Discover how The Cartvale has continuously evolved to make it a true destination in Busby, Glasgow.
Heading over to Glasgow’s southside and the suburb of Busby, we were met by Rick and Liz, the husband-and-wife team that run The Cartvale, a lovely community pub that’s got something for everyone.
Making The Cartvale the place to be
When they took over the pub, Rick and Liz wanted to create somewhere that was a true destination. Somewhere that anyone could walk into and instantly feel comfortable. It was about making sure everyone was looked after, well-fed and entertained. As Liz says, “The pub’s evolved from a pub that was fairly an old school boozer… to a much more family-friendly, open, country pub, part of the community now really.”
Shaping their vision
The Cartvale pub has four distinct areas, made up of a cosy, traditional style pub layout with a wood burner, a dedicated restaurant upstairs, a private function room that can be used for parties and other events, and an outdoor space with that all-important beer garden. It gave them a canvas to showcase a range of offerings that include a dedicated food offering, live music and even holding biker meet-ups in the beer garden! Rick elaborates: “I've been able to get my own personal passions into the business as well. I’m a biker, so we held a couple of bike nights, which were really successful. Liz continues, “Over 100 motorbikes came down on a sunny night and we had a barbecue outside!”
Flexibility is key
Rick explains that they are given a lot of independence from Star Pubs, which allows them to be flexible and adaptable, to really give the customers what they want.
It’s about your local feeling like a local and being able to change based on what your customers want. As Rick says, “I think the opportunity to pick your own standpoint for the pub is there…it doesn’t feel like a branded operation...so it really does feel like it is our own business, which is nice.”
Part of the family
Both Rick and Liz want every customer to feel they’re welcome and part of something bigger. The pub has a family vibe as all three of Rick and Liz’s children work with them part time at the pub. Rick has always worked in the hospitality industry and wanted to go for it with his own pub, and Liz was previously in the engineering & recruitment industries, and their diverse skills dovetail perfectly. They love working together and also think that working in their pub has helped their kids gain more confidence, social skills and life experience. It’s a win win situation for their family and the local community, so if you’re ever in the area, make sure you pay The Cartvale a visit, it’s 100% worth it!
