Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s sports bar set to open in St Andrews despite backlash

As if St Andrews wasn’t full of them already, a brand new American sports bar is set to open in St Andrews – owned  by Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake.

But the iconic new venue is actually replacing a historical cinema in the city, which has evoked mixed reactions by locals and students alike.

Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s T-Shaped Social sports bar is set to open in time for the 2025 summer season.

The pair won planning approval to refit a beloved 94-year-old cinema in the city, creating space for sports simulators, darts and duckpin bowling.

As the two stars start to prepare for its summer opening, some have taken to social media to mourn the loss of the iconic cinema.

One TikTok user, Aine, explained her shock at the site’s transformation. Using the audio of German comedian Flula saying “do not come to my town”, she wrote: “Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods bought my favourite cinema in Scotland. It was 94-years-old and they’re turning it into a GOLF BAR.”

Posted on Tuesday, the video has already raked up over 33,000 likes and has been viewed by over 200,000 people.

Captioning the video, Aine explained she had sentimental attachments to the cinema, writing: “Maybe I’m a hater but that was literally my favourite cinema ever, I used to go watch films there every summer.”

Comments on the video revealed further dismay, with the top comment with over 1,200 likes being: “NO NOT THE ST ANDREWS CINEMA”, while others discussed their cherished memories of  watching, including the “life altering” viewing of Mamma Mia 2.

@aineusss

maybe i’m a hater but that was literally my favourite cinema ever I used to go watch films there every summer #scotland #standrews #cinema #justintimberlake #tigerwoods

♬ original sound – 685punjabininjaturtle

Most Read

Retiring, religion and legal troubles: The Buffy cast members we probably won’t see back

Guys! A FOURTH Islander has quit Love Island All Stars and this is so messy

‘He’s next on the hit list!’: Bonnie Blue says she will steal huge pop star’s BF for OnlyFans

A change.org petition was started in October 2023 as planning for the site began with the aim being to “save the New Picture House Cinema”. The petition, which received over 12,000 signatures, called the plans “deeply alarming”.

One read: “Converting it into another sports bar is a grave mistake that will contribute to the ongoing gentrification of our beloved town. Our culture, our heritage, and our community spirit are at stake. We must act now before it’s too late”.

The public backlash to the proposal led to a planning overhaul of the new sports bar, including the preservation of two of the three cinema screens. Announcing the “victory” of the petition, organiser Ash Johann Curry-Machado, said that with the two screens being retained, the new bar will “deliver a family-friendly, blended cinema, dining and entertainment offering” that will establish the site as a “social hub for St Andrews” while also “saving the historic building and beloved cinema”.

A commenter on TikTok explained that despite the apparent victory of the petition, she is “still fuming” as despite the cinema retaining two of its screens, “the prices are going to be disgusting” and questioning if the city needs yet “another bar”.

The bar is expected to create 40 to 45 new jobs and bring “new life and longevity” to the site, according to Christopher Anad, CEO of Nexus Luxury Collection, the real estate company behind the plans which the retired golfing legend and pop-star are shareholders in.

The unlikely duo have been friends for years, living nearby in a luxury resort they co-own in the Bahamas and sharing a passion for “competition, gaming and sports, music and entertainment, and good food”. It is this which led to them creating T-Squared Social, with one location having opened last year in New York.

The pop star Justin Timberlake said he was “honoured to be able to invest in the town and bring our second T-Squared Social here.”

“Our new venue is so much more than a typical sports bar experience – it’s a place you can go to be entertained without sacrificing quality or comfort.”

Featured image via Google Maps and TikTok and @aineusss

Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake have been approached for comment.