Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods — or, more precisely, the luxury real estate development company in which they are shareholders — are set to open a new upscale sports bar in St. Andrews, Scotland, the BBC reports.
The bar, T-Squared Social, will be located within the historic New Picture House Cinema, which as part of its redevelopment plans will retain its two original movie screens and also introduce a restaurant, bar, duckpin bowling, darts and sports simulators.
Developers Nexus Luxury Collection first proposed transforming the theatre into a sports bar last year and Fife Council finally approved the plans this month. The council said the proposed scheme would “protect and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area” whilst creating 40 to 45 new jobs.
The owners of the 700-seat New Picture House Cinema, which opened in 1930, have strongly supported T Squared Social’s proposals. In planning documents they say the cinema is no longer “viable” as an “independent cinema business” and currently has an “attendance rate” of less than 10%.
It is unclear when T-Squared Social will open in St Andrews, but the terms of the proposal state work should begin within the next three years.
Timberlake and Woods came up with the idea for T-Squared Social after playing golf together in the Bahamas. (“T-Squared” is short for “Tiger” and “Timberlake,” by the way.) The first flagship store opened in New York City last year, but there have always been plans to expand the clubs around the world.
St. Andrews is a fitting choice for their second venue. The Scottish city is known as the “home of golf” thanks to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the Old Course at St. Andrews Links, which frequently hosts the British Open, the world’s oldest golf tournament. Woods has won the British Open three times in his career (2000, 2005, 2006), while Timberlake previously played in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, held at the Old Course at St. Andrews in 2019.
In a statement, Woods said he had experienced “many special moments” at St. Andrews and hoped the new bar would be a “welcoming destination” for locals and tourists. Nexus CEO Christopher Annand added that they were “careful to preserve and celebrate the theatre’s historic architecture and design and continue its tradition of screening great films.”
News of T Square Social’s endorsement in St. Andrews comes just weeks after Timberlake was arrested in the Hamptons on suspicion of drunk driving. He was indicted on a misdemeanor DUI charge and released from jail. He is due to appear in court again on July 26th. Woods was also notoriously charged with DUI in 2017 after being found passed out in his car with prescription pills and marijuana in his system. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program to avoid the DUI charge.
