A Highland musician-turned-entrepreneur is close to raising the funds needed to launch a global chain of Scottish-themed pubs that can rival Irish bars.

Bruce MacGregor, best known as a member of folk band Blazin’ Fiddles, said yesterday that the scheme had racked up 75% of his £150,000 target through crowdfunding.

The money will go towards setting up the first bar based on Mr MacGregor’s “blueprint”.

With the funding nearly in the bag, he is getting ready to submit a planning application for a development on a vacant lot at the northern end of Academy Street, in Inverness, in the coming weeks.

Mr MacGregor said he received a good response from planners when he sounded them out as his project would revitalise a neglected part of the city.

It is believed to be the first time that crowdfunding has been used to finance the building of a new licensed establishment from scratch.

The inspiration for a Scottish pub chain came to Mr MacGregor during his travels as a musician.

He said: “I’ve spent years touring and have been all over the world and it’s always made me wonder why everywhere has an Irish bar but not a Scottish bar.

“The ones you do see are a poor excuse – with a single saltire hung up and football on the TV.”

Mr MacGregor, who also runs Bogbain Farm outdoor activity centre near Inverness, said the end product would be far removed from the “Braveheart” portrayal of Scottish culture.

The new Inverness pub – targeting the classy end of the market – will house two separate bars featuring Scottish craft beers, gin and whisky, as well as a restaurant. It may also have a “speakeasy”, where customers use a special knock or code to get in.

While keen not to go into too much detail on the design, Mr MaGregor said the plan was to mix culture and art, and to decorate using iconic features such as Harris Tweed and tartan.

The near to medium-term goal is to create three franchises in the UK before going global.

Mr MacGregor said: “I have had interest from Singapore, Hong Kong and New York from people who know there is a gap in the market and I think what I’m doing hits the mark.”

The idea has already attracted investment from 60 people from as far afield as South Korea, and Mr MacGregor is aiming for 100.