Double win for East Kilbride bar and restaurant co-owned by former Scotland international
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The bar and restaurant which is co-owned by a former Scotland international footballer has scooped a double win
An East Kilbride bar and restaurant joint owned by a former Scotland international footballer has scooped a double success.
East Kilbride hospitality destination Ruby’s, which is co-owned by former Hamilton Accies, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace player James McArthur and Struan Barclay, has celebrated a double win at the 2026 DRAM Awards.
The venue on St James Way was named Best Bar, while joint owner Struan Barclay was also recognised with the Black Ivy and Montpeliers Rising Star Entrepreneur award.
The awards, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow, celebrate the very best of Scotland’s hospitality industry, recognising the venues, businesses and individuals making their mark across the sector.
Commenting, Struan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the recognition Ruby’s has received. From the outset, our aim was to create somewhere that East Kilbride could genuinely be proud of, and the team has worked incredibly hard to make that happen.
“James and I had a clear vision for what we wanted to create when we took on the project and bringing that vision to life has been a huge team effort.
“Winning Best Bar so soon after opening is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to everyone who has played a part in building Ruby’s. We’re incredibly proud of what the team has created and excited about what’s still to come.”
The accolades come less than a year after Ruby’s opened its doors following a £700,000-plus transformation of the former Coppertrees restaurant.
The transformation saw the creation of “a vibrant, modern venue that feels equally suited to breakfast with the family, lunch with colleagues, evening cocktails or a celebratory night out”.
Since opening, the venue has established itself in the local community, with more than 100 covers, an adjoining bar and heated outdoor garden, alongside a menu focused on locally sourced ingredients and bold, flavour-packed dishes.
The DRAM recognition is a significant milestone for the independent venue, with the Best Bar award recognising the team’s work in establishing Ruby’s as a new hospitality destination in East Kilbride.