GLASGOW

14. Subway Crawl

There are 23 pub trails in Glasgow. There are eleven trails in the centre of the city, plus five in the West End, three on The Southside across the river and three going East and of course the famous Subway Crawl

Three trails explore three of the main streets in the city centre HOPE St; RENFIELD St and WEST NILE St

Two trails are around Squares; GEORGE SQUARE and the OLD FRUIT MARKET in Merchant City.

Another five, trails take in : QUEEN St & GLASSFORD St, JAMAICA St/ST ENOCH, Around THE TRONGATE, BATH STREET

WATERLOO St & BOTTOM of HOPE St and CHARING CROSS .

Across the river Clyde, on the South side are PAISLEY ROAD WEST , SHAWLANDS and QUEEN’S PARK trails.

Going east are trails for up GALLOWGATE , DUKE STREET, Dennistoun and along to SHETTLESTON

In the West End there are more trails - GREAT WESTERN ROAD two trails covering Great Western Road and Woodlands Road via St Georges Cross to

Kelvinbridge Undergrounds

BYRES ROAD - two trails one down Byres Road and the other using Ashton Lane ,

KELVINHALL TO PARTICK - two routes back and forward between Kelvinhall and Partick subway stations

and MARYHILL - two trails split into top and lower

Plus the SUBWAY CRAWL - subway stops and the closest bars.

To Glasgow Introduction

Glasgow Subway pub crawl

This is the Glasgow subway crawl. This consists of having a drink at the nearest or in some cases the best nearest, although in still other cases there is no choice.

The 15 stop crawl is often accompanied by fancy dress and the need to consume a different drink at each stop. These kinds of refinements are up to the individual or group decision.

You have to be careful with timing if going in the afternoon. City centre pubs will be open however West End pubs may not open till 1pm and sdome pubs on Paisley Road west may be closed Monday and/or Tuesday and have later opening, around 3pm. Alternatives have been suggested.

GLASGOW: SUBWAY PUB CRAWL

If approaching Glasgow from Queen St station then the first subway is Buchanan St (3 min); if approaching from Glasgow Central then the first subway is St Enoch's (5 mins) but as Buchanan St is also about 6 minutes away it makes Buchanan St Subway the most convenient starting point from either station.

Do the sub-crawl in the other direction by going to the bottom of THIS PAGE and working up.

Going in reverse means the West End of Glasgow is near the end of the journey.

Buchanan St -

If starting at Buchanan St subway then Waxy O’Conners is reached by:

From Glasgow Central : leave the station by main entrance and turn right walking along Gordon St to reach Buchanan St which has no traffic allowed on it. Turn up to the left and walk up, across St Vincent St, to the next junction and Waxy O’Connor’s is across the road to the right.

From Queen St: Turn left down from the main entrance and then right on the road. Waxy O’Connor’s is reached before the corner.

From Waxy O’Connor’s turn towards the pedestrianised Buchanan St and go round to the right. The subway entrance is now in the middle of the road.

If getting off at Buchanan St subway right up the escalators and there is an alleyway to the your right - along here is the back door to the Waxy O'Connors.

Waxy O’Conners ★

Waxy O'Connor's, Glasgow - alley entrance

Waxy O'Connor's, Glasgow - servery from alley

Waxy O'Connor's, Glasgow - low and middle servery

Waxy O’Connor’s is an interesting bit of a warren. The design is to give the impression you are sitting in rooms found in the roots of a tree (with organ pipes) From the front door you can go straight ahead or upstairs or round and downstairs. There are three levels plus a large landing space between ground and first floor. Once upstairs you can look down on the downstairs space. There are three serving areas and lots of small drinking areas some on raised floors giving it an intimacy.

Have one here and look around

Heavy : Camden Pale Ale; Chieftan; Neck Oil; Caffreys

Lager : Tennent's ; Heineken; Camden Helles; San Miguel

Cider : Magners Guinness

2. Cowcaddens

Come out of the subway and make your way to the main road above it. walk back, away from the busy junction, and cross over to go down, first right, Cambridge St which has Jackson's near the start of it.

Jackson's

Kitty O'Shea's, Glasgow - left side booths

Kitty O'Shea's, Glasgow - left side servery

Kitty O'Shea's, Glasgow - left side window seats

Kitty O'Shea's, Glasgow - left servery looking through to right servery

Kitty O'Shea's, Glasgow - right side servery

Kitty O'Shea's, Glasgow - right side seating

Jackson’s has two doorways each taking you to a different room sharing a horseshoe servery. The whole area is open plan with some walls stripped back. There is a mixture of booths and banquette seating around the sides. The left-hand side room has three booths and an aquarium. Some tall shelves around pillars make it easy to stand in the milling around area and hold a drink. The right side has banquette seating along. Right side servery has a tiled back wall with several mirrors right wall. Dog friendly. Outside seating.

Lots of light comes in the large windows. Food served

Have a pint here

Heavy/IPA: Goose IPA; Camden Town Hells; Caledonia Best

Lager: Menabrea; Heverlee; Tennent’s; Innes & Gunn; Stella; Bud Light; Mahou

Cider: Magners Guinness

Pub Jukebox:

Alcohol themed music to listen to while you browse.

The Hug and Pint

Hug and Pint has an entrance up a few steps to a wood dominated bar and diner. The windows looking down on to the road have small shelve s and stools A curving servery is to the left, whereas to the right of the steps is seating around tables. There is a second room through from here with more seating and tables. A Scottish outlet for the very cheap Sam Smith’s beers but at West End prices. Music and meals.

Monday to Thursday it does not open until 5pm so Castle Vaults may be nearest open bar.

Have a half pint

Heavy; Old Brewery Bitter (Sam Smiths; ); Sam India Ale; Redacted; Caesar Augustus

Lager Sam Smiths Organic lager; Williams Lager; Blue Moon

Sam Smiths Stout

Castle Vaults

The Castle Vaults - A small one roomed pub with curved servery to the right. Banquette seating to the left with small tables. Stools around the bar. HISTORY - OLD GLASGOW PUBS

Heavy:

Lager: Tennent’s; Carling

Cider Strongbow Guinness

PLACES TO VISIT WITH PUBTRAILS

The towns and villages highlighted on this web site have a wide variety of pubs and beers in them. All of the places are great to visit, whether for a day or longer, and most have tourist attractions for all of the family.

There is a large variety of pubs throughout the different towns shown below. Some you may wish never to visit again but even discovering these can be interesting. There are pubs that you would not take your wife into. While some you could not take your girlfriend into. A few you would not take either into. However, most of the pubs are very pleasant.

Alnwick Ambleside Anstruther Bakewell Bamburgh Barnard Castle Bath Berwick upon Tweed Birnam & Dunkeld Bourton on the Water Bowness on Windermere Bridge of Allan Chester Chichester Dunblane Dunoon Edinburgh Ely Fort William Glasgow Gourock Greenock Helensburgh Inverness Kelso Keswick Knaresbourgh Largs Linlithgow Lyme Regis Melrose Montrose Newton Stewart North Berwick Norwich Oban Pebbles Penzance Portree Pitlochry Quorn Richmond Rothesay St Andrews Seahouses Seend Shrewsbury Skipton Stirling Stratford-upon-Avon Stockton Heath Whitby Windemere Whitstable York

4. Kelvinbridge

Do not bother with the elevators, just walk out of the car park and along the road which curves round to The Doublet

The Doublet

The Doublet has small frontage for such a long room, with Servery on right, and then through to lounge up some steps. Decor is mock Tudor and very traditional brown rectangular tables with banquette seating around sides. There is a lounge door around to the side.

Good Beer Guide 2023, 2024, 2025

Have a pint here

Real ale: Old Hen; Greene King IPA; Kilburn Misty Law; Grapevine (Fallen)

Heavy: Belhaven 80/-; Joker

Lager: The Don Lager. Samuel Adams; Black Isle Lager,

Cider: Thistley Cross Guinness

PUB QUIZ

What did Cyrano de Bergerac have that was longer than most men’s?
Answer at foot of page

5. Hillhead

Turn right and two doors up is The Curler's Rest

The Curler's Rest

Curler’s Rest has two entrance doors with both taking you into a large room with low ceiling. There is seating either side of the doors and on the side walls for a short distance. Half way in the room changes shape and the servery is along the right-hand wall. Half way up the servery there are stairs opposite the counter going upstairs and the main room opens out after this and has a dining room feel to it. The low ceiling, subdued lighting and dark wood furniture combine to give a relaxing atmosphere. Food served

Been in Good Beer Guide regular including 2024, 2025

Have a pint here

Real ale: Deuchers; Christopher (Great Heck); Jack Black; Running With Sceptres (lager); No Rest For Dancers (both Lost and Grounded)

Heavy; Launitas PA; Joker IPA

Lager: Veltins; Schiellhalion; Peroni; Estrella

Guinness

6. Kelvinhall

Straight across the road is The Bag O' Nails

The Bag O' Nails

Bag O'Nails, Glasgow - corner entrance and Dumbarton Rd side

Bag O’ Nails has two large rooms connect on each side of connecting wall. It is stripped back to bricks and stone with exposed rafters and air conditioning. The main servery is the second of the rooms from the corner door. The counter is tiled and has a large modern gantry. This has tall tables in the middle of the room and booths along the window side. The servery is against the right-hand side wall.

Heavy/Craft: Disco Fork Lift Truck (Drygate); Caledonia Best; Innes and Gunn Session

Lager: Tennent’s; Heverlee; Kelvin Lager (Drygate); St Mungo; Heidi Weiss; Innes and Gunn Lager

Cider: Magners; Magners Dark Fruit Guinness

7. Partick

Turn left out of Partick subway and walk up to Dumbarton rd. Turn left again and walk on a few steps to Deoch and Dorus just before the railway bridge.

Deoch An Dorus

Deoch an Dorus has the design of an older bar been tastefully updated with a group of dedicated staff. There is a central oval island bar serving the room with stools all around. The main road side and top corner have windows letting in lots of light. Some tall tables in corner of room. The side and rear of the room is dominated by large TV screens which hunt in pairs. High backed banquette seating around sides with tables for four. Food served.

Have a pint here

Heavy/Pale Ale: Joker; Caledonia Best

Lager: Tennent’s; Coors; Estrella; Amstel; Stella; St Mungo; Heverlee; Birra Moretti; Staroperamen

Cider: Strongbow

8. Govan

Walk out of the subway and walk onto Govan Rd; walk up to the left and past the modern Govan Cross. As you curve round there is an older building in the middle of the road. This building on the Y-junction has entrances to Brechin's on both sides

Brechin's

Brechin’s is built on a Y junction and can be entered on both sides with the room narrow at the top and widening out. There is a large squashed circle island bar, which gives the counter considerable length, with a small lounge fenced off at the top left corner by older wood and plastic windows. The walls have seating all around the room with plenty of standing room between the counter and these seats. The main method of drinking is standing by the long bar where small vanity screens break it up. Traditional working man's pub. HISTORY OLD GLASGOW PUBS

Have a pint here

Has a nationally important historic interior

Heavy: Tennent’s Special

L ager: Stella; Carling; Tennent’s

Cider: Strongbow Guinness

9. Ibrox

The Louden Tavern is opposite the subway; however, it is not always open which is not helpful for a pubcrawl

10. Cessnock

Exit the subway and turn right, along the curved Walmer Crescent and The Kensington is opposite the next corner

The Kensington

Kensington, Glasgow - lounge and bar entrances

Kensington, Glasgow - bar entrance at corner

The Kensington, Glasgow - lounge (older)

The Kensington, Glasgow - bar servery (older)

The Kensington is a corner pub with separate entrances to bar (on right) and lounge (on left) with a door at the back connecting them. Both rooms are quite small. The lounge is carpeted with a small servery and stores the outside tables which are positioned in fine weather. The small bar has seating all around the sides

Have a pint here

Heavy: John Smiths

Lager: Cruzcompo; Tennent’s; 1664

Cider: Magners Guinness

WARNING

You can actually walk the 1.5 miles between The Kensington (at Cessnock) and The Lauriston (at Bridge St) quicker than going back and forward to the subway station and still call at the sub-crawl pubs following pubs in between; The Bellrock (at Kinning Park), The Old Toll Bar (at Shields Rd) and The Lord Nelson (at West St). All of the pubs are on Paisley Rd West and then Morrison St. Though you do find that on Paisley Road West you will walk by other pubs which are not part of the subway crawl. No such problem exists on Morrison St as only The Lord Nelson and The Lauriston are on it.

In fact The Lauriston (Bridge St) and Time's Square (St Enochs) can be walked in 8 minutes.

It depends on whether being on the underground as much as possible is part of the fun!

UPDATE

The Lord Nelson is currently closed. This means that it is difficult to find a close and convenient pub to West St subway.

In fact The Lauriston, which is closest to Bridge St subway is now also the closest to West St. Subway at 10 minutes. One positive outcome would be to have TWO drinks in The Lauriston.

However if you must have a different pub for West St subway there are some possibilities:

Try Glasgow’s Star Bar (12 minutes) as closest to West Subway. This route looks quiet and dark for night-time travel.
Use The Brazen Head (9mins) pub as the closest to Bridge St and The Lauriston as the closest to West St subway. It is then up to you whether you actual alight at West St at all or merely visit two for Bridge St. This route looks quiet and dark for night-time travel.
or the recommended choice
Use Sharkey’s (9mins) pub as the closest to Bridge St and The Lauriston as the closest to West St subway. It is then up to you whether you actual alight at West St at all or merely visit two for Bridge St . Finding Sharkey’s looks the easiest route along a busy main road but could still be a lonely walk.
Remember that it is not just the walk to the pub but there is a return journey as well.

11. Kinning Park

Come out of the subway and walk behind it under the curving footbridge and walk left up Cornwall St towards Paisley Road West and at the corner of these two streets is The Bellrock.

The Bellrock

The Bellrock is a small one roomed pub with the entrance on the corner. This leads directly to the pool table area which has some seating and small tables around its sides. Beyond the pool table is the servery along the back right wall and curving round to the right where the room widens out. There is standing room only between the counter and the wall, with seating restarting at the end of the servery and going round to the right.

May be closed Mon and Tues afternoons while the bar opposite The Grapes may be closed on a Tuesday. If both are closed walk back down to The District or onwards to The Viceroy which is opposite The Old Toll Bar which is part of the trail for the Shields Road subway. (see Paisley Road West trail)

Have a half pint here

Heavy: Tartan; John Smiths

Lager: Fosters; Tennent’s

Cider: Strong bow ; Strongbow Dark Fruits Guinness

12. Shields Rd

Come out of the subway and turn right along Scotland St and right again to walk under the motorway. Do not go down the path but follow the road under the motorway and come onto Seaward St. First street on the left is Stanley St where The Stanley bar was a minute along, on the second corner making it the closest. However, The Stanley closed , so if you turn right at Admiral St (the first corner) and 2 minutes further just around the corner on Paisley Rd West is, a wee gem, The Old Toll Bar.

The Stanley (closed)

Stanley Bar is a small corner pub with an entrance both sides. The L shaped room has a servery along the left-hand wall serving a bar area with wooden floor and along the right-hand side is a carpeted bit with seating and tables. Celtic memorabilia decorate the wall. CLOSED HISTORY OLD GLASGOW PUB

Have a half pint

Heavy: Caledonia Best

Lager: Tennent's; Carling

Guinness

The Old Toll Bar ★

The Old Toll Bar, Glasgow - servery and bar area

The Old Toll Bar, Glasgow - real ales board

The Old Toll Bar, Glasgow - whisky barrels on gantry

The Old Toll Bar, Glasgow - see board for names

The Old Toll Bar, Glasgow - games people play

The Old Toll Bar is a gem on this trail. Unchanged for a long time there is a giant black wood listed gantry and four large 100-year-old mirrors. There is a long-curved marble counter running along most of the back wall with some seating either side. The right-hand wall is dominated by three large mirrors. The left and front wall have banquette seating and small tables.

Must have a pint

a nationally important historic interior,

Real ale: Dragonfly (Fallen Brewery)

Heavy; Dead Pony club; Sam Smiths; So LA West Coast ale ( Dark Revolution)

Lager: Old Toll Lager (Drygate); Dunkel

13. West St

The Lord Nelson is currently closed. This means that it is difficult to find a close and convenient pub to West St subway.

In fact The Lauriston, which is closest to Bridge St subway is now also the closest to West St. Subway at 10 minutes. One positive outcome would be to have TWO drinks in The Lauriston.

However if you must have a different pub for West St subway there are some possibilities:

Try Glasgow’s Star Bar (12 minutes) as closest to West Subway. This route looks quiet and dark for night-time travel.
Use The Brazen Head (9mins) pub as the closest to Bridge St and The Lauriston as the closest to West St subway. It is then up to you whether you actual alight at West St at all or merely visit two for Bridge St. This route looks quiet and dark for night-time travel.
or the recommended choice
Use Sharkey’s (9mins) pub as the closest to Bridge St and The Lauriston as the closest to West St subway. It is then up to you whether you actual alight at West St at all or merely visit two for Bridge St . Finding Sharkey’s looks the easiest route along a busy main road but could still be a lonely walk.
Remember that it is not just the walk to the pub but there is a return journey as well.

The Lord Nelson - closed

The Lord Nelson is a one roomed bar in looking recently done up. The servery is to the right with some stools at it. The pool table is opposite the servery. Beyond the pool table the pub narrows and has a seating area with three long tables along the far wall with comfortable seating.

have a pint here

Heavy: Caledonia Best

Lager: Tennent's; Carling; Heverlee

Cider: Magners; Strongbow Dark Fruit Guinness

14. Bridge St

Exit the subway and look right towards the opposite corner and spy The Laurieston

The Laurieston ★

The Lauriston, Glasgow - bar to the left, lounge to the right; on Bridge St

The Lauriston, Glasgow - bar entrance on Nelson St

The Lauriston, Glasgow - back of lounge to far side of bar

The Lauriston, Glasgow - towards top of horseshoe shaped servery

The Lauriston, Glasgow - Aitken pump for real ale (19th C) came from The Rising Sun pub

The Laurieston has a central oval island bar of which a small portion serves the lounge while the rest serves the bar 1960s bar. The pub is situated on a corner. The entrance of the short side is directly to the bar, while the entrance on the long side has the lounge to the right and bar to the left. The main area of the bar has banquette seating and small red shelf width tables. Decoration is a pictorial history of bars the family have owned and their customers. The far end of bar is narrower and this leg of the oval is for stools or standing.

Family sold pub in 2024 - only noticeable change is Tennent’s in.

Featured in Scotland's True Heritage Pubs;

Regular in Good Beer Guide, including 2023, 2024, 2025

Recommended by Anthony Cooke author of A History of Drinking: The Scottish Pub Since 1700 link

A historic pub interior of some regional importance. History

Have a few here

Real Ale: Avalanche; Jarl, Suede all Fyne Ales

Heavy: John Smith; Tartan; McEwan’s Export ; McEwan’s 80/- ; Goose Island Midway; Innes & Gunn Session IPA

Lager: Fosters; Amstel; Cruzcampo; Tennent’s

Cider: Strongbow Guinness

Leave The Laurieston by either door and go to the corner to cross over the road back into the city centre at the lights and go down Norfolk St (not under the railway bridge) and not away from the city down the A77. 6 minutes down Norfolk St (the A8) is Glasgow Central Mosque on the left and to the right of the bridge under the railway line is Sharkey’s

Sharkey’s

Sharkey's, Glasgow - right hand side room

Sharkey's, Glasgow - right hand room stage

Sharkeys where the right hand entrance takes you to a large function room with stage and is not always open. Better to enter by the left door to a long thin comfortable lounge. The servery is on the right side wall and goes up about half way. After this is some comfy seating at small round table, a connecting door to the larger room and on the far wall is the kitchen serving lovely home made meals. Opposite the servery and running the full length of the left wall is banquette seating with two comfy chairs at each of several small round table. The area under these tables is carpeted while beside the servery the floor is tiled. there are wooden stools along the counter. The room has a low ceiling and lighting making it attractive.

Have a few here

Heavy: Caledonia Best

Lager: Tennent’s; Carling; Coors; Stella

Cider: Carling Guinness

15. St Enoch

Leaving the entrance turn around to your left and Times Square is across the street and down a little.

Times Square

Times Square is a warm welcoming pub on a cold day. The long bar starts half way up the right-hand wall. There is a variety of tables and seating. Round to the left at the back is large booth seating with their own screen.

Have a half pint here.

Heavy: Camden Hells; Belhaven Best; Wolfpack Sesh IPA

Lager: Corona; Madri; Tennent’s; Birra Moretti; St Mungo

Cider: Strongbow Guinness

Next stop is a return to Buchanan St subway

Links for Glasgow city centre Pubtrails

Trail 1 - Around George Square

(blue with black dot icon)
Waxy O’ Connors
Dow’s
The Vale (now closed)
Camperdown Place (closed)
Millenium Hotel
The Alchemist
Flight Club
The Ark
The Press Bar
Committee Room No 9
Katie’s Bar
The Piper
Doppio Malto
Drouthys
The Counting House
The Anchor Line
The Citizen (was The Trading House)
The Auctioneers

Around George Square
Trail 2 - HOPE STREET

(light blue icon)
Stereo
The Old Hairdressers
The Society Room
The Pot Still.
Molly Malone's.
MacConnell's
Ardnamurchan (was Trader Joe's)
Rufus T Firefly
NYC Bar
Hope & Vincent
Ad Lib
The Toby Jug
The Smokin' Fox (formerly The Hope)

HOPE STREET
Trail 3 RENFIELD STREET

(green icon)
The Merchant
The Maltman
The Raven
Lauders.
The Atholl Arms
Walkabout
The Renfield Bar
Revolution
Missoula
Revolucion De Cuba
The Drum and Monkey
The Horseshoe.
Dury Lane Bar & Kitchen
Yes Bar - closed

RENFIELD STREET
Trail 4 - WEST NILE St

(red icon)
Vroni's Wine Bar
The Shilling Brewing Co.
The Iron Horse - closed
The Station Bar
The Intermezzo
Alfie’s (was Alfredo's)
Cul Cuil (was The Courtyard)
All Bar One
Innes & Gunn Talroom
Los Iguanas
Revolution
Ross's Original Bar
Tabac
August House

WEST NILE St
Trail 5 - AROUND THE FRUITMARKET

(grey icons)
Bar 91
Beer Cafe
The Metropolitan
Marmalade Skies (was Boudoir Wine Bar) - closed
Bar Square
The Tap Room (was Steak, Rattle and Roll which was Bar Espagnol Mercado)
O'Neil's
Bar Soba
Bar Gandolfi.
Bar Home
Babbity Bowster,
Strathduie (was Macgregor's Pie & Ale Howf and before that Strathduie !)
The Black Bull
McChuills
Connolly’s LIQR (was LIQR and before that The G-Lounge)
Blackfriars of Bell St

Around Fruitmarket
Trail 6 -A circle around Waterloo St & Hope St

(yellow icon)
The Smokin’ Fox (was The Hope)
Kitty O'Shea's
El Camino (was The Drop)
Rhoderick Dhu
The Woods
The Waterloo
The Duke’s Umbrella
Sir John Muir
Oswald’s (was Kellys ;was Quarter Gill)
No 16 Bar & Kitchen (was Sotto; was The Two Heided Man)
Denholms
Solid Rock Cafe
The Alpen Lodge
The Park Lane
26 Hope St

Waterloo St & Hope St

Links for Glasgow city centre Pubtrails

Trail 1 - Around George Square

(blue with black dot icon)
Waxy O’ Connors
Dow’s
The Vale (now closed)
Camperdown Place (closed)
Millenium Hotel
The Alchemist
Flight Club
The Ark
The Press Bar
Committee Room No 9
Katie’s Bar
The Piper
Assaggin i(was Doppio Malto)
Drouthys
The Counting House
The Anchor Line
The Citizen (was The Trading House)
The Auctioneers

George Square
Trail 2 -Hope Street

(light blue icon)
Stereo
The Old Hairdressers
The Society Room
The Pot Still.
Molly Malone's.
MacConnell's
Ardnamurchan (was Trader Joe's)
Rufus T Firefly
NYC Bar
Hope & Vincent
Ad Lib (closed)
The Toby Jug
The Smokin' Fox (formerly The Hope)

Hope Street
Trail 3 -renfield St

(green icon)
The Merchant
The Maltman
The Raven
Lauders.
The Atholl Arms
Walkabout
The Renfield Bar
Revolution
Missoula
Revolucion De Cuba
The Drum and Monkey
The Horseshoe.
Dury Lane Bar & Kitchen
Yes Bar - closed

Renfield St
Trail 4 - West Nile St

(red icon)
Vroni's Wine Bar
The Shilling Brewing Co.
The Iron Horse - closed
The Station Bar
The Intermezzo
Alfie’s (was Alfredo's)
Cul Cuil (was The Courtyard)
All Bar One
Innes & Gunn Talroom
Los Iguanas
Revolution
Ross's Original Bar
Tabac
August House

West Nile St
Trail 5 - around the Fruitmarket

(grey icons)
Bar 91
Beer Cafe
The Metropolitan
Marmalade Skies (was Boudoir Wine Bar) - closed
Bar Square (closed)
The Tap Room (was Steak, Rattle and Roll which was Bar Espagnol Mercado)
O'Neil's
Bar Soba
Bar Gandolfi.
Bar Home
Babbity Bowster,
Strathduie (was Macgregor's Pie & Ale Howf and before that Strathduie !)
The Black Bull
McChuills
Connolly’s LIQR (was LIQR and before that The G-Lounge)
Blackfriars of Bell St
Mharsanta

Around The Fruitmarket
Trail 6 - Waterloo St and bottom of Hope St

(yellow icon)
The Smokin’ Fox (was The Hope)
Kitty O'Shea's (downstairs)
Kitty O'Shea's (was El Camino and was The Drop)
Rhoderick Dhu
The Woods
The Waterloo
The Duke’s Umbrella
Sir John Muir
Oswald’s (was Kellys ;was Quarter Gill)
Lafferty's (was No 16 Bar & Kitchen was Sotto; was The Two Heided Man)
Denholms
Solid Rock Cafe
The Alpen Lodge
The Park Lane
26 Hope St

Waterloo & Hope St
Trail 7 - Queen St and Glassford St

(purple icon)
Biere Halle
The Lab
Wonderbar
Sloans
Rocky O' Sullivans CLOSED
Strata CLOSED
Max's Bar & Grill
Thundercat
The Spiritualist
Cairns
Steps Bar
Blane Valley
Bacchus
Rab Ha's
Poco Loco (was The Pavement )
BrewDog
The Gallery Bar
The Amsterdam
The Oriental (closed)

Queen St and Glassford St
Trail 8 - Jamaica St- St Enoch

(brown icon)
O'Neil's (was The Royal Scott)
The Grant Arms
The Crystal Palace
Macsorley's
The Imperial
The Mint & Lime - closed
Lauristons
Gallagher’s (was Kelly’s and was Coyote)
Hootenanny
Times Square
Crafty Joe's (taken over by Times Square)

Jamaica St- St Enoch
Trail 9 - Around The Trongate

(orange with large square icon)
Grace’s Irish Sports Bar
Buck’s Bar
Boteco do Brazil
Maggie’s Rock n Rodeo
Avant Garde
13th Note -(closed)
Mono
Whistler on the Green
The Old Ship Bank Bar
The Winds
The Victoria & Clutha
The Scotia

Around The Trongate
Trail 10 - Bath St

(red with small square)
Golf Lounge
Buck’s Bar
Bloc+
The Butterfly and The Pig
Palomino
Slouch
The Griffin
Tiki Bar and Kitsch Inn
St Judes
Howlin’ Wolf
Malones
The Bay Horse

Bath St
Trail 16 - Charing Cross

(yellow with small square)
Bavaria Baurhaus
Slug & Lettuce (closed)
Bon Accord
Chinaski’s
The Locale
Driftwood
The Hall
Nico’s
Kilt & Kocktails
The Hengler’s Circus
The State

Charing Cross

East End and Southside links

Trail 17 - up the Gallowgate

Chrystal Bell & Co
MacKinnon’s (closed)
The Gate (check opening)
Bar ‘67 (check opening)
226 Gallowgate
Hielan Jessie
The Wee Man’s Bar
The Drover
Van Winkle (check opening)
St Luke & The Flying Ox
Traders Lounge
The Old Burnt Barns (check opening)
Braemar
Tollbooth Bar

Up The Gallowgate
Trail 18 - Dennistoun

The Bristol bar
The Louden tavern
The Duke Bar
the Crown Creighton
The Alexandra Bar
The Snug
The Palais
Redmond’s of Dennistoun
The Drover
The Wee Man’s Bar

Duke St, Dennistoun
Trail 21 -Shettleston

Snedden’s Inn
The Palaceum
The Town Tavern
The Cottage Bar
The Marquis
The Drum
The Portland Arms
The Railway tavern
The Kirkhouse
Miller’s

Shettleston
Trail 19 - Paisley Rd West

(dark blue teardrop)
Lauriston Bar
The Quayside bar
The Union Bar
The Old Toll Bar
The Viceroy
The Bellrock
Grapes
The District bar
Kensington Bar
Park Bar

Paisley Rd West
trail 22 -Queen's Park

McNeil’s
The Regent
Titwood Bar
TheBbungo
Allison Arms
MJ Heraghty
Victoria Bar
Ryan’s bar
The Bell Jar
The Rose reilly
Queen’s Park Cafe

Queen's Park
Trail 23 - Shawlands

Trail 23 - Shawlands
Old Stag Inn
Quaich
Loc's
The Millwood
James Tassie
Phillies of Shawlands
The Granary
Georgic
The Corona
Sweeney's on the Park

Shawlands

Links for Glasgow West End & Subway Pubtrails

Trail 11 a nd b - Great Western Road & Woodlands Road

(lime green with tick icon)
The Castle Vaults
The Hug and Pint
The Scallion (was Munro's then The Bull and now ..)
Wintersgills
The Lansdowne
Webster's
FORK A
Inn Deep
Cooper’s
The Belle
The French Horn (was Bakehouse)
Bank Street Bar Kitchen
The Left Bank
Stravaigin
The Doublet
or FORK B
Schoolhouse
Dram
FF West End
Arlington
The Drake
Camerons

St George's to Kelvinbridge
Trail 12- Byres Rd (a) & (b)

(light blue icon)
Trail (a) Ashton Lane
Curler's Rest
the Wee Pub/The Pub
Innes & Gunn Brewery Tap
Brel
Vodka Wodka
Jinty McGinty’s
Hillhead Book Club
The Parlour
Oran Mor
BeGin
Trail (b) Byres Road
Curler’s Rest
Tennent's Bar
Cottiers
The Rock
Topolabamba (was Bar Soba)
The Aragon
The Hill - closed
Gumbo - closed
The Record Factory
The Three Judges
Bag O'Nails

Byres Rd
Trail 13 - Kelvingrove

(red with tick)
Dirty Duchess
Lebowskis
Taphouse
The Grove
The Big Slide
The Snaffle Bit
The Butchershop
BrewDog
Dukes Bar
The Islay Inn
The Park Bar
El Jefe's
No 78
Kelvingrove Cafe
The Ben Nevis
Finnieston
Brass Monkey
Strip Joint

Kelvingrove
trail 15 - Kelvinhall to Partick and back

(maroon circle with square or tic)
Partick to Kelvinhall
Stumps Bar
The Fiddlers
Victoria Bar
Quarter Gill
The Linsmor
Sparkle Horse
West End Tavern
Record Factory
Gallus
Kelvinhall to Partick
Three Judges
The Dolphin
Bag O’Nails
Storm Queen
Smiddy Bar
Tenement Bar
Windsor Tav.
Rosevale Tav.
Deoch An Dorus

Kelvinhall to Partick
trail 20 - Maryhill

LOWER
The Castle Vaults
The Tower
the Star & Garter
Munn’s
The BrewHaus
The Botany Bar CLOSED
The Woodside Inn
The Royalty Bar
UPPER
The First & Last
Kelvin Dock CLOSED
The Punch Bow;
The Viking Bar
The Lockhouse
Harvey’s Bar
The Ram’s Head

Maryhill
Trail 14 - Glasgow Subway

Waxy O'Connors
Jackson’s
Castle Vaults
The Hug
The Doublet
Curler’s Rest
The Bag O' Nails
Deoch and Doris
Brechin's
The Louden Tavern
Kensington
The Bellrock
Stanley Bar - closed
The Old Toll Bar
The Lord Nelson - closed
Laurieston
Times Square

Glasgow Subway

Links to pages and sites

Books on Beer

A variety of recommended books to improve your knowledge of beer and brewing

Books on Beer
Stevenson & MacKay

Craig Stevenson and John MacKay use their bus passes to visit pubs the length and breadth of Scotland.
They have recorded their adventures in seven books.

Map of pubs visted
Books on Pubs

A veriety of recommended books that describe the history and development of the public house.

Books on Pubs
CAMRA

The Campaign for Real Ale

CAMRA
Places visited by Pubtrails

Villages, towns and cities which appear on this website.

Places visited by Pubtrails

St Judes, Glasgow — “Alcohol - helping ugly people have sex since babylon”

—

ANSWER: nose

GLASGOW

14. Subway Crawl

There are 23 pub trails in Glasgow. There are eleven trails in the centre of the city, plus five in the West End, three on The Southside across the river and three going East and of course the famous Subway Crawl

Three trails explore three of the main streets in the city centre HOPE St; RENFIELD St and WEST NILE St

Two trails are around Squares; GEORGE SQUARE and the OLD FRUIT MARKET in Merchant City.

Another five, trails take in : QUEEN St & GLASSFORD St, JAMAICA St/ST ENOCH, Around THE TRONGATE, BATH STREET

WATERLOO St & BOTTOM of HOPE St and CHARING CROSS .

Across the river Clyde, on the South side are PAISLEY ROAD WEST , SHAWLANDS and QUEEN’S PARK trails.

Going east are trails for up GALLOWGATE , DUKE STREET, Dennistoun and along to SHETTLESTON

In the West End there are more trails - GREAT WESTERN ROAD two trails covering Great Western Road and Woodlands Road via St Georges Cross to

Kelvinbridge Undergrounds

BYRES ROAD - two trails one down Byres Road and the other using Ashton Lane ,

FINNESTON,

KELVINHALL TO PARTICK - two routes back and forward between Kelvinhall and Partick subway stations

and MARYHILL - two trails split into top and lower

Plus the SUBWAY CRAWL - subway stops and the closest bars.

Glasgow Subway pub crawl

This is the Glasgow subway crawl. This consists of having a drink at the nearest or in some cases the best nearest, although in still other cases there is no choice.

The 15 stop crawl is often accompanied by fancy dress and the need to consume a different drink at each stop. These kinds of refinements are up to the individual or group decision.

You have to be careful with timing if going in the afternoon. City centre pubs will be open however West End pubs may not open till 1pm and sdome pubs on Paisley Road west may be closed Monday and/or Tuesday and have later opening, around 3pm. Alternatives have been suggested.

GLASGOW: SUBWAY PUB CRAWL

Do the sub-crawl in the other direction by going to the bottom of THIS PAGE and working up.

Going in reverse means the West End of Glasgow is near the end of the journey.

Buchanan St -

If starting at Buchanan St subway then Waxy O’Conners is reached by:

From Glasgow Central : leave the station by main entrance and turn right walking along Gordon St to reach Buchanan St which has no traffic allowed on it. Turn up to the left and walk up, across St Vincent St, to the next junction and Waxy O’Connor’s is across the road to the right.

From Queen St: Turn left down from the main entrance and then right on the road. Waxy O’Connor’s is reached before the corner.

From Waxy O’Connor’s turn towards the pedestrianised Buchanan St and go round to the right. The subway entrance is now in the middle of the road.

If getting off at Buchanan St subway right up the escalators and there is an alleyway to the your right - along here is the back door to the Waxy O'Connors.

Waxy O’Conners ★

Have one here and look around

Heavy : Camden Pale Ale; Chieftan; Neck Oil; Caffreys

Lager : Tennent's ; Heineken; Camden Helles; San Miguel

Cider : Magners Guinness

2. Cowcaddens

Come out of the subway and make your way to the main road above it. walk back, away from the busy junction, and cross over to go down, first right, Cambridge St which has Jackson's near the start of it.

Jackson's

Lots of light comes in the large windows. Food served

Have a pint here

Heavy/IPA: Goose IPA; Camden Town Hells; Caledonia Best

Lager: Menabrea; Heverlee; Tennent’s; Innes & Gunn; Stella; Bud Light; Mahou

Cider: Magners Guinness

Pub Jukebox:

Alcohol themed music to listen to while you browse.

drinking again - Bette Midler

3. St George's Cross

Castle Vaults or The Hug and Pint (both 3 mins) - basically the old mans' pub (cheap and limited choice) v the upmarket West End food/music joint (expensive and choice). The Hug and Pint does not open until 5pm on weekdays so no good for an afternoon visit.

The Hug and Pint

Monday to Thursday it does not open until 5pm so Castle Vaults may be nearest open bar.

Have a half pint

Heavy; Old Brewery Bitter (Sam Smiths; ); Sam India Ale; Redacted; Caesar Augustus

Lager Sam Smiths Organic lager; Williams Lager; Blue Moon

Sam Smiths Stout

Castle Vaults

The Castle Vaults - A small one roomed pub with curved servery to the right. Banquette seating to the left with small tables. Stools around the bar. HISTORY - OLD GLASGOW PUBS

Heavy:

Lager: Tennent’s; Carling

Cider Strongbow Guinness

PLACES TO VISIT WITH PUBTRAILS

The towns and villages highlighted on this web site have a wide variety of pubs and beers in them. All of the places are great to visit, whether for a day or longer, and most have tourist attractions for all of the family.

HOME MAP of places visited

4. Kelvinbridge

Do not bother with the elevators, just walk out of the car park and along the road which curves round to The Doublet

The Doublet

The Doublet has small frontage for such a long room, with Servery on right, and then through to lounge up some steps. Decor is mock Tudor and very traditional brown rectangular tables with banquette seating around sides. There is a lounge door around to the side.

Good Beer Guide 2023, 2024, 2025

HISTORY OLD GLASGOW PUBS

Have a pint here

Real ale: Old Hen; Greene King IPA; Kilburn Misty Law; Grapevine (Fallen)

Heavy: Belhaven 80/-; Joker

Lager: The Don Lager. Samuel Adams; Black Isle Lager,

Cider: Thistley Cross Guinness

PUB QUIZ

5. Hillhead

Turn right and two doors up is The Curler's Rest

The Curler's Rest

Been in Good Beer Guide regular including 2024, 2025

Have a pint here

Real ale: Deuchers; Christopher (Great Heck); Jack Black; Running With Sceptres (lager); No Rest For Dancers (both Lost and Grounded)

Heavy; Launitas PA; Joker IPA