Did you know The Hay Stook is more than just a pub? It’s a place steeped in East Kilbride’s history. This Wetherspoon pub sits in the heart of Princes Mall. The mall stands on what was once open countryside.
Let’s go back in time. Imagine hayfields and harvest stooks stretching out before you. These stooks were sheaves of grain set upright to dry. The new town of East Kilbride replaced this rural landscape. Harold Macmillan officially opened it on 1 May 1959. The town covered 6,000 acres.
The Hay Stook’s location is significant. It is within one of six malls in Scotland’s largest undercover shopping centre. Originally, the centre consisted of two parades of shops. These shops were open to the elements. They became the focal point of the new town.
The pub’s name pays homage to the area’s agricultural past. A sculpture called “Stook of Steel” stands as a reminder. It represents a sheaf of hay. The sculpture is made from 400 bars of steel. Each bar was heated and hammered.
The Hay Stook opened after a £1.5 million revamp. Local sports stars attended the opening. Ross ‘The Boss’ Montgomery and Billy Ogilvie cut the ribbon.
Inside The Hay Stook, you can find historical photos and information. Artwork by local artists also adorns the walls. The pub majors in real ales. It also stocks craft and world beers. A covered beer garden sits at the front.
So, next time you visit The Hay Stook remember its story. It is a modern pub with deep roots in East Kilbride’s past. It is a place where town meets country.