GLASGOW: WEST END
The old west
Jack Mottram speaks for the part of town that’s bursting with bars
for arty, as well as party, types.
THE INSTITUTIONS
West End drinkers are a loyal bunch. and. whether long-estal‘)lished or recently opened. certain bars and pubs have earned the status of Much-loved Institution. Topping this list is Stravaigin (334 2665. 28 Gibson Street). It's a noisy Joint for proper boozing but was a true gastro-pub long before such places were ten-a- penny. It's the chatty. expert staff that make the place and the same can be said of sister pub The Liquid Ship (171 Great Western Road. 331. 1901), which courts a yOunger crov-rd with film screenings and music events in the basement. Another foodie haven from the same family is The Ubiquitous Chip it2 Ashton Lane. 33/: 5007) —- say it quickly when tipsy to find out how the Liquid Ship got its name. It has two bars. imaginatively dubbed the Big Bar and the Wee Bar. the former doing peerless Scottish grub and the latter liVing up to its name with a capaCity of Just 28 souls. Both attract an elder. arty crowd. plus folk you don't quite recognise from off the telly. Across the cobbles lies Brel l39 Ashton Lane. 342 4966). is a decent watering hole amongst the Lane's theme pubs and vodka bars. Buckets of moules are matched with well-chosen lagers. making it an ideal hangout. Meanwhile. Out in leafy Hyndland. Cottiers (93—95 Hyndlarid Street. 357 53825) continues to be a destination pub thanks to raucous Jazz bands. one of
The Liquid Ship
the city's few beer gardens and. of course. the draw of the theatre—cuiiigig venue alongside. Lastly. Oran Mor 47'3l-~'i’35 Great Western Road. 3:37 (3200 is the only bar-clubpub-restaurant mega-venue in the West End where it's possible to get lost on the way to the loos. The complex's attention to deCOr detaii. commitment to live music. good grub and decent bar prices have made it a hit. and it's worth a y=sit if only to gaze on Alasdair Grey's wonderful mural in the function room.
EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT YOFI Until recently. the arse end of Argyle Street at the Yorkhill~l'innieston border exactly the nicest spot in the West. The Goat 128/ Argyle Street. 357 [33.7) caters to a student crowd and lost its gloomy air this year thanks to an ()XiO'lSiVG film. They offer free wireless internet access to all your drunken surfing needs. Nearby Ben Nevis it Hi," Argyle Street. L376 52011) is a peculiar mix of old man‘s pub and groovy style bar. It shOuIdn't work. but it does. serving a bewildering array of whiskies to a
lively. mixed up crowd. 54 Below it 102 Argyle Street. 357 5454) rounds off the Quartet of Yol-‘z watering holes. It has. sadly. rather gone to seed of late. but still offers decent diner-style grub and a comfy seat to a wrde range of punters.
YoFi. if you will ~ wasn't
ISN'T EVERY HOUR COCKTAIL HOUR? Sophistication is not. perhaps. the first word that springs to mind when mention is made of Byi'es Road's many boozers. but Gong iii‘ Vinicoiiibe Street. 576 1700) and Booly Mardy’s '28 Vinicombe Street. 560 8004) offer a decently mixed drink. the mezzanine bar overlooking Gong's restaurant is perhaps an acgun‘ed taste. but the cocktails are well worth a sip. and prepared With flair. Booly Mardy's. as the name lust about Suggests. specialist—3s in the Bloody Mary. offering eight variations on the tomato- based soother. as well as a lengthy cocktail list that. thankfully. sticks to actual cocktails. rather than Day- Glo shooter concoctions.
BEST BARSI2006
DAY-AFTER BREKKIE
It's what weekends were made for
Tramway
I We have the warming beer jacket and the magic shoes to see us home safely no matter what state we’re in. But what help is there for the next morning? One remedy. probably not recommended by your local health authority, is hair of the dog. If you're starting all over again, where better than Uisge Beatha (232—246 Woodlands Road. 564 1596)? As you nurse that recovery pint you'll appreciate this dark and peaceful haven. away from the overly bright and cheery place they call the world. Or get a Bloody Mary at Booly Hardy’s (see Glasgow West End. this page).
If that doesn't appeal. maybe coffee will help. Check out a Beanscene (try 40 Woodlands Road. 352 9800) near you (it's taking over the world. so don't say there isn‘t one) for a few shots of the magic bean. or maybe a comforting hot chocolate. Oh, go on then. have some cake too. Alternatively. ensconce yOurself in a corner at Firebird Cafe (1321 Argyle Street. 33/1 0594) and while away a lazy afternoon nosing through the Sunday papers. Heat lamps. trepical fish and a. roaring fire make this a warm, cosy retreat in which to recover. On the Southside. head for the Tramway Cafe (25 Albert Drive. 422 2023) and detox with a range of salads. sandwiches and fresh fruit drinks. Look out upon the Hidden Gardens and imagine yOu've left the city far behind. Sounds far too healthy? Invest in a full English at the cheap and cheerful University Cafe (87 Byres Road. 339 5217i. purveyor of all things reassurineg greaSy. If you just can't shake that fuzzy feeling. go and catch a flick at the Grosvenor (31 Ashton Lane. 339 8444). Bag one of the comfy sofas and grab drinks from the bar. It‘s not unlike crashing out in your mate's living room — except with a state-ohthe-art home cinema system. (Chris Bradley)
FAMOUS DRINKERS
Alison Watt
Artist
lhe greatness of a can depends on who is "uniting the show. As ‘ar
as l'rn (XIIKIUiltt-Xi you wit ll()\.'i}l have a better exnei‘ieitce the.“ when Gordon Yu ll. fori‘ier‘y of (Blasgox'fs Rogano and l‘()\.'.' to he found at the new llal'ie" Chit? in G asgo\.'.. -s n. (:i‘;‘:"ge. No one can touch him.
Craig Morrison
DJ (Silicon Soul)
My ‘axcinite hai s the Goat on Argye St'eet ll‘ Glasgow It "at: at t"e things a war should '.".(3 he's 'eaily laid hack and l'. nexer gets stop ti‘y best. A) 'l‘). fiends gt: there so it's a great [Tiétiit out on a Sunday after a hectic weekend m [)J 7g. l”..:; the fish and chips is Kl'iCl. Bar Bret is also good and is great foi afternoons in the sumn‘ei in the lieer garden.
f'u‘r "t1!\\,}
'-:‘ l‘su .t‘ I" THE LIST 25