The warm living room feel of The Drinking Otter

The Drinking Otter opened its doors a few months ago at Schuitendiep 62 in Groningen. After five weeks of renovations, the old building of Café De Kachel has been transformed into an atmospheric English-Dutch pub, and passionate owners Tim Kortman and Laura MacKenzie want to spoil their guests with the ambiance of a former ‘gentlemen’s club’.

At the end of March they received the keys to the premises and from May 6 this year Tim Kortman (33) and Laura MacKenzie (27) opened the doors of the pub The Drinking OtterOver the past ten years, Kortman has gained extensive experience in the Groningen hospitality industry at establishments including ’t Feithhuis, De Toeter, and as manager at New Orleans Jazz Café. But it was time for a new challenge, and so the couple came across the building on the Schuitendiep that was previously known as Café De Kachel.

Renovation
MacKenzie recounts how they found the property; it was – and is – an atmospheric building with the stained-glass windows and wrought-iron railings. But otherwise, it was a mess and needed a lot of work; photos of the renovation hang in a place of honor in the pub. By now, the walls are wine-red, the meter cupboard has been transformed into an authentic bookcase, and a chandelier adorns the ceiling.

Luxury segment pub
The Drinking Otter is an English pub with Irish, Scottish, and Dutch influences, aiming to exude the character of a Gentlemen’s Club. “A luxury-segment pub,” Kortman calls his establishment, “but with a low threshold, so naturally everyone is welcome!” As a guest, you can take a seat on a bar stool, on the terrace, or sink into one of the Chesterfield sofas with a matching Scotch whisky. “You can come here for the conviviality, but also for peace and quiet.”

Plans
The proud owners are staying true to themselves and first want to ensure the pub is running at a consistent level. After that, it will be time to think ahead; Kortman explains that they would like to set up a kitchen in the future to serve ‘luxury pub food’. There are also ideas to broadcast rugby matches for enthusiasts, organize wine and whisky tastings, and enter into partnerships with local enterprises and businesses.

I’ll have an Otter one
The love for otters actually crept in through humorous illustrations and puns sent back and forth by Tim and Laura. During drinks, they came up with the idea to name their own business The Drunken Otter—when the time comes. “But we don’t want to project the image of a dive bar,” said MacKenzie. The owners soon came up with the name The Drinking Otter, with the typical slogan: 'I'll have an Otter one'.

Guests
The luxurious but above all warm living room atmosphere in the city center (which the owners aim to achieve with the pub) is already being experienced by many guests, both familiar and unfamiliar. Key priorities are service orientation, expertise, and the personal touch. Kortman: “You will (almost) never hear me address you formally; you have to treat the guest the way you want to be treated yourself.”

The Drinking Otter at Schuitendiep 62 is open Wednesday through Sunday from 4:00 PM. For more information, see here. Facebook and the website from the pub.