A Glasgow businessman who helped broker the deal that saved Celtic in the 1990s has sold one of the most famous pubs in the city’s west end.
David Low has offloaded The Arlington Bar, which counts a host of celebrities among its past patrons, to experienced operator Peter Di Ciacca, owner of Riva Restaurants. The deal comes three years after Mr Low, who played a key role in Fergus McCann’s takeover of Celtic in 1994, acquired the pub on Woodlands Road.
The Arlington is one of Glasgow’s oldest pubs, having traded continuously from its site since 1860. Throughout a distinguished history, the pub has been a favoured haunt of students and academics from the neighbouring University of Glasgow, and a hangout for journalists, artists and writers.
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Famous customers over the years have included Billy Connolly, Frankie Miller and The Clash. The bar also claims to have been home to the Stone of Destiny, the seat upon which ancient kings of Scotland were crowned, since 1950, when a group of four Nationalist students – and Arlington regulars – re-possessed the historic artefact from Westminster Abbey and allegedly hid it in the pub.
According to pub legend the stone now on display at Perth Museum is a crude replica fashioned by the students, which they handed over to police when they were apprehended following the audacious raid.
The sale of the pub included the ‘Stone of Destiny’ – also known as the Stone of Scone – which will continue to be displayed prominently in a glass case in the bar for the continued enjoyment of customers and tourists.
Mr Low said: “I’ve always had an interest in Glasgow’s iconic bars, of which The Arlington is a fine example, but the time was right to move on and I’m delighted to pass on ownership to a seasoned operator who I’m sure will retain its distinctive character over the years ahead.”
Mr Low is the chairman of the Three Thistles plc group of pubs, which sold The Dram, also on Woodlands Road, to Mr Di Ciacca, this summer. His investment portfolio also includes a significant holding in Scotcoin, Scotland's only cryptocurrency.
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