Proper working man's bar. Been here for years, £3 a pint of Tennents and I am surprised to be sitting outside at the moment.
Exactly what you would expect from a pub in Glasgow, cheap cheerful, pint is consistent and reliable. The clientele are colourful and a good laugh - if you mind yourself.
All in all, not to my normal taste, but does the job correctly.
Located at St Enoch Subway at the bottom of Buchanan St. Try it! It is what it is, no pretence or hard sell.
Monday 28 May 2012
The Lab
I was first in here with my sister, years ago. I find it a little pretentious, as it really isn't all that. However, they have Tennents on draught and a couple of WEST German beers, brewed in Glasgow. Guinness and Budvar are on draught. The gantry is not brilliant, but they do "test tube shots" that the ladies seem to enjoy. Hence, their name. Five test tubes filled with wow-wee sauce. Not my cup o' tea, but it brings folk in.
I do not know how people find this place, as it's down a lane off the main shopping street (Buchanan St), but it's always busy.
Staff are friendly and what food I've had here has been good. £3.75 a pint of Tennents though, very steep, but on a nice day like this, its small outside courtyard works.
Watch your feet if you need to go for a pee, as it's a walk with some scary stairs.
Time to supp up and move.
I do not know how people find this place, as it's down a lane off the main shopping street (Buchanan St), but it's always busy.
Staff are friendly and what food I've had here has been good. £3.75 a pint of Tennents though, very steep, but on a nice day like this, its small outside courtyard works.
Watch your feet if you need to go for a pee, as it's a walk with some scary stairs.
Time to supp up and move.
Monday 21 May 2012
Boteco
One of Glasgow's few Brazilian bars. On the Tron, sat outside in the sun, Iove this place as it always gets the sun.
If you are a rum fan, this is the place to come. Not much on draught as it's all foreign, surprisingly for a Brazilian themed bar, there is no imported draught lager.
Staff are great and there is football on all the time. If you are lucky to stumble in when a South American team is playing, you are in for a treat.
Overall, mojitos are the order of the day, well worth visiting if Brazil is playing.
Doesn't really ring my bell though, but you pay for what you get, I suppose.
If you are a rum fan, this is the place to come. Not much on draught as it's all foreign, surprisingly for a Brazilian themed bar, there is no imported draught lager.
Staff are great and there is football on all the time. If you are lucky to stumble in when a South American team is playing, you are in for a treat.
Overall, mojitos are the order of the day, well worth visiting if Brazil is playing.
Doesn't really ring my bell though, but you pay for what you get, I suppose.
Maggie May
Or Maggie May's if you prefer. On the Tron, I do like this bar but it has something unsettling to it. Can't quite put my finger on it.
Big bar, scran is excellent and service is good. No Scottish beer or lager on draught. Sat having another Amstel again, at £3.60 a pint don't understand why it so much when it's not that good. I've tried it in Amsterdam, 100 yards from the brewery, and that was a good pint (well, glass, as they don't do pints in the Netherlands).
Anyway, the music is always brilliant. You know what it is, this place smells. That's what's unsettling.
Big bar, scran is excellent and service is good. No Scottish beer or lager on draught. Sat having another Amstel again, at £3.60 a pint don't understand why it so much when it's not that good. I've tried it in Amsterdam, 100 yards from the brewery, and that was a good pint (well, glass, as they don't do pints in the Netherlands).
Anyway, the music is always brilliant. You know what it is, this place smells. That's what's unsettling.
The Libertine
Well, got to be one of the best locations in Glasgow for a bar....yet, it just does not achieve.
In the 14 years that I have been drinking legally in this city, it has changed name and appearance several times. My mates and I now come to call it 'the bar with no name' as we all refer to it by its former names.
Large, old fashioned bar - must be oak or something, really looks the part. Strange draught selection as it's all foreign: Amstel, Fosters and the like. But it does not achieve.
I got myself a pint of Amstel as the Sam Smiths was sold out. Its an okay pint, clean and crisp, but after the black stuff, it tastes fruity.
I do not subscribe to the whole Japanese fungshway thing, (can't spell in English, what do you expect for Japanese?) but this place should be heavin' and it never is. Shame really, for so much potential, it just does not achieve.
In the time it has taken me to write this, six folk have walked in and straight out again, so it's just me in the whole bar.
I wonder what its next name will be?
In the 14 years that I have been drinking legally in this city, it has changed name and appearance several times. My mates and I now come to call it 'the bar with no name' as we all refer to it by its former names.
Large, old fashioned bar - must be oak or something, really looks the part. Strange draught selection as it's all foreign: Amstel, Fosters and the like. But it does not achieve.
I got myself a pint of Amstel as the Sam Smiths was sold out. Its an okay pint, clean and crisp, but after the black stuff, it tastes fruity.
I do not subscribe to the whole Japanese fungshway thing, (can't spell in English, what do you expect for Japanese?) but this place should be heavin' and it never is. Shame really, for so much potential, it just does not achieve.
In the time it has taken me to write this, six folk have walked in and straight out again, so it's just me in the whole bar.
I wonder what its next name will be?
Babbity Bowster
Great wee bar up behind the Old Cheese Market off of Walls St. Small inside, but they have an excellent gantry of whisky and they do an excellent pint of the black stuff at £3.60 a pint. It's a bit heavy but it is excellent.
They used to have live Scottish and Irish music in here. The players would sit in the corner and play whatever the hell they wanted, whilst getting quietly pissed, lol.
There is a large outside smoking area/beer garden, which is excellent in the summer to chill. I am sat outside at the moment; can't believe it's May - still freezing, although I need to squint because it's that bright.
All round good bar, the only down side is that it always smells of fish. Apparently, the upstairs restaurant is good for shellfish and stuff.
That aside, it achieves as an old school bar and a modern one, ticks all the boxes. Also, the landlord is a proper character who always says hello.
FLY IS DRINKING MY BEER. SPIT IT OUTTTT!
They used to have live Scottish and Irish music in here. The players would sit in the corner and play whatever the hell they wanted, whilst getting quietly pissed, lol.
There is a large outside smoking area/beer garden, which is excellent in the summer to chill. I am sat outside at the moment; can't believe it's May - still freezing, although I need to squint because it's that bright.
All round good bar, the only down side is that it always smells of fish. Apparently, the upstairs restaurant is good for shellfish and stuff.
That aside, it achieves as an old school bar and a modern one, ticks all the boxes. Also, the landlord is a proper character who always says hello.
FLY IS DRINKING MY BEER. SPIT IT OUTTTT!
Bacchus
In the merchant city. Not a bad wee bar, got a few good draughts, the normal set up for Glasgow. It has Red Stripe, Carling and Budvar, which you don't see everywhere.
I am sat drinking a pint of Tennents. It's £3.40 a pint, which is about the norm for this neck of the woods. It's a lovely day today and I was tempted to sit outside. The problem is that before 15:00 the buildings block the sun, so there's no real point.
Music is weird in here. They have some mad, trippy hypnotic techno stuff on that makes you feel like you want to take a nap.
On that note, best supp up before I fall asleep.
Oh! One final thought: it's got an old school paper rack that's good when you are done with yours.
I am sat drinking a pint of Tennents. It's £3.40 a pint, which is about the norm for this neck of the woods. It's a lovely day today and I was tempted to sit outside. The problem is that before 15:00 the buildings block the sun, so there's no real point.
Music is weird in here. They have some mad, trippy hypnotic techno stuff on that makes you feel like you want to take a nap.
On that note, best supp up before I fall asleep.
Oh! One final thought: it's got an old school paper rack that's good when you are done with yours.
Monday 14 May 2012
Mono
Mono.
What can I say? "What was I thinking". This is, hands down, the weirdest bar ever.
It's actually a bar/restaurant /beatnik music emporium.
The bar is okay for draught lager; however, I only come in here for a pint of Williams. Its a Glasgow brewed blonde lager that's very nice. At £2.80, you really can't complain. If you find them at the end of the barrel, you will get it for £1.80 easily. This is one of those bars that has to be tried if you subscribe to the whole 'expand your horizons' nonsense.
Anyway, the Williams is great and there is no threat here.
In summation, do not ask for a burger as its a vegan joint. Just keep your head down, drink the Williams, leave each to their own......
Four girls old enough to know better just walked in with their hair dyed primary colours.
Shit, I must sound like an old. ...I am loving it.
What can I say? "What was I thinking". This is, hands down, the weirdest bar ever.
It's actually a bar/restaurant /beatnik music emporium.
The bar is okay for draught lager; however, I only come in here for a pint of Williams. Its a Glasgow brewed blonde lager that's very nice. At £2.80, you really can't complain. If you find them at the end of the barrel, you will get it for £1.80 easily. This is one of those bars that has to be tried if you subscribe to the whole 'expand your horizons' nonsense.
Anyway, the Williams is great and there is no threat here.
In summation, do not ask for a burger as its a vegan joint. Just keep your head down, drink the Williams, leave each to their own......
Four girls old enough to know better just walked in with their hair dyed primary colours.
Shit, I must sound like an old. ...I am loving it.
Blackfriars
This is the kind of bar that the Scottish tourism department should put into in-flight magazines.It has an excellent whisky gantry and cask ales galore. The only bad point is that it does not have any Scottish lager on draught. If you like beer, this is one of those little gems that requires frequent patronage.
Sat drinking a pint of Kellburn Gold. £3.30 a pint, with a pleasant, unoffensive taste. 3.8% abv but niccceeee. Clean.
Always lively. Bar staff are friendly and if you don't know your ale from your cola, you can try what looks good. No harm, no foul; if you don't like it, move on.
They have a Monday night quiz which brings an older crowd in, as the questions quite frankly are fekin impossible. But the cash price is like £200 notes...not a bad days work, if you can stay sober enough for it.
To the Yanks reading this pish, I will be taking you lot here when you feel ready to leave liberty's nipple and experience the world. ;-)
Sat drinking a pint of Kellburn Gold. £3.30 a pint, with a pleasant, unoffensive taste. 3.8% abv but niccceeee. Clean.
Always lively. Bar staff are friendly and if you don't know your ale from your cola, you can try what looks good. No harm, no foul; if you don't like it, move on.
They have a Monday night quiz which brings an older crowd in, as the questions quite frankly are fekin impossible. But the cash price is like £200 notes...not a bad days work, if you can stay sober enough for it.
To the Yanks reading this pish, I will be taking you lot here when you feel ready to leave liberty's nipple and experience the world. ;-)
Committee Room No9
Committee Room No9, on John Street, just around from the City Chambers.
Interesting bar, a bit hit or miss really. Quite large booths around the wall and an outside area on the street, which is great it the summer. It has an okay lager selection: Stella, Tennents, Guinness and a couple of Italian lagers.
Gantry is bog standard...nothing special there, but they do have a couple of Alloa ales on draught though. So I am sat here drinking a pint of Bitter and Twisted. I do prefer my cask ales carbonated; not exactly the way they were intended, but I just prefer it.
Anyway, it's hard to find this beer on draught. There are only a few places I am aware of that do it. This pub obviously does not get much call for it, as it's a little skunky, but at £3.50 a pint, it's 70p cheaper than the next place. Although, the next place is a much better pint.
As a I was saying, a hit and miss bar, today is a miss. Four Phil Collins tunes in a row and now Rihanna or some shit.
Time to supp up and move.
Interesting bar, a bit hit or miss really. Quite large booths around the wall and an outside area on the street, which is great it the summer. It has an okay lager selection: Stella, Tennents, Guinness and a couple of Italian lagers.
Gantry is bog standard...nothing special there, but they do have a couple of Alloa ales on draught though. So I am sat here drinking a pint of Bitter and Twisted. I do prefer my cask ales carbonated; not exactly the way they were intended, but I just prefer it.
Anyway, it's hard to find this beer on draught. There are only a few places I am aware of that do it. This pub obviously does not get much call for it, as it's a little skunky, but at £3.50 a pint, it's 70p cheaper than the next place. Although, the next place is a much better pint.
As a I was saying, a hit and miss bar, today is a miss. Four Phil Collins tunes in a row and now Rihanna or some shit.
Time to supp up and move.
Citation
Great bar converted from the old high court, hence the name. Right smack dab in the middle of the Merchant City. Wayyyyy overpriced, but once again, it has Bitter and Twisted on draught. An outstanding pint.Huge premises on two floors, with two bars. Food is excellent and if you are into cocktails, like most of the woman in my life, then this is the place to come.
Very pretentious...not the kind of place I would frequent on a Friday or Saturday night, but for a Monday quiet one, it's great.
Music is very eclectic...everything from the Rat Pack to funkadelic.
Shit, the twisted part or the bitter is kicking in. Need to go.
Very pretentious...not the kind of place I would frequent on a Friday or Saturday night, but for a Monday quiet one, it's great.
Music is very eclectic...everything from the Rat Pack to funkadelic.
Shit, the twisted part or the bitter is kicking in. Need to go.
Rab Ha's
What can I say? Great wee bar. Has a roaring fire outstanding gantry and its always a clean, crisp pint.
I come in here on proper Glasgow days. In other words, it's pissing it down. £3.30 for a pint of Tennents. They have St Mungo, San Miguel, Best, Blue Moon and even have juice "Coors Light" on draught. I mean no offence by that, its just that light beer is a no-no. It should all have been scooped up and shot into the sun as a warning to a thousand generation of brewers: "men who drink do not care about calories or the size of their gut".
Anywhoo, this is a great bar. More to the point, it's actually a hotel, but you would never know it.
Atmosphere is chilled, banter is tongue-in-cheek. Love it, but it's time to move, as I am now dry. ;)
I come in here on proper Glasgow days. In other words, it's pissing it down. £3.30 for a pint of Tennents. They have St Mungo, San Miguel, Best, Blue Moon and even have juice "Coors Light" on draught. I mean no offence by that, its just that light beer is a no-no. It should all have been scooped up and shot into the sun as a warning to a thousand generation of brewers: "men who drink do not care about calories or the size of their gut".
Anywhoo, this is a great bar. More to the point, it's actually a hotel, but you would never know it.
Atmosphere is chilled, banter is tongue-in-cheek. Love it, but it's time to move, as I am now dry. ;)
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