A FORMER fish and chip shop in the city’s Southside has been transformed into an exciting new cocktail bar.

The Old Fish Bar has opened on Coustonholm Road, in Shawlands, in the unit formerly home to Guido’s which closed in September 2022.

The location had operated as a fish and chip shop for more than 100 years. 

Following the closure of Guidos’s, Stefano Azzaro bought over the shop and is giving it a ‘new lease of life’ with the seafood-focused 16-seat cocktail and tapas bar.

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Glasgow Times:

Stefano, who comes from Noto in Sicily, said: "We decided to maintain part of the style [of the chip shop] and we have done more than one year of work inside.

"We have restored the original architecture of the Victorian building.

"The concept we have is we are inspired by the sea – we want to talk about the story of the sea in our menus, especially in the cocktail menu.

"All the cocktail names and recipes are inspired by a story or legend about the sea.

"The menu is based on seafood and has an infusion of techniques from around the world.

"We don’t have a specific Italian style or Scottish style.

"For the first menu for example we have the classic fish and chip supper but with a twist."

Glasgow Times:

The food and drink menus will change every six weeks and while The Old Fish Bar will have an extensive drinks menu, it will be alcohol-free to begin with.

Stefano hopes the decision will create a welcoming environment for people who are unable to or choose not to drink alcohol.

The 34-year-old explained: "We decided to start with an alcohol-free menu.

"I looked online for other restaurants or cocktail bars doing something similar in the UK but I only found one in London.

"For me, it’s been a lot of work because I found an ingredient which can simulate the taste of alcohol. It’s not been easy.

"I started to study and understand what I can do and found a solution with the natural fermentation of vegetables and fruit to give something that can simulate the taste of alcohol."

Glasgow Times:

He continued: "We also lost some time applying for the alcohol licence but some of my friends said 'why don’t you try and make something alcohol-free'.

"I had to think about it because people in Scotland like alcohol but I thought why not? Why not try to be the first to do something like this?

"I like to take risks.

"When you want a mocktail the offer is very limited with fruit juice but what I want to offer is like a real cocktail."

Glasgow Times:

Stefano moved to Glasgow in 2020 and has an extensive background working in bars across Europe.  

He was also part of the team behind That’s Fritto which took over the former Oscar’s Bar and Kitchen on Kilmarnock Road last summer serving Sicilian-inspired dishes but he is the sole owner of the new cocktail bar.  

Stefano, who also lives in Shawlands, says he was keen to open a business in the area because of its "potential".

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Glasgow Times:

The Old Fish Bar finally opened its doors on Tuesday, May 1 following a year of hard work.

Stefano added: "I’m very excited to finally open it.

"I’ve been waiting one year for this moment.

"I’m very optimistic because we’ve received a lot of nice feedback from potential customers."

The Old Fish Bar is located at 74 Coustonholm Road.

It is open 5pm-12am Wednesday to Friday and 12pm-12am Saturday and Sunday.

Bookings are made via direct message on Instagram at Instagram.com/the_old_fish_bar/