This is not an exhaustive list, but more of a list of places we
have drank – there are some very well-regarded pubs, such
as Babbity Bowsters, that I have never been in, and therefore am
in no position to comment.
I've tried to lay them out in a logical order for a pub crawl,
but given that Central and Queen Street are only 10 minutes walk
away from each other these can easily be mixed and matched.
Note: if you are a visiting
away supporter, check here
for an interesting, sociological guide to "pub culture"
(mostly aimed at London and the south-east of England)
The Iron Horse, West Nile Street
– a typical city centre pub that can get very busy
on matchdays, and not always pleasantly so. Bouncers on doors, and
often full by 11.15am. May have had it’s day?
The Vale, Dundas Street –
The better of the two pubs on the doorstep of Queen Street at the
Dundas Street exit (off the mainline trains and turn right). Very
popular with large tranches of out-of-town Tartan Army – I
have no idea why! A very functional single room basic Glasgow boozer,
with obscenely low prices. Note: if you’re in the market for
a very cheap glengarry hat, the Army Surplus store up the steps
(next to the Celtic Shop) knocks them out for under £20.
Waxy O’Connors, West George
Street - possibly even more plastic than O’Neills,
but a very pleasant place to have a drink. Lots of little alcoves
and very little open space – better for smaller groups.
The Phoenix– out of
Queen Street and turn right. Once a NATA favourite for meeting the
Inverness Boys in. Used to be called The Hogshead.
The Counting House, George Square
– Massive Wetherspoons pub on the corner of George
Square. Once had an ambivalent attitude towards football colours,
but now seems to have seen the light with Scotland games. Very popular,
and very handy for Queen Street (and on the way to Central).
O’Neill’s, Queen Street
– Not universally popular, but this chain Irish pub
does offer excellent Guinness. Next pub down from the Counting House.
The Station Bar, Port Dundas Road
- not next to the rail station, and around 500 yards north of the
bus station, this excellent back street local has well kept beers
and some big tellys.
The Horseshoe, Drury Lane –
claims to one of the longest uninterrupted bars in the world,
this is a favourite of Glasgow meedja tart Ally McCoist, and once
hosted Travis practice sessions upstairs. Opens at 10am, but can
get very, very busy. One for midweek matchday lunchtime drinks (although
then you’ll be vying for space with the “suits”).
There's a more detailed description at PTFC.net.
O’Briens, Drury Lane –
a faithful Horseshoe overflow option directly opposite in Drury
Lane. A mezzanine floor and big screen packs them in – crowded,
but happy enough.
The Brewhouse, Renfield Street
(I think!)– a late opener near Central Station. A favourite
of some, but I wasn’t too impressed. PTFC.net review it here.
Now renamed.
The Buchanan, Howard Street–
don’t. Honestly, don’t.
Fat Boab’s Ale Hoose, Howard
Street– at the back of St Enoch’s Square, and
therefore handy for the station, this bright-and-breezy, friendly
pub is a favourite with students, but is usually not too busy for
a lunchtime drink.
The Scotia, Stockwell Street –
NATA’s favourite pre-match watering hole. A small, tight pub
with plenty of character and pie and beans for around £1.50.
Check out their own website.
Loads of character (and Glasgow’s oldest pub, to boot), and
home to the Glasgow folk club, this place is definitely worth a
visit, as is…
The Clutha Vaults, Stockwell Street
– sister pub of The Scotia, and just over the road
on the corner by the bridge. A slightly different shape, and more
open, which is better for nutter-watching (“anyone want to
buy a carpet?”), less so for enjoying a quiet pint.
Victoria Bar, Stockwell Street
- right next door, and just around the corner, to the Clutha. Another
pub with a musical heritage.
The Steps Bar, Glassford Street
- amazingly historic art deco style pub, halfway between George
Square and the Scotia Bar.
Blackfriars, corner of Bell Street
and Albion Street - insanely popular pub with a fantastic
selection of real ales and continental lagers.
Due to the vagaries of public transport in Glasgow, more and more
fans are wisely choosing to sup their last pints (often preceded
by a few, mind!) closer to the ground. I have looked at three different
areas for this guide:
Pollokshaws
Road - close to Vicky Road, but slightly further away
Other areas
- this is an amalgamation of 4 pubs that form a semi-circle
around the east of Hampden. I've not been in any of them, but
it's still worth letting you know about them.
A very popular drinking area for the Tartan Army, and around 15-20
minutes walk from Hampden (see directions from Queens Park station).
Again, I can’t vouch for all of these, but the following are
pretty popular:
The Pandora, corner of Victoria
Road and Calder Street – Ridiculously popular pub,
a big favourite with the users of the TAMB. Get here early or don’t
get in (bouncers enforce a one-out, one-in policy). Expect a fantastic
atmosphere, Tartan Army karaoke, singing and camaraderie–
the prices is long waits at the bar, obstacle courses to the toilets,
and the toilets themselves… think the Somme!
Victoria Arms, corner of Victoria
Road and Allison Street – Used as an overflow for The
Pandora, however it has been known to shut it’s doors to all
but regulars. If you do get in, it’s very friendly, and very
reasonably-priced, with a big screen, lots of seats and good service.
O’Donnells (or similar!),
formerly Nickie Tams, corner of Victoria Road and Torrisdale Street
– the closest pub to Queens Park station. I haven’t
been in since the refurbishment, but before then it was a pretty
standard southside boozer, most likely to appeal to those of a green
and white hooped persuasion. There are TA-friendlier pubs in the
area.
McNeills, Torrisdale Sreet -
(next to Queens Park Station), come out of Queens Park and turn
right before doubling back on yourself – McNeills is a two-storey
grey building, and was formerly owned by ex-Celtic and Scotland
captain Billy McNeill. This was a great place to drink in the past,
although again Rangers fans may not feel quite as comfortable, although
reports reach me that it has lost some of it’s allure since
Billy sold the place on.
The Queens Park Café, Victoria
Road – tea and scones? Not quite - situated at the
end of Vicky Road closest to Hampden, the QPC is not a café
but a large, multi-roomed boozer. Once the pub of choice, then fell
out of favour – now it seems to fill up quite quickly, and
relies on plastic glasses to satisfy the packed clientele. Not a
bad place, but not the best either.
If drinking here, allow extra time, as it’s a good 25-minute
walk (either via Langside Avenue or Vicky Road).
Allison Arms, Pollokshaws Road
– a Real Ale favourite, this traditional pub is a great
boozer, but has fallen out of favour with the Tartan Army over the
past few years. I like it because of the name!
Heraghty’s, Pollokshaws Road
–an enigmatic
single-roomed pub with a ladder in the Gents, and a Ladies toilet
added as an afterthought. Great Guinness, if you can find the bar
staff!
Shawlands Cross –
at least two pubs here (but I can’t remember the names!),
and a nightclub (The Shed), that isn’t generally much good
for a lunchtime drink. Popular with buses from Ayrshire.
Budda Southside, Langside Avenue
– the walk from Shawlands Cross down Langside Avenue
will bring you up to a large pub on the right hand side called Budda
Southside. Never been in, but there were plenty of Tartan Army using
it last time and it has a reputation for drinks deals and a warm
welcome for Scottish fans.
The “other
side” – Aikenhead Road, Cathcart and the Gorbals
I’ve not been in any of these, but they are there, and are
handy (of sorts) for Hampden. The following are observations based
on the outside of the pub, the location and other people’s
opinions:
The Brazen Head –
Just about the first pub you’ll get to if walking from the
city to Hampden. The Brazen Head stands forebodingly on a major
road junction in The Gorbals, and is famous for being Glasgow’s
only Italian-Irish theme pub. Very much a Celtic pub – there
have been rumblings of trouble recently (the integral “nightclub”
has had problems with it’s licence renewal. I’ve seen
from many a taxi window and never felt the need to go in. It has
it's own website here,
which may give you an inkling of the customers' inclinations!
The International Bar – At
the top end of Aikenhead Road (between Hampden and the City), the
International has a reputation as being a “functional”
(read: spit and sawdust) Glasgow boozer. See the PTFC.net review
here (second pub
down).
The other one on Aikenhead Road
– A social-club like exterior, but yet again I’ve
never been in, and I’ve only ever been past it after games
on the way to Kings Park station (the pub is about halfway from
the ground to the station). Looks like it gets very busy, and is
in a residential area, so wouldn’t be surprised if they have
a regulars-only policy.
The Clockwork Beer Company, Cathcart
Road – Near Cathcart Station (on the same circle as
Mount Florida and Queens Park) – the Clockwork is a pretty
nice pub, by all accounts, and is famed for it’s beer range.
The beers on offer range from the in-house brew, a good selection
of real ales and normal beers, through to the more eclectic: pear
cider (it’s only an alcopop!) and the like. Now for the bad
news – the Clockwork is almost always ticket only, and the
tickets are taken up by Supporters buses and locals. Might be worth
a try if you’re in the area or visiting the Hampden museum.