The Botany – A Foodie Haven in Maryhill
After months of redesign following a £200,000 investment, the doors to The Botany have officially opened! The chic restaurant space with a glasshouse conservatory and outdoor terrace will cater to Glaswegians on the hunt for a beautiful eatery, free from the pretence of fine dining.
The restaurant, located on Maryhill Road, is the latest venture of Alan Tomkins, the man behind a whole host of the city’s best-loved venues, including Urban Bar & Brasserie, Vroni’s Wine Bar and Blue Dog.
The name pays homage to the tale of prisoners starting their journey to Botany Bay on the nearby Forth and Clyde Canal.
Alan, a former board director of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, believes this move could encourage more bars and restaurants to think outside the box and break free from the shackles of the West End.
He said: “This is a very exciting time for Glasgow. Having worked in hospitality for as long as I can remember, I’ve seen the city change and develop its attitudes towards food and drink. Options used to be very limited. Now, Glasgow’s a haven for foodies.
The transformation of Finnieston came because of a few anchor venues offering spectacular food and drink.”
The team at The Botany aim to lead a similar sea-change in Maryhill and North Kelvinside.
“Our aim is to not only to maintain a local institution, but to attract customers from the West End, Bearsden and Milngavie. The delicious food, seasonal cocktails and fantastic atmosphere will add a lot to what is already an up and coming area.”
The menus are inspired by cuisine from across the globe, while the look and feel of The Botany, which is just a stone’s throw from the Maryhill Locks, elicits comparison to restaurants on the canals of Amsterdam.
The menu will deliver comfort food at a high level using locally-sourced ingredients. Highlights include a venison loin smoked in-house and a Sri-Lankan-style monkfish curry. There will also be brunch specials served on Sundays, a multitude of botanical cocktails, extensive wine list, rotating bottle selection, quality gins and whisky.
