"There's Stortinget, Scotsman and the Royal Palace"

Celebration milestones on Karl Johans gate

"Scotsman is only a month older than I am," says Mohamed Boulayoune and laughs.

This summer, both he and the Scotsman Pub on Karl Johans gate will be turning 50, and they've spent almost half that time together. Mohamed, who is originally from Morocco, got a job at this Scottish pub back in 2001 right after arriving in Norway.

"I pretty much went straight from Gardermoen to Scotsman!" 

As have many a Norwegian Northerner over the years. Read about the new location and future plans for Scotsman.

The sameScotsman ambience at the new location

Earlier this year, the famous pub relocated from Karl Johans gate 17 to 35, but the interior is the same, as is the cheeseburger and colleagues.

Scotsman has always had great managers and colleagues. When you enjoy your job, it doesn't matter where it's located," says Mohamed and adds, 

"We're a very international team and we have a lot of fun with all these different nationalities."

Head cook Daugirdas Norkus, 37, has been working at the pub for five years and enjoys his job for the same reasons as Mohamed.

"Things can get hot in the kitchen! We joke around, quarrel and yell at each other! But are soon friends again, he reassures."

Lot s of freedom in the kitchen

Daugirdas, who is originally from Lithuania, worked at various gastropubs in both Italy and England before ending up at Scotsman in Oslo. 

"I like the fact that we're given a lot of freedom here. We get to add our own personal touch to the menu," he says.

Although they sell more shrimp salad, Caesar salad and fish soup on this side of Egertorget, the classic fish 'n chips is still a bestseller.

"We always sell everything we make and don't have to throw anything away," says Mohamed proudly.

An institution on Karl Johan

According to these cooks, tourists often head straight to the pub from the railway station. Sometimes there are people sitting outside waiting for the doors to open.

They believe that the popularity of the pub is due to the fact that it's become an institution.

"There's Stortinget, Scotsman and the Royal Palace," laughs Daugirdas, and gesticulates with his arms towards the two other attractions, each on one end of Karl Johan.

Although there are more tourists who visit the pub than when Mohamed first started here, the pub still has lots of regulars.

"Before people had mobile phones, they simply said: 'See you at Scotsman' and it's still a bit like that," says Mohamed.

Another 20 years

After the move, the kitchen was relocated from the basement to the first floor. But Mohamed does not hide the fact that he found it a bit hard to say good-bye to the old Scotsman.

"I'll just have to stay here for another 20 years and maybe the good old Scotman smell will return," he says and laughs.