Glasgow restaurant Ubiquitous Chip sold to UK pub chain

The Ubiquitous Chip, which has been owned by the Clydesdale family since 1971 and is world-renowned, has been bought over by the Metropolitan Pub Company, which is owned by Suffolk-based Greene King.

The deal includes the two other West End restaurants owned by Colin Clydesdale and his wife Carol Wright - Stravaigin and Hanoi Bike Shop.

The company owns 71 'gastro' pubs and hotels in and around London.

Greene King owns more than 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK including The Maltman on Renfield Street and The Scotia, Glasgow's oldest pub.

Mr Clydesdale said: “Metropolitan Pub Company approached Carol and I, as great admirers of The Chip, Stravaigin and Hanoi, with an interest in buying.

"After much consideration, we decided to sell the business that has been in family ownership since 1971.

“I truly believe the business and people will be in safe hands with Michael and the team, who will continue the legacy that we have built. We look forward to visiting as customers for many years to come.”

Stravaigin was recently named among the 50 best gastro pubs in the UK and the Ubiquitous Chip was awarded best pub in the area at this year's National Pub & Bar Awards.

Michael Horan, managing director of Metropolitan Pub Company, said: “We are really excited to welcome these iconic sites to the Metropolitan estate, and continuing the legacy that the Clydesdale family has built over the last 50 years.

“We are looking forward to working with the 145 team members to continue providing the world class hospitality to the people of Glasgow.”

The Chip as it is affectionately known in the city, marked its 50th birthday in 2021.

In an interview with our sister title The Herald the couple told of the difficulties of keeping three restaurants afloat through successive Covid lockdowns.

Ms Wright said  "You have a lot to prepare, wages to pay, bars to stock for example, in the week before you are due to open and then last Autumn it was just for a couple of weeks.

"It has been without doubt the most difficult year in the restaurant’s history.”

The couple said they were looking forward to a more stable year but told of ongoing difficulties in recruiting staff due to Brexit and then Covid.

New research has found nearly two-thirds of hospitality businesses felt abandoned by the UK government during the pandemic.

Delivery franchising firm Peckwater Brands commissioned a survey asking 201 senior decisionmakers in the hospitality business for a picture of the industry.

Hospitality was among the hardest-hit by coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions and, despite support such as the government's furlough programme, 64% said they felt let down.

Stravaigin, on Gibson Street, opened in 1994 and the couple then opened Hanoi Bike Shop, Glasgow's first Vietnamese canteen, in 2012 on the site of what used to be Stravaigin 2 off Byres Road.

The Chip opened on January 11, 1971 when Colin’s father, Ronnie, took the bold step of launching a venture that would champion quality Scottish produce.

The restaurant was initially located in Ruthven Lane before moving to Ashton Lane in 1976.

When Ronnie and his business partner, Ian Brydon, opened in Ruthven Lane, Glasgow had only a handful of notable restaurants – Rogano, The Gay Gordon, and Restaurant One-o-One among them. 

Ronnie said in a 1971 Herald interview: "There are so many restaurants making their money without offering much originality.

“We think that if a person goes out for a meal in the evening he wants something that he might not bother preparing at home. So many places are offering pre-packaged meals that are all a bit tasteless and anonymous.”

Ronnie was entirely self-taught, having learned Scottish cooking from his maternal grandmother Jeannie Turner, who had Islay connections. While doing night sentry duty during his national service he would escape into the cookhouse and create dishes for himself and his colleagues.

The Chip rapidly became a success, aided in good measure by its proximity to Glasgow University, BBC Scotland and Western Infirmary.

The Chip has had many famous diners, and even served Princess Margaret lunch and Mick Jagger dinner on the same day.

Other famous faces include Michael Keaton, Billy Connolly, Kylie Minogue, Keira Knightley and Lewis Capaldi.

The menu in 1971 included smoked Tay salmon with scrambled egg (5p) and a 6oz Aberdeen Angus sirloin (67p). A half pheasant, served with ale and cream, was £1.13.

In 2019, Greene King was sold to Hong Kong's richest family in a deal worth £2.7bn. The brewery adds to multibillionaire Li Ka-Shing’s stable of UK assets including Superdrug and Three.