Tourism initiative promotes Eriskay pub

New tourism initiative promotes Eriskay pub 10/7/14

Am Politician pub in Eriskay is participating in a major new national digital initiative that promotes its unique Scottish story.

Scotland’s Pubs and Bars – A Story to Tell is a partnership between The Scottish Licensed Trade Association, Diageo and Tennents, supported by VisitScotland’s Growth Fund. It promotes a positive image of Scottish pubs to both existing and new visitors to Scotland, highlighting their variety, quality and culture.

Am Politician is named after the SS Politician which sank in February 1941 en-route to Jamaica in the waters between Eriskay and South Uist. All crew were rescued and the islanders helped themselves to some of the 40,000 cases of Scotch whisky before winter weather broke up the ship.

The pub was built in 1988 when the island had approximately 200 residents and was accessed only by boat. It was named in her honour and carries a couple of the famous whisky bottles from that time.

There have been numerous films and books such as ‘Whisky Galore' written about the SS Politician.

Scotland’s Pubs and Bars – A Story to Tell is a £110,000 initiative which has been match-funded with £55,000 from the VisitScotland Growth Fund comes as recent figures show that tourist spend in Scotland’s pubs and restaurants is expected to grow significantly by 2017.