Birl Glasgow: new rotisserie launches founders club ahead of opening
Rotisserie chicken, dripping potatoes and someone else sorting dinner? That’s the idea behind Birl, a new food business preparing to open in Glasgow.
Before the chickens start turning, founder Sandor is inviting locals to help get it off the ground through a founders club, with passes offering menu perks, early booking and a say in future flavours.
The name comes from the Scots word meaning to spin or turn, which gives you a fairly good clue about what’s cooking. The plan is slow-roasted chicken, house-made rubs and sauces, and the sort of takeaway you can put in the middle of the table for everyone to tuck into.
What’s on the Birl Glasgow menu?
Chicken takes the lead, with whole and half birds available in the original house seasoning or a changing monthly flavour.
The menu currently shown online features an al pastor option, with pineapple salsa and salsa verde appearing across several dishes.
The chicken bundles pair your bird with dripping potatoes, a choice of celeriac and cabbage remoulade or pineapple salsa, and sauce.
Then there’s the Dirty Birl: pulled chicken piled onto crushed dripping potatoes, finished with crispy onions and roasted garlic mayonnaise. That sounds like a strong contender for a night when cooking has slipped firmly down the to-do list.
There are filled focaccia sandwiches, wings and loaded fries too, alongside limited-edition porchetta dishes. Sunday plans include a pre-order roast for two, with chicken or porchetta, potatoes, remoulade and carrots roasted with hot honey and thyme.
It’s all still a preview of what’s planned, but there’s plenty here to get the appetite going.
How does the Birl founders club work?
The Birl founders club lets people pay upfront for a package of benefits that will begin when the business opens. Birl says it is aiming to raise £10,000 through founders towards an estimated £28,000 opening budget, with Sandor funding the remainder.
The four main passes are one-off payments:
Pass Neighbour £50
Monthly access to the Founders’ Menu for 12 months, a founders party invitation, priority Sunday roast booking, a birthday half chicken and votes on monthly flavours.
Founder £100
Neighbour benefits, with menu access increased to twice monthly, a half chicken on your first visit, guest access to the menu and an optional website listing.
Champion £250
Founder benefits, weekly menu access, a small-group flavour tasting with Sandor, merchandise and an optional name on the shop wall.
Head of the Flock £500
Champion benefits, a numbered place among 20 top-tier founders, a dinner with a guest, a cook-along and a hat.
The Founders’ Menu offers members dishes at special prices; the pass doesn’t mean every visit comes with a free meal.
Access lasts for 12 months from opening, with frequency depending on the pass. It applies to counter orders and direct online pre-orders, excluding third-party delivery platforms.
Smaller ways to get involved
There’s also a £10 Supporter option, which includes the founders newsletter and 20% off one order of £20 or more, capped at £5 off, within three months of opening.
Alternatively, Birl is selling prepaid credit: £50 buys £60 to spend, while £100 buys £120. This can be used in the shop or on Birl’s website within six months of opening.
Credit purchases are separate from founders passes.
When is Birl opening in Glasgow?
Birl is currently described as coming soon. The pages checked do not give a confirmed Glasgow address, although we know it’s Southside or opening date, so there’s a little more waiting before we can plan that chicken dinner.
Anyone considering a pass should read the current founders terms. These describe a purchase of perks, with no ownership stake or financial return, and a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of paying.
Author: Emma Mykytyn
Writes for here and Foodie Explorers website. Usually found napping.