The Lounge Bar

The Lounge Bar has nurtured, promoted and been lucky enough to have had some of Scotland’s best known musical talent playing impromptu sessions in the bar over many years.

The Lounge is a mecca for the local music scene and is known the world over, hosting musicians such as Ally Bain, Willie Hunter, Ronald Couper, Fiddlers Bid and even Elvis Costello has popped in for a session in this famous local pub. The Lounge has also won the McEwan’s ‘Best Session’ pub award. Recently the Lounge has been used in the hit BBC Scotland television series Shetland, a crime drama starring Douglas Henshall and based on the books by Ann Cleeves.

‘even Elvis Costello has popped in for a session in this famous local pub’

Publicans regularly claim that their outlet is a “local” but sometimes reality can be a different experience. The Lounge Bar truly is a local experience and is a must visit venue for anyone visiting Shetland on either business or pleasure. Upstairs is famous for its impromptu music sessions from the plethora of talent on the Islands and the downstairs bar is equally as famous for the local “craic” and local personalities all willing to tell their tales on how great Shetland is. The Lounge is also known for its massive range of malts, real ales and locally brewed brands from The Valhalla range to the fantastic Norseman’s Ale themed around Shetland’s annual iconic Up Helly Aa Festival. The Lounge isn’t just a pub, it’s a local institution.

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