LICENSEE INTERVIEW JASON CADDY HEADED TO GREENOCK RECENTLY TO CATCH UP WITH ANDREW, THE MAN CREDITED WITH REVERSING THE FORTUNES OF LITHGOWS
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icensee Andrew McQuade reversed the fortunes of a rundown Greenock pub during the pandemic to such an extent that Lithgows made it to the Kopparberg New Bar of the Year finalists at the 2021 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards. He took on the leasehold from Hawthorn Leisure during the first lockdown in March 2020, refurbished it shortly afterward, and brought in a whole new team to run it. He’s also been leasing The Cabin in his native Clydebank from Rosemount Taverns for four years and employs 20 staff between the two through his company, Quade Leisure. And all this from a man that is only 32 and who also turned his own life around. Said Andrew, “I was on benefits seven years ago. I genuinely have come from nothing. I saved up the money for my first lease and have continually re-invested the money I have made back into the bars and it’s definitely paid off in customer loyalty and sales. “Lithgows had such a tarnished reputation before I took it on that the council were initially very interested in what I was doing, but they’ve since eased off now that they can see I am running a very different operation to how it’s been in the past.” Lithgows award nomination was a massive boost to the entire team and Andrew never imagined getting this type of industry recognition so soon after starting his pub company. “It was such a shock to be nominated let alone make it to the finals against the likes of Moskito in Glasgow when I have only been doing this for four years and am relatively new to the game. “It was such a massive boost and I was so proud of achieving this and of my team. A guy from a council estate wouldn’t normally be at an event like that, but I worked hard for it and was honoured and humbled by it all.” What was it that lit the spark in Andrew to start building his own pub estate? “I grew up in Faifley just outside Clydebank, in an average family. My step-dad went out to work and my mum was a stay-at-home mum. I wasn’t born into money. I didn’t come into money. I have got where I am through hard work and determination and the spark was lit by me wanting to get out there and make something of myself. “ I don’t want to be stuck in a job where someone is determining my wages. I would rather work for my money and bring something new hospitality. For example, I created the entire
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DRAM OCTOBER 2021
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH
