Cafe and wine bar to open in Shawlands

Fergus McVicar, who is behind Chinaski’s and the Berkeley Suite, was granted a provisional premises licence for 5 Abbot Street by the city’s Licensing Board on Friday.

Board members heard how he has plans to turn the building, across from Co-op, into “a neighbourhood wine bar and cafe venue”.

They were told around £100,000 would be invested in the property and an estimated 14 jobs would be created.

Stephen McGowan, the licensing lawyer representing the applicant, said the premises had previously traded as Molly’s Cosy Cafe but it was “a victim of covid, it closed in 2019 and did not reopen”.

He said his client would “hopefully bring it back to life again” and was seeking “to introduce a licensed premises, under the working name of ‘Carousel’”.

Mr McGowan described Mr McVicar as a “well kent face in the Glasgow licensed trade”. He said: “He has opened and operated a number of high quality premises over many years; the Kelvingrove Cafe in Finnieston, Alchemilla in Finnieston, Chinaski’s at Charing Cross, the Berkeley Suite which he still operates.

“He also opened Tabac on Mitchell Lane and Bananamoon, to name a few. He is a very successful operator of well known names within Glasgow’s licensed trade scene.”

The new venue would focus on table service and provide breakfast, brunch and early evening dinner menus, the Licensing Board was told. There would be a selection of organic wines and cocktails as well as a no and low alcohol offer.

Mr McGowan said the cafe would support local independent businesses, with coffee from Papercup Roastery and cheese and charcuterie from Starter Culture on Pollokshaws Road.

His client is fitting out the building “with 100% recycled plastic based on Spanish-style premises that Mr McVicar visited to get some inspiration” while he has found “second hand light fixtures from a dealer in Paris”.

“It all sounds like it is going to be a very enjoyable place to be,” Mr McGowan added.