Good News for Glasgow Beer Drinkers

A while back, I wrote about the campaign to save the iconic Tennent's Bar from change following the announcement by owners Mitchell's and Butler's that it intending to refurbish the interior and take it under the wing up the pubco's Nicholson's branch. The threat of the refurb galvinised many of Glasgow's drinkers to launch a Facebook campaign, a petition and even a pressure group called CACTI (Campaign Against Change to Tennent's Interior). Well, it seems that the pressure has been paying off.

 I unearthed a recent quote from Brian Hannon, Mitchells and Butlers Director of Operations.

He insists that Tennent's will retain it's name, it's team of staff and will remain a 'traditional' and 'real pub'.

He said: “We are aware that the future of Tennent’s bar has recently been called into question, becoming the topic of much speculation.
“We therefore welcome this opportunity to do our very best to reassure customers and the wider community that Tennent’s bar’s future as a traditional pub is in no way in doubt.
“Mitchells & Butlers has proudly owned and successfully operated Tennent’s bar for more than 20 years.
“But, more importantly, it will continue to be a real pub – not a brasserie, not a restaurant and not a gastro pub.”

 “Reports are correct: we are assessing the scope of a refurbishment of the pub with the aim of retaining what is great, while enhancing its kitchen, toilet facilities and general amenities."

“The food, which many people enjoy, is restricted in quality and range by virtue of the current kitchen facilities.
“But any refurbishment will be carried out in a sensitive manner complementing the character of the existing pub.
“It is clear that many customers of Tennent’s bar are as passionate about the pub as we are, and I would again like to reassure you that the aim of any future refurbishment will be only to enhance what is already a great pub and one which we are truly proud to own.”

This is clearly good news and I've no reason to doubt Brian Hannon's words.

Credit must be given to the various campaigns that sprung up to put pressure on Mitchells and Butlers to maintain the tradition, character and integrity of  Tennent's Bar.

Well Done, All.

Who wants another chain pub?

 The fight to save the iconic and 'much loved' Glasgow pub, Tennent's Bar has stepped up a gear and intensified after local  MSP Pauline McNeill  put forward a Motion to the Scottish Parliament which calls on it to 'note the strength of feeling against potential changes' and that the pub is not only a 'landmark' but also a 'Glasgow institution'.


The Motion, put forward on the 3rd of November, to the Parliament and supported by MSP Willie Coffey comes hot on the heels of internet campaigns and i-petitions designed to put pressure on new owners Mitchells and Butlers not to gentrify and turn the historic West End landmark into a gastropub.


Mitchells and Butlers, which has a portfolio of approximately 2000 pubs, recently acquired Tennent's and are considering an extensive refurbishment to the pub during the April/May of 2011.


Tennent's is an integral and iconic part of Glasgow pub culture. This traditional Victorian corner pub which sits in the heart of Glasgow's West End on Byres Road has been an institution since it opened in 1884. It has twelve handpumps dispensing nine regular ales from breweries such as Harviestoun, Orkney, Caledonian and Timmy Taylor as well as three guest ales. There is a real fear not only among its regulars but also the wider beer/pub community that Mitchells and Butlers intend to move away from the traditional real ale pub and rebrand and repackage it a restaurant/bistro/gastro pub.

In their defence, Mitchells and Butlers say that "We are looking at making some changes such as increasing the size of the kitchen. The pub is to be operated under the Nicholson's badge, our collection of historic pubs operating across Britain which all share a passion for Real Ale, traditional pub food and local heritage at their core".


For many Glasgow beer drinkers, it is unthinkable to consider Tennent's not being in its current incarnation this time next year. Instead, it could be another homogenous bar/bistro serving over priced beer and food in a place stripped of its history and legacy. That's a horrible thought.



You can add your name to the save Tennent's petition here -


http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savetennentsbarfromchange/