COOL AND THE CLAN; A theme bar with a twist is the hot new venue in NY.

Byline: Claire Prentice

HIP New Yorkers are heading for the Highlands - thanks to a Scots theme bar with a difference.

Proud Scots Brian McGrory and MaryWan - along with half-Scots Donal Brophy - are on a mission to bring the best of their homeland to the Big Apple.

And when they were planning their bar, called Highlands, they knew that the Brigadoon image wouldn't make it in the city that never sleeps.

Instead of kilts, tartan and deepfried Mars bars, they are offering the latest in Scottish design, great food and drink and the best bands.

It's an approach which has already won the bar, which is in the heart of the trendy West Village, lots of fans.

"The response has been great," says Brian, 33, relaxing in a corner of the wood, plaid and steel bar beforethe evening rush.

Business partner Mary, 41, originally from Springburn, Glasgow, adds: "We wanted to represent modern Scotland. The side that young people can relate to - not the bagpipes and heather and all that stuff."

Brian, from Langside, Glasgow, and Dublin-born Donal, 30, were working together in Public, one of New York's hottest nightspots, when they decided they wanted to go into business for themselves.

Donal, whose mum is Scottish, came up with the idea of a Scottish bar - which Brian initially rejected.

He said: "All I could think about was all the horrible theme bars which most young Scottish people wouldn't set foot in."

But the pair talked about it and they hit on the idea of a modern Scottish bar - the kind of place they'dwant to go to themselves.

The third member of the team, Mary, had known Brian for years.

They met when they both worked at Glasgow's Groucho St Judes, which was opened by Love And Money bassist Bobby Paterson, Mary's partner for nine years until his death in 2006.

As the idea took shape, friends in the Scottish arts scene lined up to invest, including Turner Prize winner Douglas Gordon and Gerard Burns, whose work hangs on the walls of celebrities including Ewan McGregor.

Brian said: "We thought, 'Right, that's it. Let's get all these cool designers and artists we know in Scotland to bring a true taste of home to the Village.'" Highlands' two rooms are very different. The bar is dark, funky and has lots of steel, while the dining area has a fireplace, blonde wood, paintings and a chandelier.

DONAL says: "I've always been struck by the two sides o f Scotland. The Balmoral and Brigadoon side and the edgy rock and street culture. We wanted to show both sides."

The trio say the bar feels more "Glasgow and edgy" with its steel echoing the shipbuilding past and references to their shared love of music. The dining room is "genteel, like Edinburgh".

Watching over the bar is Freddie, a stag's head and the unofficial Highlands mascot.

The wallpaper is by hip Glasgow designers Timorous Beasties, who gave it to Highlands as a "housewarming" present. And the chairs are covered in plaid from Edinburgh interiors company Anta.

Both food and drink menus feature the best of Scottish produce and Penicuik-born chef Jeremy Hammond-Chambers is in charge of the kitchen.

The Highlands clan also have ambitious plans for bars across theUS and the Far East.

Donal jokes: "The next place we open will be Brooklyn. It will be much more edgy and industrial. There will be more fights."

Brian adds: "We can deal with that because we're Scottish."

So is entry to the hippest Scots bar on the planet only open to the beautiful people?

They all laugh. Mary says: "We are modern Scots. Everyone is welcome here - even the English."

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BEST TASTE: The stylish bar features Scottish gin and vodka alongside whiskies and a range of cocktails SCOTS IN THE CITY: Mary, Brian and Donal, standing,in their bar, also pictured above