New Year, New Look

The dust has finally settled, the builders have all gone, and the Council have stopped shouting at us for daring to paint the front of our building without paying an exorbitant and totally ludicrous fee for the privilege. Yes, it's a new year at The Grog & Gruel, and a new look.


The impossible brief has been delivered. Congratulations to Burns Design who were asked to modernise the traditional alehouse, but not to break it, to change it but not to detract from what we are. We must admit, we thought we'd got them stumped when we came up with that one, but actually, it all seems to have turned out rather well.


But maybe it's not so surprising after all. Burns Design actually created The Grog & Gruel back in 1994 when we first brought the Traditional Alehouse & Restaurant concept to The Rock & Luigi's, as it was known then. Their working knowledge of the business and our aspirations is probably better placed than anyone else's as a result.


The change has been fairly comprehensive. A new gantry in the Alehouse sets the scene as you walk in through the double doors. The puggy machine has been cast out and in it's place we've now got Chuffer's Corner, possibly the best seat in the house. And the fire helps to add a certain cosiness to the place.


All change in the entrance too. Horace still watches over you as you enter, and we still have a few finishing touches to add here to really make you feel welcome.


Upstairs in the Restaurant there's a new look too. A new servery, new colour scheme, a few more larger tables to help us accommodate you and your friends when you come in together, but, we're pleased to say, still the same smiley helpful waiting staff!


The guys in the kitchen were feeling a little left out, so we took the opportunity of the downtime to bring in a brand new pizza oven, Well, two of them actually. And the difference is, well, you'll need to find out for yourselves!


So, when you're next on Fort William's High Street, do pop in for a look see. You'll still recognise The Grog & Gruel, though you might (hopefully!) spot a few differences.

Hope to welcome you back soon!

Work in progress

Working through the weekend, the end of the refurbishment project is now in site. It's all a bit chaotic, but out of the dust and the debris, there are glimpses of the finished product.

Now the frost has gone, the decorators get outside.

We don't want to give too much away - but we can tell you it's going to look fantastic!

The new flock wallpaper has gone on well! (Yes, it's the real thing!)

All will be revealed this coming Thursday. Probably!

Can you tell what it is yet?

Time for a makeover

It could be too much day time TV that's done it, but after 16 (long!) years at The Grog & Gruel we reckon that it's now time we had a bit of a makeover.

The Alehouse & Restaurant will be closed from Sunday 28th November, and, assuming all goes to plan, which lets face it is a bit optimistic at best, will re-open on

Thursday 16th December.

Make it a date in your diary. Maybe it's appropriate to bring in the new with a "Bjorn Again" party? 70's flares it is then.

Artist's impression of the new look exterior

No, sorry, forget that. We will have a bit of a re-opening party on Thursday 16th December, but you don't need to come in your flares. Not unless you want to, that is.

The Alehouse will be brought to life with the new karaoke equipment.
Full height, full length wall mirrors will effectively double the size and ensure that you can always check that you're looking hot.

Quit being flippant and tell us what's happening I hear you say?

Back in 1994 we had a clear vision of what The Grog & Gruel was going to be all about. The clue was in the name. Food and drink. No fuss (not an advert for a local events company, but a statement of policy!), no frills, but good honest food and drink in a relaxed environment with a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure. 16 years, we reckon we've got there, and with that in mind, we're not about to change it.

We'll still be The Grog & Gruel, we'll still be an Alehouse and Restaurant, we'll still sell a superb range of real ales, the menus aren't changing, and we'll still be the best pub in town.

We're going for a more retro Italian look in the restaurant, but note that we've made the seats more comfy.

What will change is a little bit of what you see. A lick of paint here, a lick of paint there... And perhaps a little bit extra too. Some stonework, a black stove to huddle round on the very few rainy days we get in Fort William, and..., well you'll just have to wait and see!

Join us on Facebook, and so long as it doesn't all look too scary and off putting, we'll keep you up to date with progress. Now go and find your platforms and iron those flares... Gimme, gimme a man after midnight...

Mission accomplished

How long does it take to do a job? Twice as long as you allow. Simple. Anyway, after a slightly longer than expected absence, our chefs are back with their brand new kitchen floor, ready to cater (see what I did there!) to your every need.

The new altro floor and a very shiney kitchen.

And all that clutter that we'd piled in the restaurant while we sorted out the kitchen, and also laid a new hard wearing and resistant floor in the food store, is now back in its rightful place. With a couple more weeks of restricted opening as is usual through January, we're ready for everything the coming has to throw at us. Bring it on!

What? No Food!

Happy New Year!

Another Hogmanay week over and done with. Good to see the place busy again. Lots of happy faces around, thirsty and hungry and somewhat red-cheeked after some stunning days out on the hills. Thick fog lying on the head of Loch Linnhe made the town a bit gloomy on a few mornings, and with a heavy haw frost and sub zero temperatures it looked like something off an atmospheric film set. However, head a few hundred feet up the hills and above the sea of clouds you'd find some stunning sunny weather (and a degree or 2 warmer).

So, doom, gloom recession, lack of Woolies on the High Street and all that, but we seem to have bucked the trend and had our own little oasis of prosperity at The Grog & Gruel. For one week at least!

A different story if you turn up hungry this week though! What? No food!

The kitchen is closed for a few days so that we can replace the floor covering and give it a bit of a makeover. Its now nearly 13 years since we last gave it a complete overhaul and, despite being an incredibly hard worked area, it has stood the test of time well. This essential work is sound investment and will undoubtedly help to keep our already high standards high. Unfortunately, as we need access to the entire floor area in the kitchen and wash-up areas, the sink is now in the restaurant, the griddle is on table 7 and no one has seen the fridge since Sunday. Normal service will be resumed shortly!