Award-winning Stirling bar Kilted Kangaroo has rebranded as Scottish pub Slanj-A-Va.
The team behind the Upper Craigs venue decided to call time on the pub’s Australian theme and have revamped the premises to relaunch as Slanj A Va – the phonetic spelling of Gaelic term Slàinte Mhath.
The refresh features a major investment in the pub’s sound system as it aims to become the new home of live music in Stirling.
Meanwhile, daily entertainment includes DJs, Karaoke, quizzes, comedy nights, acoustic sets plus indoor and outdoor gigs while an impressive, graffiti mural showcasing Scottish music icons has been spray painted at the entrance to the popular bar.
The colourful murals – which feature Gerry Cinnamon, Lewis Capaldi, Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spiteri, Paolo Nutini, Billy Connolly and more – were commissioned to highlight the venue’s focus on live music and brighten up an uninspiring space.
Slanj A Va is also introducing a new menu featuring Scottish Classics with a twist and favourite dishes from around the world and has an extensive selection of drinks including a new range of malt whiskies and its very own Slanj lager.
Owner Andrew Mitchell and Bobby Galloway, Group Manager at Kilted Pub Group, decided it was time for a refresh of the pub which has been the Australian-themed Kilted Kangaroo for the last 14 years.
Bobby says: “We felt the theme was getting a bit old and given that all themed bars have a timeline of about 10 years, it seemed like the right time for a change and a rebrand. Our goal is to have a great Scottish bar with the best food, drink and live music – somewhere which has a lively student feel but is also popular with tourists and local people.
We’re aiming for a venue which is unashamedly Scottish and that’s why we chose the name Slanj A Va – we deliberated over the spelling and decided to go with the phonetic rather than the Gaelic as not everyone speaks Gaelic and we’re mindful that at least half our customers are tourists and students.”
Slanj A Va is the phonetic spelling of Slàinte Mhath, which translates as ‘good health,’ and is how many Scots and others say ‘Cheers’ as they raise a glass to one another.
And since, Slanj A Va held its opening weekend at the end of September, pubgoers have been enjoying their time in the refurbished venue which prides itself on offering a warm welcome and first-class Scottish hospitality.
Bobby says: “We’re all about the people, good food and drink, the ambience and live music and we have the same welcoming team and friendly faces as before – that’s not changed as everyone will see when they come in.
We’ve had great feedback so far and many of our customers have been blown away by the improvements and the Scottish character and feel of the place. We’ve invested in the sound system and the stage to reflect the importance of bands and the music industry to us and to show we are a serious music venue which is here to stay.
We have some form of entertainment on offer every day and a dedicated area for that with a stage which be adjusted so it can be used for a lone acoustic guitarist or a full band when needed.”
Forthcoming music events include The Complete Stone Roses on November 19 and Abba tribute duo Voyage in December.
Bobby adds: “We’ve got lots of different things happening with the Comedy Club starting up soon, a new malt whisky range on offer and a Slanj lager being brewed for us. Our new menu is being finalised and we’re excited to be taking the pub in a different direction and really improving on the great venue we already had.
The pub – which as Kilted Kangaroo won the 2023 Pub/Bar of the Year at Go Forth’s inaugural Stirling Business Awards – is based at 9, Upper Craigs, Stirling.
It is open daily from 11am until midnight Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11am till 1am Thursdays, from 11am until 2am on Friday and Saturday and from 12 noon until midnight on Sunday.
The website – www.kiltedkangaroo.com – is currently being updated and the pub is also on Instagram – www.instagram.com/slanjavastirling/ and Facebook
– www.facebook.com/Slanjavastirling
