Bookshop-themed bar with 'literary archway' to open in Glasgow city centre

A bookshop-themed bar is set to open in Glasgow city centre, offering customers the chance to enjoy a cocktail among some literary greats.

The Last Bookstore will open on Hope Street on October 12 in place of the former Fat Lobster restaurant.

From the team behind Devil Of Brooklyn and Tabac, the bar will offer a cocktail menu inspired by famous authors, including Jack Kerouac, Dorothy Parker, and Ernest Hemingway, and a selection of 12 beers on tap.

The new bar will feature 8,000 books on its walls, a literary archway made of 1,300 books containing 442,000,000 words, and a “luxurious” seating area for revellers to enjoy their reading.

Executive chef Stevie Holt has also created a small plate and lunch menu.

Bartender Mick Quinn was previously an English teacher. Story Shop via Supplied

He said: “I left Glasgow at 19 and worked in Switzerland and Italy before settling down in Ibiza when I was 22. That’s definitely inspired my cooking, and this menu especially.

“The Last Bookstore offers Mediterranean small plates, so there’s lots of variety in those small plates. Each dish is European or Spanish origin, with a bit of a modern spin on them.

“One of my favourite dishes is the popeye braised mince. It’s inspired by a dish I tried in Ibiza – I went back there just for this dish, so I thought, why not do my own twist for Glasgow?”

Head bartender Mick Quinn said: “We really wanted to create an atmosphere of having a dog lying on your toes while you drink something strong with this concept.

“The Last Bookstore is the perfect situation for me – I studied to be an English teacher before I became a bartender, so I’m a happy camper!

“I’ve used that knowledge when designing the cocktail menu; each cocktail is inspired by an author and a line or connection they’ve written about alcohol.

“We wanted to pair each drink with famous works from those authors. If the drink inspires you, you can go ahead and purchase some reading material to go with it.”