Glasgow’s Ivy restaurant reveals opening date with bookings being taken now
The famous restaurant is set to open its doors in Glasgow later this month finds Rosalind Erskine
After a long wait, diners will be able to experience The Ivy Buchanan Street as it announces an opening date with reservations being taken now. With talks of the Glasgow eatery in the pipeline since 2017 – not long after the opening of The Ivy on the Square in Edinburgh – diners won’t have to wait much longer as the famous restaurant will open its doors on Monday, 29 July.
Table booking lines will officially open from Tuesday, 9 July. To celebrate the news, floral adorned mannequins were set up on Buchanan Street outside of the restaurant, to give passers by a photo opp.
Meanwhile, the Ivy Bus, fully adorned in green ivy, also arrived in
Glasgow to help spread the news of the long awaited opening. Continuing its travels across the city and the surrounding area until Sunday 14 July, the Ivy Bus will be visiting hotspots such as Royal Exchange Square, Queen’s Park and the weekend’s TRSMT festival at Glasgow Green.
Located in the city centre in the former Nationwide building society building at 106 Buchanan Street, the group obtained two floors, making the space ideal for a large outlet and akin to what is available in Edinburgh’s The Ivy on the Square. It is thought that the group invested around £2,000,000 to transform the former bank, with a spokesperson saying in mid 2018, during speculation of the Glasgow opening date: “Each location is carefully handpicked to value, reflect and add to the local area.”
Speaking ahead of the opening of Edinburgh’s Ivy on the Square, Eric Garnier, general manger said: “A Glasgow restaurant will open, and it is going to be different but I think it’ll work as we will do something for the city that people will enjoy - There are some very good restaurants in the city, and there’s a lot of people who know what they are doing – they understand the Glasgow market, which has changed a lot recently – but we plan to add to the dining scene. I am excited to open in Edinburgh as it will be a big lesson for us before we move on to Glasgow. Knowing that Edinburgh and Glasgow are very different, but there’s still a Scottish culture (in each) at the end of the day.”
The Ivy Buchanan Street will offer diners luxurious yet relaxed all-day dining in the heart of Glasgow’s style mile, seven days a week. Accommodating about 222 diners, the new brasserie will be open seven days a week and will be home to two bars, a private dining space and Parisianstyle outdoor seating where guests can watch the world go by and enjoy the sun (we hope!)
Live music from DJS and musicians will be on the cards, while the bars are set to offer locally inspired cocktails and an extensive Champagne and wine list. Head chef Brian Scanlan will oversee the relaxed menu, which will serve everything from breakfast, brunch, light snacks, afternoon tea and dinner. Dishes will include refreshing heritage tomato and feta salad with avocado, watermelon, pistachio and olives; lobster linguine; and chargrilled halloumi with Padrón peppers – plus many more Ivy favourites.
Cocktails will include a refreshing Bramble G&T with Ellis No.2 Scottish Bramble Gin; Briottet crème de Mure with fresh blueberries and Fever-tree Mediterranean tonic, and The Discovery – made with Shackleton blended whisky, Barolo Chinato, rosemary and orange syrup and Peychaud’s Bitters.
Baton Berisha, managing director at The Ivy Collection says: “We’re delighted to be opening in Glasgow city centre on Monday, 29 July. Overseen by General Manager Kevin Lightbody, the team look forward to welcoming our regular guests and new neighbours, as well as becoming part of the local community.”