The G1 group have been busy in St Andrews turning the old Victoria Cafe on St Mary’s Place into a pub kitchen and club/music venue called, wait for it, the Vic.
The original Vic opened just before World War I and to still be going strong almost a hundred years later is no mean feat. The new G1 changes have been made with the aim of helping the place last another century.
The renovations have split the Vic into two distinct areas. The Vic will be a pub kitchen while the other area will be more of an all day/night social club which will stay open until 2am at the weekends.
The new look was designed by Jim Hamilton who was also responsible for Mitchell’s on Market Street in St Andrews and the award-winning Corinthian Club in Glasgow. Two old windows have been discovered in the Vic Pub Kitchen and they have been reinstated to create a newly bright space. The walls have been stripped back to the stone and clever use of lighting makes the high-ceiling space feel welcoming and comfortable.
In the Vic Social Club, old timber panelling mixes with a rediscovered industrial facade. The low-roof gives a cosier feel than the Vic Pub Kitchen and is also perfect for a late night music venue.
A whole new food menu has been created for the Vic Pub Kitchen. Comfort food like macaroni cheese, sausage & mash, fish & chips and shepherd’s pie are all up for grabs. There’s a separate gourmet burger menu and, all day Sunday to Thursday, they’re two for one. There are also small plates of dishes such as a half pint of whitebait or the hummus with olives and flatbread. Soup, sandwiches and baked potatoes all get the Vic treatment too.
Children are well catered for with a specially-created kids’ menu of family-favourites. As an extra bit of fun the menus are presented on Etch-a-sketches. Great fun for the kids; as long as they can get them off the adults.
The Vic Pub Kitchen is open for service from 9am on Friday 10th of February. There’s a sneak preview of the Vic Social Club on Thursday and Friday before the official opening on Saturday. Thursday 9th February sees regular resident Seedy Sound System kicking off the welcome back party. On Friday 10th February, the Helpmahboab Ceilidh Club gets the night started on the right foot before handing over to resident DJ Hallyburton. Saturday 11th February is the official launch party with Vic Galloway and regular Saturday helmsman Charlie Duthie.
You can register for the sneak previews and opening weekend parties after clicking through here.
Incidentally, their 16 strong range of gins looks rather inviting.
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