Sloans opens The Merchant's, a theatrical first floor dining room in Glasgow city centre

Sloans has been keeping Glasgow well fed and well watered since 1797, and in October 2026 the city's oldest bar and restaurant opened a new chapter. The Merchant's at Sloans now fills the entire first floor of the historic building, following a £500,000 investment.

The idea is to bring the characters, stories and history of the building to life. Guests step into a world where portraits watch from the walls, curious concoctions wait to be discovered and the grand old piano appears to have a mind of its own. The space has been designed by Glasgow-based interiors company Surface-ID.

There are three areas: a grand dining room for long lunches and dinners, The Snug for unhurried drinks, and a private dining room for bigger occasions. Guests can even get into character, with a dressing rail of authentic vintage dresses, suits and accessories and a photographer on hand to capture the moment.

The menu sticks to hearty Glasgow and Scottish favourites served with a side of theatre. Expect Cullen skink in a bread bowl, a black pudding Scotch egg with truffle ketchup, beef shin lasagne and proper pies with mash and a jug of gravy. The star is The Merchant's Mac, a tableside take on Sloans' famous macaroni cheese, wheeled out on a trolley so guests can choose their toppings and crumb.

The drinks list continues the storytelling with cocktails inspired by Glasgow's past. The Tea Room Queen nods to Kate Cranston, The Showman pays homage to David Sloan, and Not Proven is inspired by Madeleine Smith.

Owner Oli Norman said Sloans has been part of Glasgow's story for over 200 years, and the team wanted to bring the building's characters and history to life in a way unlike anything the city has seen before. Sloans, he said, has always been about generous food, good drinks and bringing people together, and The Merchant's keeps that at its heart with a little theatre added along the way.

Elsewhere in the building, Sloans continues to host relaxed dining and drinks, ceilidhs, weddings and celebrations across its three floors.

The Merchant's at Sloans opened on Friday 2 October 2026. Bookings are open at sloansglasgow.co.uk, with a limited number of walk-in spaces available daily.