Glasgow pubs

Tennents, why have choice, why try harder, why value quality, why bother, why not live on a main road, with no niceties, next to a speed camera , next to a grey harled hoose, like ya maw's grey harled hoose, next to the dead dockyard, next to the dying man outside the bookies smoking the value cigarette that caused the tumour he is drinking to forget. Oh Scottish pubs. Dark days indeed.

 Well no! and here's a few reasons why!

Great Scottish pubs

No. 1 The Potstill

'Some twat's ordered a Tennent's, quick give them a pint of Red Smiddy and show them the light'

Oh the Potstill.. Look there's Francis behind the bar with his lovely ginger beard and quirky modern kilt. He's no tourist bagpiper, he's a man with an awesome old pub, doing it justice by serving great local beer and punting the whisky which Scotland is oh so good at making. It's so good in fact that the Japanese Malt Terrorists come to Scotland specifically to come to this very bar just to buy a dram. The Potstill on Hope Street is a place one can read the paper on ones own in the afternoon, or stand shoulder to shoulder with the musicians from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra after a gig or lean on the bar by an ancient American millionaire heritage pilgrim with McSomething as his surname drinking a dram of 25 year old Port Ellen (a fine suggestion by Francis and his X-ray wallet vision). No really this is a great pub, for it's honesty, for it's simple pie and beans menu, for it's excellent pints, for it's massive selection of whisky, for it's great service and advice, for it's location. I love the Potstill and so should you.

The Lismore

Oh look at it, lovely Victorian OTT décor. Could you possibly imagine how much it would cost to build and dress a building to that quality now? The Lismore has been renovated, but by artists. Inside is all old stone, snug nooks and beautiful stained glass depicting the Glasgow outside who's light is filtered by the colours inside.
 It's not just about the price of a pint or whether you can catch the game in there. If you want to watch fucking football and drink, do it at home. It's about atmosphere, about history, about fresh beer and people. Oh and they have a good selection of whisky too. I've only been here twice, but I love it. I particularly like the monument to the English gentlemen in charge of the clearances in the gents, piss on them as they pissed on our country, love it. A great public place is one that speaks for the public.

The Bon Accord

Not the worlds best looker, and contradictory to my judgemental and sensationalist introduction to this blog as situated right next to the M8 motorway, but let the facts speak. This is the home of two Glasgow whisky clubs. They have over 300 malt whiskies and TEN real ales on tap at any one time. Plus the pub food is unpretentious and good. I once saw an old man have a suspected heart attack in here, in a wild panic an ambulance was called and when it arrived he was looked at outside by the paramedics, quietness descended on the collection of drinkers inside. Half an hour later he was back inside enjoying a pint and a Macallan. Nuff said.

The Horseshoe Bar

Down Drury lane is the Horseshoe bar, with apparently the longest bar in Britain. If I could suggest to a space alien where they should spend an afternoon to best understand Glasgow in all it's detail then this is where I would send them. Good pints of decent ale are mixed with the regular fair but they also have good deals on drams (£3.50 for a double Talisker on last inspection). Conveniently on my way home if I were to walk past two bus stops.

The Ben Nevis

Contemporary styling, the west end, makeover. But it's a great pub. Wish I could get over that way more. They have live music too. It kinds of sets the benchmark for how traditional Scottish inns should be 'modernised' by taking the cosy, earthy qualities and decorative charm and honesty and adding some creative modern thoughtfulness to the whole affair. Loads of whisky and loads of charm. Oh and a good pint.

Babbity Bowsters

   What a silly name! This pub should be in Edinburgh surely not? The orchestral muso's other hang out, Babbity Bowsters is a great little find. Down a back street, away from the common footfall and they serve a great pint. In fact they get special commendation from me as they tend to serve lower alcohol session beers by local brewers that are always fresh and well kept. The main reason to come here though is the informal folk sessions which happen on Tuesdays and Saturdays I think (but possibly more often?). Nothing beats a nice pint and tapping ones foot to a fiddle beside a log fire.


So there you have it. There are more but let's save that for another day shall we?

Minky moo.