The Rum Shack opened on Pollokshaws Road in 2014, started by Tobago-born Brian Austin with partners Michael Smith and Lewis Macaulay, who had already run a smaller West Indies-inspired bar called Fire in Babylon for three years. The bar stocks over a hundred rums alongside Caribbean cooking with vegan and vegetarian options alongside meat and fish dishes. A covered beer garden sits behind the main room, and the Dancehall, a 220-capacity space at the back, hosts reggae, ska and comedy nights along with DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights. Tables can be reserved but only for parties ordering food, keeping the bar area free for walk-ins. Under-18s are welcome until early evening, after which the venue shifts later. It remains independently owned by its three founders rather than part of any hospitality group.
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