Glasgow has welcomed a new addition to its bar scene, and this one has a rather interesting double life. McLennan’s, which has opened beside Glasgow Green, offers the comforts of a traditional neighbourhood pub during the day before drawing the curtains at 6pm and transforming into a Victorian-inspired cocktail speakeasy. With a drinks menu dedicated to Glasgow’s more notorious historical characters, including bombers, razor-wielding gangs and even drunken executioners, there’s no shortage of interesting stories to accompany your evening tipple.

The new venue officially opened on Thursday, 5 November, taking over the former Whistler on the Green premises at 5 Greendyke Street. Its arrival was celebrated in suitably dramatic fashion on Bonfire Night, with the bar’s handwritten logo projected onto the nearby McLennan Arch and People’s Palace, adding a little extra spectacle to an evening already filled with fireworks.

McLennan’s is the ninth venue from Glasgow hospitality group Merchant Pubs & Bars, whose portfolio includes BAaD, Nonna Said, The Drake and Blackfriars of Bell Street. The group also opened anderson’s pub + institute earlier this year, with the same creative team behind that venue, Big Think and StuCo Design, returning to develop McLennan’s distinctive concept.

A Traditional Glasgow Pub by Day, a Speakeasy by Night

During daylight hours, McLennan’s keeps things fairly traditional, operating as a relaxed neighbourhood pub from 9am until 6pm. With natural light filling the space and Radio Clyde providing the soundtrack, visitors can stop by for a morning coffee and panettone, or enjoy a straightforward lunch of toasties, soup and chips. It’s also dog-friendly, so four-legged drinking companions are welcome, although presumably they’ll have to stick to water.

The venue also benefits from one of Glasgow’s older alcohol licences, allowing it to serve alcoholic drinks alongside food from 9am, seven days a week. Whether you’re after a morning coffee, a lunchtime bite or an early pint, the daytime offering is designed to provide a welcoming local spot beside Glasgow Green.

From 6pm, McLennan’s transforms into its Victorian-inspired speakeasy. The kitchen closes, the curtains are drawn and the lighting changes, with an eclectic electro playlist replacing the daytime radio. The evening cocktail menu takes inspiration from Glasgow’s Saltmarket and its colourful, and often criminal, Victorian history.

Cocktails Inspired by Glasgow’s Darker History

The evening drinks menu, rather brilliantly titled A Miscellany of Outrageous Drinks by James McLennan, takes its inspiration from the streets surrounding the venue during the nineteenth century. Presented in the style of an old Victorian chapbook, each cocktail has its own historical story, drawing on everything from illicit whisky dens and notorious local gangs to some of Glasgow’s more unusual legal history.

Among the creations is The Dynamitards, named after the rebels responsible for a series of explosive attacks in Glasgow in 1883. The cocktail combines Altos Plata tequila, peach liqueur, sriracha caramel, lime and spice, making it a rather fiery tribute to its namesake.

Another cocktail, The Sober Hangman, takes inspiration from an 1899 law that banned executioners from carrying out their duties while intoxicated, offering another bizarre glimpse into Glasgow’s Victorian past.

Elsewhere on the menu, visitors can expect combinations including Highland Park 12 whisky with plum sake, berries and Pedro Ximénez, alongside a creation featuring Absolut vodka, passionfruit and yuzu, finished with Veuve Clicquot Rosé champagne. For those who would prefer to enjoy the stories without the alcohol, every cocktail is also available in a non-alcoholic version.

The historical inspiration extends beyond the drinks themselves. The Saltmarket was once associated with narrow closes, underground drinking establishments and criminal gangs, including the notorious Saltmarket Six, whose razor-wielding exploits provide another source of inspiration for the menu. Glasgow has plenty of colourful characters in its history, and McLennan’s has found a creative way to bring some of their stories to life through its cocktail menu..

A Glasgow Landmark Inspires a New Local Bar

The venue takes its name from Bailie James McLennan, a Glasgow businessman, civic figure and philanthropist who died in 1899. Known for his involvement in preserving the city’s architectural heritage, his legacy includes the McLennan Arch, which stands just outside the bar at the entrance to Glasgow Green.

In a nod to that connection, McLennan’s has recreated his handwritten signature as its official logo, which was projected onto the historic arch during the venue’s opening celebrations. The display, created by Glasgow-based Double Take Projections, also illuminated the nearby People’s Palace.

Ewan Angus, Group Bars Manager at Merchant Pubs & Bars, explained how researching the city’s history helped shape the new venue and its drinks menu. “It’s been so exciting to create McLennan’s from the ground up. I loved researching James McLennan and the old Saltmarket. There are so many incredible stories, and every drink on the menu has one behind it. Seeing his name lit up on the Arch last night, right outside our front door, was the perfect way to begin. I can’t wait to share all our new creations with Glasgow. Pick your poison. Or don’t.”

For CultureCues, we do love a bar with a bit of personality, and McLennan’s has plenty of that. A traditional Glasgow pub by day and a Victorian-inspired speakeasy by night? Count us in. The historically inspired cocktail menu is another fun touch, especially with some of the bizarre stories behind the drinks. We already know we’ll have to try The Dynamitards, although tequila and sriracha caramel sounds like a combination we’ll either love or seriously regret ordering. Either way, a few cocktails, a bit of Glasgow history and a speakeasy beside the Green? That’s definitely worth a visit!

McLennan’s is open daily from 9am to midnight at 5 Greendyke Street, Glasgow, G1 5PU. Food is served until 6pm, with the speakeasy operating from 6pm to midnight. Visit mclennansglasgow.co.uk for more information.