David Low has sold The Arlington, the iconic Glasgow pub he purchased three years ago, for an undisclosed sum to operator Peter Di Ciacca, owner of Riva Restaurants.
Low, who is also chairman of the Three Thistles plc group of pubs which sold nearby The Dram to Di Ciacca this summer said, “I’ve always had an interest in Glasgow’s iconic bars, of which The Arlington is a fine example, but the time was right to move on and I’m delighted to pass on ownership to a seasoned operator who I’m sure will retain its distinctive character over the years ahead.”
The bar, which has been operated continuously on the same Woodlands Road site since 1860, is one of the city’s oldest surviving pubs with a history as a favoured haunt of students, academics, journalists, artists and writers.
Famous customers over the years have included Billy Connolly, Frankie Miller and The Clash. It also claims to be home to the Stone of Destiny, the seat upon which ancient kings of Scotland were crowned after a group of four Nationalist students – and Arlington regulars – re-possessed the historic artefact from Westminster Abbey and allegedly hid it in the pub in 1950.
According to pub legend the stone now on display at Perth Museum is a replica fashioned by the students, which they handed over to police when they were arrested following the raid.
The sale of the pub included the ‘Stone of Destiny’ – also known as the Stone of Scone – which will continue to be displayed in a glass case in the bar.
Picture by Jim McLaughlin