Letting it be
Uusi Apteekki, in the south-western town of Turku, is a pioneer of Finnish pub culture even though it was only established in 1993. This was Finland’s original modern brewpub and started operations with the very first government-issued license: permit # 0.
For nearly a century prior to that, the premises were home to a pharmacy which explains the pub’s name (”New Pharmacy”). Most of the fixtures and fittings date to that period, giving the interior an elegant and aged look.
Not you average bar, Uusi Apteekki is owned by its six core workers. “This is solely a barmen’s business venture. Four of us used to work together at another place, so we share a strong knowledge of the field,” Tapio Korpela says.
Uusi Apteekki was actually the brainchild of Otto Lamberg, one of its founding members. The concept? If the bar managed to capture a unique atmosphere – and it has – then you just have to let it be. “In Dublin for example, there are time-worn pubs that are centuries old – why not here?” asks Korpela.
“Otto’s idea was that everything should stay the same,” he adds. “For us, even dust represents the fine patina of time. You could say that nothing has changed here for the past 15 years nearly, not even the staff really. The only thing that has changed is having attracted a solid crew of regulars.”
Instead of chasing after each latest drinks trend, Uusi Apteekki has stuck to its guns with a decent selection of beers: 20 on draught from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and the UK. There is also a fair range of single malt whiskies.
Staff here know their customers well and standing behind the bar involves far more than pouring drinks. “It makes up maybe 10 percent of the work,” says Korpela. “It’s more important to know what we are serving to whom. This is more a kind of neighborhood-bar-in-the-city.”
One unusual feature however is that no music is ever played – a rule respected to such an extent that customers don’t even sing. Chat and lively discussion can ascend to ear-splitting levels however.
Uusi Apteekki
Address Kaskenkatu 1, 20700 Turku
Tel. +358 2 250 2595
Website www.uusiapteekki.fi
Seats 110 + patio ’Lilja & Paavo’ 110
Open Mon-Sun 10:00-03:00
Signature drink Czech beers
Restaurateur Owned by six employees
Location By the River Aurajoki, near the statue of Paavo Nurmi.
“Unique pharmacy interior showing the signs of time – the clientele is similar, it’s a Turku thing.” / “Home to author Reijo Mäki and his bunch of characters – as well as other cultural and imaginary figures. The horrifyingly thick layer of smoke limits visits to only a few per year. Interesting to see what will happen after the new ban on smoking hits Finland.” / “Smokey, cramped, music-less, and introverted Turku-place to the bone. And despite all of that, an excellent pub.”
