Thursday January 22nd 2026
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Reports of a pub boss ‘revving his motorbike past one in the morning’ for customers were heard by councillors before they denied him a licence hours extension.
Murray McKean, a director of the firm that owns the Tourlamet pub on Buchanan Street, hoped to see the venue open later on Thursday and earlier on Sunday.
But councillors at a Monday licensing board meeting denied the Thursday extension, from midnight to 1am, after hearing from neighbours and Police Scotland.
One neighbour told councillors: “I understand that a bar is a business. They have to operate. People are allowed to have their freedom on the weekend, and I have no issues with that.
“I try to be understanding on both sides, but the one thing is the owner of the bar has a very lovely motorbike.
“It’s a very impressive bike, but they will show it off to customers at the end of the night and rev the motorbike engine at 10 past one in the morning.
“And so I’m in my bed going, oh my goodness. This bike is very nice. I like this bike. But I don’t want to hear it at one in the morning.”
The neighbour also described how they felt allowing a later opening time on a weeknight would have an impact on their rest, as well of that of other nearby residents.
A representative of Police Scotland added that a reported lock-in had taken place at the venue in August of last year.
McKean dodged losing his personal licence last year after being convicted of assault over an incident where he confronted a barred patron outside the same pub.
Licensing solicitor Alistair Macdonald, representing Mr McKean, said on Monday the publican was not in attendance due to a doctor’s appointment.
He added the director was originally hoping to get extensions to 1am on several days, but they had scaled back to asking for the Thursday and Sunday changes only.
Mr Macdonald, who defended Mr McKean at his licence hearing last year, said the venue had been established in the area for many generations.
Additionally, he said the premises had historically been able to open later, due to both the council and the venue holding incorrect records of what opening times were allowed.
He added that issues raised by residents should have been brought to Mr McKean directly – though one resident later said they had been in touch with the publican four months ago.
Speaking on the motorbike, Mr Macdonald said: “I can certainly guarantee that I will notify Murray he shouldn’t be revving up his motorbike.
“And if that is what Murray is doing, I will tell him that he should be stopping that straight away.”
Mr McKean is also the part owner of Ventoux, a Tour de France themed pub in Tollcross.
Addressing the lock-in, Mr Macdonald said the staff involved had been disciplined, and that Mr McKean now had motion-activated CCTV in the bar to ensure it shut on time.
Green councillor Chas Booth asked Mr Macdonald: “Why should it be up to residents to tell the business owner not to run his motorbike at one in the morning?”
Mr Macdonald said: “I haven’t had the opportunity of discussing that with him, but I will tell him, ‘what is he thinking of’, I mean that’s just ridiculous.
“So, hands up with that one. I mean, he may say, ‘I don’t think I ever do that’, but if he does do it, he shouldn’t be doing it. No excuses.”
Cllr Booth asked the objecting neighbours present in the room what their opinion was on making the pub’s opening time a half hour earlier on Sunday, from noon to 11.30.
One neighbour replied: “I wouldn’t mind the morning being more, because that wouldn’t be disturbing for me so much.”
They continued to mention the bike again, saying: “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind the morning, but the nighttime is – it’s not great for us living with the noises.
“And I did raise the bike with him before. And it’s a beautiful bike, but he loves showing it off. Maybe you would, I would show it off, but I wouldn’t show it off at that time.”
Liberal Democrat councillor and board convener Louise Young said the discussion felt more like a licence review hearing – where one would be revoked – than a licence variation.
Councillors agreed to grant the venue an 11.30am opening time on Sundays, but denied the application for a 1am close on Thursdays.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service attempted to reach Mr McKean for comment, but did not hear back by time of publication.
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