It’s a dram come true
Whisky bar is the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
The charming and popular hostelry was named Sunday Mail Pub of the Year at this year’s Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.
The traditional bar in Glasgow’s George Square took the prize at a glittering, prohibition-themed virtual ceremony on Wednesday night.
In a dark and difficult year for the industry, the licensed trade Oscars helped raise spirits– especially those of Gillian and her staff.
The mum-of-two says she now has a magical reason, as well as all the sad ones, to remember 2020.
Gillian, 40, who took over the pub six years ago after her husband Tommy died of a brain tumour, said: “We are over the moon to have won this award. It means so much to us all after what the industry has been through in the last 10 months.
“It’s testament to the fighting spirit of my staff who have supported me throughout all the never- ending, changing restrictions. The Piper is closed now as we are in tier four but we will be coming back stronger than ever.
“The bar was up for three awards and when we didn’t win the first two we thought that was it. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d win the big one.
“To be honest, it hasn’t sunk in yet but when it does and we are open again we’ll be raising a dram to all our loyal customers who help make the bar a great place to be.”
A firm favourite with tourists, The Piper has an extensive collection of whiskies from all over the world, including one from every distillery in Scotland.
But it is more than just a whisky bar. It boasts a function suite overlooking George Square and live entertainment every day from Glasgow’s emerging music scene. Queues out the door on a Saturday night are re common.
Gillian, of Coatbridge, who is mum to Leo, 14, and Anna, eight, said: “I turned the pub into a whisky bar four years ago. The malt count currently stands at 200. 0. It was doing fine as it was but I felt it didn’t havee a strong enough identity.
“With absolutely no knowledge of whisky, I set about learning all I could and I now love it. I’ve never looked back. I’m all guns blazing… it’s a real labour of love. I’m also in the process of bottling my very own malt.”
Since its transformation, The Piper has continued to go from strength to strength, and Gillian puts it down to her hardworking team. She said: “Why are we successful? The offering doesn’t change. Good food, good entertainment, good service seven days a week and a brilliant manager in Colin Douglas, who has been here for 11 years.”
Sunday Mail editor Lorna Hughes said: “It was great to see what this accoaccolade meant to the hardwhardworking staff of The PipePiper. This has been an unprecedented and difficult year for eveeveryone but especially thothose in the hospitality i ndu st r y. These awaawards celebrate the commcommendable fighting spirit of thet licensed trade.” Susan Young,Youn editor of DRAM, the hospitality industry bible which runs the awards, said: “I take my hat off to everybody in this industry who has worked night and day to keep pubs and restaurants open safely and responsibly and people in jobs. “I wanted these awards to not only honour the finalists and winners but everybody in Scottish hospitality who make it such a great industry.”
This means so ter what much af industry the has been through