What do you get when you cross a pop-star, a golfer with an ancient university town? Quite a lot of upset Scots, that’s what.
Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods have recently submitted plans to Fife Council to convert a 1930s cinema in St Andrews, Scotland into a sports bar. If the proposal is accepted it would become the second site for the duo’s gastropub business, which is called T-Squared Social and already has a venue in Manhattan, New York.
Their plans for the town’s New Picture House include having golf simulators and giant screens to show sports alongside a dining area. One of the cinema’s screens would be kept to show new movie releases.
The choice of St Andrews isn’t a completely random selection by the two stars. Woods won two Open Championships there and golf-fanatic JT played in the pro-am Alfred Dunhill Links Championship there.
Woods said: ‘I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many special moments here at St Andrews. We all wanted to bring our T-Squared Social concept here to add to the local community and be a welcoming place for those living in St Andrews and for visitors alike.’
But some locals aren’t happy about the idea. Neil Dobson from the St Andrews community council told The Courier that the plans to convert the ‘iconic’ building are ‘disrespectful’ and ‘a bit cheeky’.
He said: ‘This town has been very good to Tiger Woods and this is not the way to repay residents. An American bar is completely out of keeping. It will be full of American golfers with nothing left in the town for children at all.’
Plans still need to be approved, so whether you’ll be able to par-tee (sorry) in Scotland with Tiger and JT is yet to be decided.
Time Out in Scotland
We don’t blame Woods and Timberlake for wanting a slice of the Scottish pie. After all, the country does have some of the most stunning scenery in the UK and beyond. Check out our essential guide to the Scottish Highlands to see for yourself.
ICYMI: this new interactive map shows the UK’s cheapest Wetherspoons.
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