Although he hung up his boots 40 years ago, Gordon Ramsay will be returning to Rangers FC for a new culinary venture at the Glasgow club’s Ibrox stadium. A knee injury as a teenager ultimately crushed Glasgow-born Ramsay’s dream of playing professionally for his boyhood club and ultimately resulted in him choosing to embark on a career in the kitchen, rather than on the pitch. But now these two very different paths have converged as the Scottish Premiership club has announced the opening of a new hospitality lounge, called ‘Menu by Gordon Ramsay’, at Ibrox.
While details of the menu are yet to be released, the newly-opened Blue Sky Lounge at the stadium will also be serving some of the same dishes.
Ramsay said: “From a very young age I dreamt about having my name up in lights at Ibrox. Whilst my football career may have ended prematurely, I’m proud and delighted to have partnered with the Rangers team to develop an exclusive menu for the iconic stadium. ‘Menu by Gordon Ramsay’, features a stunning menu of seasonal produce and stand out dishes, all personally chosen by myself to offer a world class dining experience at the home of Scottish football.”
James Bisgrove, the club’s newly-appointed CEO, added that the discussions about the possibility of a project with Ramsay had been taking place since July last year: “The Blue Sky Lounge restaurant has already been incredibly popular with our supporters and with Gordon’s signature menu being introduced soon, I’m sure it will continue to be a ‘must visit’ restaurant in Glasgow. Ibrox is quickly becoming a destination in its own right for Rangers supporters and for visitors from all over the world.”
Ramsay has not always enjoyed business success in the city. In 2004, three years after it opened and two years after it received a Michelin Star, he had to close down Amaryllis, the restaurant at the One Devonshire Gardens hotel (though a spokesperson at the time claimed it was in order to “consolidate” operations in London).
The celebrity chef also recently launched his range of Italian wines in Australia.