Stepping into the cosy, stone-walled rear bar of MacGregor's in Inverness, visitors immediately encounter a welcoming figure dressed in traditional kilt and sporran. This is Bruce MacGregor, an accomplished fiddle player and the passionate owner of this acclaimed Scottish establishment.
From Family Garage to Cultural Hub
Bruce reveals the building's surprising origins as his father's car dealership during the 1970s. "This actually used to be a garage," he explains. "My father would sell cars from here. I even helped to mix some of the cement for the walls."
Despite his global travels as a founding member of Blazin' Fiddles - a band celebrated as "the Led Zeppelin of the folk world" - Bruce noticed something missing internationally. "Why are there no Scottish pubs? I wondered. We like drinking, we have authentic history and music. It was a puzzle."
This realisation sparked his vision, leading to the 2017 establishment of MacGregor's Bar on Academy Street through crowdfunding support and backing from his wife, Jo de Sylva.
A Multi-Sensory Scottish Experience
The venue features several atmospheric rooms and an outdoor terrace-garden, creating spaces where traditional Scottish music, culture, food and drink blend seamlessly. After pandemic-related closures during 2020-21, MacGregor's has fully revived its vibrant programming.
Locals and tourists alike flock to its ceilidh dances, Highlander Experiences and live music sessions. The menu features drinks and burgers named after famous Scots including William Wallace, Robert Burns and Rob Roy MacGregor - the latter potentially a distant relative of Bruce himself.
Beyond his musical talents, Bruce previously presented BBC Radio Scotland's folk show, demonstrating his skill with storytelling. He treats visitors to stirring fiddle tunes while sharing tales of Scottish historical figures like Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots, and John Knox.
Culinary and Cocktail Innovations
The culinary experience matches the cultural immersion, with tapas-style Scottish classics including creamy cullen skink soup with smoked haddock and leek, warm smoked salmon on potato salad, and handmade Scotch egg with haggis and curry sauce. Dessert features traditional shortbread and cranachan - a delightful mix of oats, berries, cream and whisky.
The cocktail program tells its own Scottish stories. Star barman Jamie creates The Tenacious, a cold toddy-style drink blending sea salt, honey, rosemary and lightly-peated whisky from Raasay. This creation honours crofter Calum MacLeod, who famously built a road on Raasay by hand between 1964 and 1974 after authorities refused.
Another standout cocktail, The Beast, puts a Scottish twist on the espresso martini using Glenfiddich whisky from nearby Speyside and beans roasted by Inverness Coffee Company. This drink recalls controversial English occultist Aleister Crowley, who lived by Loch Ness between 1899 and 1913, with his mythology later revived by rock stars including Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page.
Connecting Past and Present
Bruce's personal stories bridge centuries of Scottish history. He recounts how in 1994, while working as a movie extra in Chasing The Deer - a film about the 1746 Battle of Culloden - he was accidentally stabbed with a bayonet.
The Battle of Culloden marked Britain's last pitched battle, where government troops representing King George II defeated the Jacobite army of Highland clans led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie). The aftermath saw severe suppression of Scottish culture, including bans on tartan dress and the Scottish Gaelic language, plus widespread Highland depopulation that sent many displaced Scots to Australia.
Although Victorian era attitudes softened, Bruce emphasises that Highland memory persists. "Music brings our culture to life," he states. "It was suppressed after Culloden. But it's coming back."
Through MacGregor's Bar, Bruce MacGregor stands as a modern torchbearer for Scottish heritage, blending historical awareness with contemporary hospitality to keep Highland traditions vibrant for locals and visitors alike.
