This 5pm Dining blogger was surprised to see the Slug and Lettuce brand rise again in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
I had assumed, wrongly, that the brand had vanished at some point in the Noughties. The last one we were aware of was on St Vincent Place and we think that closed around eight years ago.
In fact, there are some 70 branches of the bar chain spread throughout the UK including one in Edinburgh’s Omni Centre.
The brand is owned by the Stonegate Pub Company. In 2013, Stonegate bought 13 Living Room sites, including those in Glasgow and Edinburgh, from Premium Bars and Restaurants.
These are now becoming Slug and Lettuce outlets. The Glasgow branch on St Vincent Street launched officially last week.
The branch on Edinburgh’s George Street opens today or on the 6th of May, depending on which page of their website you believe.
Islena opening in Glasgow
We also noticed that Central Market on Glasgow’s Bell Street has shut up shop. A new concept, Islena, is taking shape in its place.
It is billing itself as a chiringuita which, according to Wikipedia, is a small Spanish bar serving drinks and tapas.
We’ll bring you more news as we get it.
Back over the other side of the M8, there are signs of life at the former site of Elbow on East Claremont Street.
Apparently, it is becoming Spitaki Greek Taverna.
