Monday December 15th 2025
Reivers bar in Galashiels
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A Hearts-supporting councillor has pledged to return to a Galashiels sports bar for a pint after learning it no longer housed a Celtic Supporters Club.
Fans of The Bhoys used to gather at Reivers Snooker in the town’s High Street before heading off to matches.
But the supporters club stopped using the venue over a year ago and the upstairs area where they once congregated has now been converted into a new function room.
Members of Scottish Borders Council’s Licensing Board last week granted the variation of a premises licence submitted by Angle Park Leisure Limited.
The committee also agreed changes to the venue’s operating hours and for the use of a beer garden until 8pm and then until 10pm, if a noise abatement submission is approved.
Independent Councillor David Parker made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the venue’s previous football association.
He said: “In a light-hearted way, from someone who is not a Celtic supporter but was a Hearts supporter, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a pint in that establishment and I look forward to having one in the future.”
The Reivers venue was also previously the Unionist Club or Conservative Club, known locally as the “Con Club” or “The Kremlin”.
Its so-called “dodgy” past was referenced by committee chair, SNP councillor Marshall Douglas, who added: “We won’t mention the previous use before it was a Celtic Supporters Club, given its dodgier history than that.”
The SNP’s Councillor Fay Sinclair said: “As a Galashiels councillor I know this is a valued local facility and I welcome that all the licences are being put in line with how the business needs to operate.”
Applicant Steven Turnbull told committee members: “When I took over the premises in 2019 the club upstairs was getting used as a Celtic Supporters Club.
“There was a bit of a contradiction as they were using the premises licence but selling their own alcohol.
“They have moved on for about a year and a half now and I’ve been renovating upstairs into a function hall, and I plan to do parties and private functions for hire which I’ve included in the application to allow children in.
“I’ve put separate toilets in so the children do not have to attend the toilets downstairs, it’s completely separate.
“I didn’t realise when I took over that the beer garden wasn’t actually in the operating plan so that needs to be updated to meet the criteria of my business.
“I think it will be good for the town centre to have the beer garden in use, especially in the summer.”
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