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THIS past Thursday (November 10), Guinness Malaysia officially launched its first-ever flagship location in the country, Arthur’s Storehouse, at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur.
As is befitting a bar and restaurant that represents such a world-famous brand, the drinking and dining experience is all things Guinness with a menu of food and cocktails infused with the heady stout.
“Beer is a sign that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” said Roland Bala, managing director of Heineken Malaysia Berhad, quoting US founding father Benjamin Franklin – though there’s no historical proof he actually said this.
The idea for the store first came about in a meeting back in 2019, between Roland and George Ang, the director of the Storehouse Project, with the goal of building something similar to what one would find in Dublin.
After some deliberation, it was decided that Pavilion KL would be the location, with the construction of the store itself taking two and a half months. Even with the constraint, they could only work from midnight to 6am, because of the cinema located on the floor above.
Much of Arthur Storehouse’s decor, in terms of colour and design, is an extension of what one expects from Guinness. There’s a lot of wood panelling, dark tones, and appropriate ambience.
“The very first Guinness flagship outlet is designed to give Malaysian fans the Dublin Storehouse experience right in the heart of KL. For that, we are thrilled about this exclusive partnership created between Guinness Malaysia and Storehouse Project,” said Shaun Lim, marketing manager of Guinness Malaysia.
There’s a history wall, photography corner to take pics for the Gram, a bar and dining area, as well as a lounge with the distinct colours and feel of Guinness.
For those interested in a hands-on experience, special rates are available for drinkers who want to learn the art of pouring the perfect glass of stout themselves with the help of the Guinness Academy.
The menu for Arthur’s Storehouse features a variety of exclusive Guinness-infused dishes, such as BBQ hot wings glazed with homemade Guinness sauce, Guinness aged ribeye steak and Guinness shepherd’s pie, among many others.
In terms of drinks, there is a Guinness-infused cocktail menu, offering choice beverages such as the ‘Black Velvet’, a mixture of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and Prosecco, the ‘St James Gate’ which is a mixture of Guinness Draught, Irish Whiskey and coconut milk with cinnamon, and the ‘Guinnesstini’ made with Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur and ice cream.
“Bringing in this Arthur house, bringing in the Dublin experience, what we have in Ireland, is really something that was close to my heart. For us, it’s really to give all you consumers a real experience,” said Roland. – The Vibes, November 13, 2022
