The Haven, the only Scottish bar and restaurant in Boston, became the defacto capital for Hub media Thursday night as Scotland took its historic vote on independence.
Media outlets on hand included CBS Channel 4, Boston Neighborhood Network, the Jamaica Plain Gazette and, of course, Jamaica Plain News. Earlier, crews from WBUR interviewed the pub’s owner, Scot Jason Waddleton.
JP’s Matt Murray, pictured above being interviewed by BNN, said he leans slightly “aye” on whether Scotland should be an independent country. Murray’s family traces their roots to Scotland, where a relative many generations ago may — may — have fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie. Murray said independence could make sense because Scotland’s political values stand well to the left of those held by the United Kingdom as a whole.
At one table, four Jamaica Plain residents said they’d be “aye” votes if they lived in Scotland. Artist Ginny O’Neil, who along with Two Boats Gallery partner Tom Menihan will be exhibiting at this weekend’s Jamaica Plain Open Studios, claimed a bit of Scottishness: She had a grandpa named Angus MacNeil.
The Haven held its own referendum, but you needed to buy a drink to vote.
Bartender Andy Sweeney, one of a small handful of of actual Scots at The Haven on Thursday, said he’d be an “aye” vote if he were back home in Clydebank.
As night fell, the crowds were growing. Final results on the historic vote aren’t expected until at least 1 a.m. Boston time.
