Readers say whisky bar is a missed opportunity

There was much comment on our social media page about our front page story last Wednesday telling how Scottish Gantry owner Jack Breslin’s plans for a new specialist whisky venture at Stirling Arcade had been turned down by the city’s Licensing Board.

Gill Scott posted:“I have lived in Stirling for 20 years now and many of us, around 40 plus, get on trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow to spend our recreational money there as there are no decent, grown-up, non-student places to go to. I am glad the White Ivy Club (Viewfield Place, Stirling) has opened to give us mature drinkers some place to drink and eat. Get a grip Stirling Council .’’

Grant Robertson: “The town centre is dying fast and a unique venture like this should be welcomed with open arms. Whisky is one of Scotland’s finest and most loved exports and with the diverse range of visitors and students we have studying here it would have been a fantastic opportunity to showcase what we have to offer.’’

Tracy Gray: ‘‘What a missed opportunity to attract tourists and locals to the arcade. (Jack Breslin), who owns the Scottish Gantry, has really made this a great place to go for specialised drinks to buy and also to taste. Shame on the councillors who voted against this venture’.’

Craig Anderson:‘‘I am absolutely furious to read

JaneTaylor: ‘‘A young entrepreneur stopped yet a bar selling cheap shots can open no bother. Some licensing board.’

Dram and blast Readers angry over Licensing Board decision this. The licensing board needs to get its act together. For decades the board has allowed monopolies in Stirling to trade with the product and pricing aimed at the student population. Stirling deserves a chance to develop a viable tourism economy. This decision just doesn’t make sense as part of Stirling’s bigger economic growth ambitions. Whisky is niche for locals but huge for visitors.“