Photo of
June 12, 2014
[Hutchesons Grand Hall.][1]
Hutchesons Grand Hall.

Today sees the official opening of Hutchesons on Glasgow’s Ingram Street. Set over three beautifully restored floors and boasting a Grand Hall brasserie, an exclusive private dining room, and a classic café bar at street level, Hutchesons was originally built in the 19th century. Known as Hutchesons’ Hall, it had lain empty for a few years before James Rusk – owner of The Butchershop Bar & Grill and vice chairman of the Glasgow Restaurant Association – refurbished it. The project took more than two years and cost £1.4 million. Having been at the launch party, the 5pm Dining blog is happy to report that you can see pretty much every one of those 1.4 million smackers in the decorative wood panelling, mosaic floors and the ornamental ceilings in the Grand Hall.

[Check the floor in Hutchesons Cafe Bar.][5]
Check the floor in Hutchesons Cafe Bar.

Grand cafes of Europe According to Mr Rusk, inspiration for the café bar was drawn from the grand cafes of Europe. This translates as green leather-backed booths; big, beautiful gantries, chandeliers and a solid mahogany bar with an Arebascato marble top. It really looks gorgeous and with the staff decked out in smart, black and white uniforms, you don’t need much imagination to feel as though you could be in a Viennese cafe or a Parisian brasserie. ‘When we started this project two years ago, our aim was to create an incredible backdrop for generations to enjoy Hutchesons’ culture and heritage in a relaxed social setting,’ says Rusk. ‘Opportunities like this are really rare and it’s a great privilege to be opening the doors to Glasgow after this massive sympathetic transformation, creating a place where Glaswegians can be proud of, in this amazing city. New lease of life ‘With this new lease of life, we’re preserving an institution and hope that Hutchesons will complement the already vibrant Glasgow restaurant and bar scene.’

[Another view of Hutchesons Cafe Bar.][6]
Another view of Hutchesons Cafe Bar.

Hutchesons is open seven days a week serving breakfast from 9am, through to lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, cocktails and champagnes. The a la carte menu is packed with classic brasserie dishes from starters such as steak tartare, oysters and dressed crabs to main courses like the whole lemon sole, Nicoise salads and seafood platters. Naturally, there is a selection of steaks from grass-fed Black Angus and Limousin cattle, sourced from the Borders and Ayrshire. Lobster and caviar If you really want to push the boat out, the a la carte offers whole baked lobsters and oscietra caviar. For those of us who would rather paddle than push out boats, there is a set menu at £14.95 for two courses or £17.95 for three. Available noon-6pm, dishes on the set menu include oak-smoked salmon, steak frites and our old chum, sticky toffee pudding.

[Hutchesons Grand Hall feels very airy.][7]
Hutchesons Grand Hall feels very airy.