The Birnam Hotel opens its doors to the Birnam Inn Pop-Up Pub

How are the renovations progressing behind the scenes at The Birnam Hotel?

There’s a great deal happening behind the scenes at the moment. Our joinery work is in full swing, with carpenter Theo crafting bespoke bookshelves for the Bureau, while the rest of the team are building banquette seating for the restaurant and new bars using beautifully reclaimed timber. In the bathrooms, tiling is well underway and our lovely sanitaryware from the Cast Iron Bath Company is now being installed.Painting has also resumed, and we’re excited to see some of our bedrooms nearing completion. We’re working with French paint specialists Argile, selecting a palette inspired by the natural landscape here in Perthshire – bringing an earthy, grounded feel to the interiors as everything begins to come together.

What led you to launch the Birnam Inn as a pop-up at this point in the renovation?

Our local community were eager to see the pub reopen as it’s one of only two options for a drink in the village. As things are taking a little longer than expected in the hotel itself, we felt that we wanted to share at least one space with those supporting us. We’ve pulled the space together in a couple of weeks with a very limited budget, so it’s not perfect, but most people who have visited so far seem happy with the result. We also need to bring in a little cash to help with the rest of the renovations, so any profit from the pub will go straight back into the main building.

Favourite elements you have brought to the space?

Two large Douglas Fire pews we bought from an old church in Dundee. They’re quite an unusual style, but both fit perfectly in the space! We also love the character of an old, weathered and worn Orkney chair by the fire, and a few old Scottish paintings picked up in various thrift and antique shops.

What original features or historical details have you kept within the pub?

We’ve kept the original bar and wood panelling, plus the big open stone fireplace. The previous owners had a plug in electric fire, but we removed it and had the chimneys swept so it’s back in action. We also found an old stone spaniel in the building, that now takes pride of place on the mantlepiece. 

What kind of atmosphere are you aiming to create in the space?

Warm, welcoming and rooted in local character. At its heart, it’s a traditional old pub – somewhere that feels familiar the moment you walk in. Friday and Saturday nights bringing a bit more energy, with drinks and good music. During the day, we’re leaning into something more relaxed – a cosy, old-inn feel inspired by the coaching inn that once stood on the site. The idea is to create a place people naturally gravitate towards: somewhere to come after a walk, or arrive by train, bike,  even horse,  and settle in for a pie and a pint.