and Fiona McHugh, who worked with Iona Pub Partnership and MD Hospitality to complete the transformations, said that after 5 years it was time to move the venue forward with its own identity and vision for how they think the venue would best suit the local community saying, “We realised in recent years that we have lost a little bit of the buzz and new faces walking through the door. So when our new BDM started earlier this year we investigated the possibility of an investment with Iona to turn the pub around and give Partick a new venue with a different feel and offering.”
A long-standing favourite of the Partick pub scene, the traditional pub has been kitted out with new furniture, décor, lighting, signage, plumbing and featured imagery that celebrates national treasures and sporting achievements.
Michael Dunn of MD Hospitality, the contractors who carried out the works on behalf of Iona Pub, said, “It’s a friendly pub, one of the cities hidden gems once you walk in and are greeted with that beautiful gantry bar with its small intricate details. We recently had the opportunity to work on another Iona Pub venue, The Piper on George Square, and their new upstairs Whisky Lounge, so to be asked again to work on another one of their pubs was something we couldn’t say no to.”
“After months of planning and making sure the investment was happening at the right time it’s great to see the outcome and how it’s now placed Stephen and Fiona in a fantastic position for success,” says Alan Sayers, Operations Director at Iona Pub. “With the addition of a manageable food offer, the venue positioned as Partick’s Home of Rugby, and alongside Stephen and Fiona’s reputation for providing first-rate customer service, the venue has become more sustainable as a business which is totally aligned with how we want to approach our upcoming investments within the estate.”
The island tabletop, a key feature of the venue post-refurb, has been removed to open up the main section of the bar area and the food offer is being revisited over the next few weeks. Showcasing a selection of Scottish-inspired small plates such as Haggis Pakora with Whisky Sauce and Mini Haggis Neeps and Tatties, this is part of the new offer that operator Stephen believes will really add some depth to the venue in terms of not only attracting new customers but satisfying rugby fans on their way to and from Glasgow Warriors matches or who are just in enjoying the match live on their large-screen TVs.
Rugby will be the focal sport of the pub, says Stephen, “Rugby signifies so many more things than just the sport. It’s inclusive and it’s respectful, an environment we want to create, so Rugby environment rather than rugby themed. Since opening we have been supported locally by the Hawks and we have a good relationship with Warriors also, who have helped provide us with memorabilia to display”
Looking to the future, he adds, “The future is in our hands, it’s exciting but daunting at the same time. We have the foundation and we now need to challenge ourselves to provide the service and offering that the pub now delivers from a look and setting. The support from our BDM will help us on that journey, it’s an exciting time and the future holds endless possibilities.”
