Can you actually get any reading done in a bookshop-themed bar? We can find out this October, as The Last Bookstore has opened in Glasgow with 8,000 books lining its walls and plenty of cocktails to go around.
The Last Bookstore has taken over the Fat Lobster on Hope Street, introducing the bar and restaurant concept from the team behind Devil of Brooklyn and Tabac. The bar’s walls are lined with 8,000 books in total, containing 442,000,000 words, while there is a book arch consisting of 1,300 books, perfect for those photo ops.
The cocktail menu is inspired by famous authors like Jack Kerouc, Dorothy Parker and Ernest Hemingway, designed by a former English teacher. On top of themed cocktails, The Last Bookstore boasts 12 beer taps, including Bookstore Lager, Cruzcampo, and Guinness.
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.”
Guests can also enjoy small plates at The Last Bookstore, with delights like brisket croquette with mascarpone, rosemary and apple and charred cauliflower, pickled shallot and tahini yoghurt.
Executive Chef Stevie Holt 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 of 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?”
So, grab a drink, and some small plates and enjoy a book on the mezzanine floor with a regal seating area overlooking the venue below. The perfect solo date idea, if you ask me!
While the exact date has not yet been announced, The Last Bookshop is set to open its doors at the end of October, just in time for Halloween.