BAR GUIDE 2010
GLASGOW WEST END
HILLHEAD / GREAT WESTERN ROAD / BYRES ROAD
THE BELLE 617 Great Western Road, 339 2299. Mon–Sun noon–midnight. Basic pint: £2.90
What it lacks in size (think your average living room), The Belle makes up for in atmosphere. Cosy and quaint with an open fire, it’s a perfect winter warmer. The bar is well stocked with quality continental European and American beers – you’ll get a better pint here than at Stravaigin, to which it overall comes a close second best in the west. High point: Anchor Steam and Brooklyn lagers on tap
THE CAPTAIN’S REST 185 Great Western Road, 332 7304. www.captainsrest.co.uk Mon–Sun noon–midnight. Basic pint: £2.80
Owned by concert promoters PCL, the Captain’s Rest has been an essential fixture in the West End since 2008, as a gig venue, hip drinking den and cheap’n’cheerful eatery. A refurbishment due in January will see the lounge area torn-up to make way for booths and a big screen telly. High point: Small but great music venue in the basement
THE DOUBLET 74 Park Road, 334 1982. Mon 11am–11pm; Tue–Sat 11am–midnight; Sun 12.30–11pm. Basic pint: £2.90
The Doublet prides itself on being a rock of friendly, traditionalist reliability in the West End’s ever-shifting pub scene. Pints are reasonably priced, you’ll get good chat from the regulars in the bar while the lounge up the back – with its tastefully-stocked jukebox – is a hidden gem. High point: Andalucian lager Cruzcampo
THE UBIQUITOUS CHIP 8–12 Ashton Lane, 334 5007. www.ubiquitouschip.co.uk Mon–Sun noon–1am. Basic pint: £3.50
STRAVAIGIN 26–30 Gibson Street, 334 2665. www.stravaigin.com Mon–Sun 11am–1am. Basic pint: £2.70
This always-popular eating and drinking spot has doubled in size since a major extension job in the summer, but it retains all of the rustic, cluttered charm that makes it a favourite with all from young families to local pop stars. The bar – previously squished under the stairs – has been shifted into an old hairdresser’s studio next door, and the adjoining wall knocked-through, meaning quicker service and much better chance of a seat. The old clocks, wrought iron railings and wooden roof beams that give the café bar its character endure untouched. For quality, classy Scottish-centric cuisine and a good pint from lunchtime until late, it’s hard to see past this ever-buzzing all-rounder. High point: Superb food
With its seven-days-a-week 1am licence – rare for the area – you’ll find a colourful mix of business, arts and media types drinking until late most nights at this West End institution, which boasts three different bars – upstairs, downstairs and the adjoining Wee Pub. The roof terrace is a choice spot on long summer nights, and the food is delectable. High point: Good grub
HILLHEAD BOOKCLUB Vinicombe Street, 576 1700. www.hillheadbookclub.co.uk Mon–Fri 11am–midnight; Sat & Sun 10am–midnight. Basic pint: £2.50
14 THE LIST 2–16 Dec 2010
Housed in the grand old Salon cinema, Hillhead Bookclub – opened in May – is the kind of chintzy, boho hangout that Byres Road lacked. Drinks are cheap enough to pull in students (£2 for gin and vodka shorts). Cocktails served in old gramophones is a quirky touch, as is a ping-pong table and retro video games corner. High point: Granny Would Be Proud vintage market on fortnightly Sundays
THE DRAKE 1 Lynedoch Street, 332 7363. www.thedrakebar.co.uk Mon–Fri noon–midnight; Sat 10am–midnight; Sun 9am–midnight.
Basic pint: £3
The West End’s newest watering hole – and its highly- rated upstairs restaurant – quickly found a crowd by luck of opening as Stravaigin closed for a refit. Situated in a basement at the top of Woodlands Road, The Drake is well-placed for the city centre crowd, and has a chic feel to it between its bare-brick walls and leather couches. High point: Beer garden out the back
THE LANSDOWNE 7a Lansdowne Crescent, 334 4653. www.lansdownebar.co.uk Mon–Sat noon- midnight; Sun noon-11pm. Basic pint: £3.20
This basement bar on the leafy, residential Lansdowne Crescent is inconspicuous but surprisingly big. There’s a long bar area with a multitude of plasma screens and a restaurant at the back. The conservatory is soon to be refitted with comfy couches. Enjoy out-of- the-ordinary draft pints aplenty, from local brewery WEST’s St Mungo to fruity Belgian Früli. High point: TVs galore for live sports ALSO RECOMMENDED: OranMor (731–735 Great Western Road) for the arty crowds and a fine shorts selection.