Over the last couple of years, Glasgow’s restaurateurs have shown considerable ambition as they launched swish new businesses in city centre buildings with long and notable histories behind them. Hutchesons and The Anchor Line both spring to mind.
Opening to the public tomorrow, Spiritualist bar and restaurant looks to be cut from the same cloth. Located at 62 Miller Street, the new venture is in the building that once housed the former Stirling’s Library. The site had lain derelict for the past decade.
New lease of life
The building has been given a new lease of life by Ryan Barrie, operator of Citation Taverne, and Jim Ballantyne, whose Camelot Catering Systems fitted out many of the city’s most stylish venues.
Though Ryan and Jim have worked together for more than two decades, it is the first time the pair have opened a bar together.
Unique to Glasgow
Jim says: ‘Spiritualist has been years in the making. We wanted to do something special together but there were always other projects. For this – the venue, the investment, the idea, the team, the capital – everything came along at the right time.’
Ryan adds: ‘I want Spiritualist to be about giving something unique and brilliant back to my city. I want people to be proud of it, for it to become an institution. This is an amazing bar, with outstanding food, great value for money, brilliant staff and service, and an unrivalled offering of drinks. I genuinely can’t wait for people in Glasgow to see it.’
Spiritualist’s stylishly modern Art Deco look is designed to talk especially to its Glaswegian customers. The flooring’s herring-bone motif is repeated on the walls, the light fittings, bar area and coat hooks. Artworks on the wall – one of which is a print of the world’s first negative –have an eerie, other-worldly quality to them which fits with the Spiritualist name.
Attention to detail
Jim says: ‘We’ve invested heavily in Spiritualist, and people will be able to see and appreciate the quality and thought that’s gone into the detail – something that people in Glasgow are particularly in tune with.
‘From the illuminated table-tops and coat hooks to the bespoke lighting and sound system, Spiritualist is focused on providing an outstanding customer experience. It’s the culmination of four decades’ expertise of opening and running bars, and we’re very, very proud of it. We’re looking forward to showing it off.’
Scotland’s biggest drinks list
The bar is said to have Scotland’s biggest drinks list with more than 300 spirits on offer, some of them are pretty rare and/or exotic. Apparently, Spiritualist is one of only a handful of venues in the UK to stock all three Fortaleza tequilas.
The food menu is much more restaurant than bar. Visitors can start the day with apple pie porridge for £3.95 or go to town on an a la carte menu which includes rabbit legs stuffed with langoustines; pan-roasted Highland venison; Simon Howie steaks and lobster burgers.
Local suppliers
As you might expect, local suppliers are to the fore with names such as Bernard Corrigan and Braehead Foods being mentioned.
If you really want the full Spiritualist dining experience, you can book in to the kitchen with up to nine friends for a bespoke tasting menu, designed by executive chef Mark Stocks.
Jim explains: ‘We’ve taken the fittings and look of the restaurant and reproduced it in part of the kitchen. You’ll be able to watch our kitchen team prepare the meals and have the chef serve it, within a very comfortable, intimate space in the heart of the kitchen.’
The 5pm Dining blog wishes Spiritualist every success.
