GLASGOW

6. Around Waterloo St & lower Hope St

 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 pubs around Waterloo St and lower Hope St

GLASGOW: WATERLOO St & HOPE St TRAIL

From inside the Central Station take the small left hand exit and cross directly over. to the street running ahead which is Waterloo St and second right on it is the first pub. The first bar was called The Hope but has now been renamed The Smokin' Fox. Cross over and continue along to Kitty O' Shea's, which has taken over the street level pub (last called El Camino which was Nomad and formerly The Drop), followed by Rhoderic Dhu and then on the corner The Woods. Going out of the other door of The Woods turn down Wellington St which has The Waterloo at the end of it. Turn right along the main street for two blocks and on the opposite side at the corner is The Duke’s Umbrella. Walk back along the main street to the station and find The Sir John Moore at the next major junction. Detour by crossing over diagonally at the lights and walk down to Oswald’s (formerly Kelly’s formerly The Quarter Gill).

Walk back up from Osbourne’s towards the station and cross over to find Laferty’s (formerly Number 16 and before that Sotto and Two Heided Man). Now cross over Hope St. to Denholms on the opposite corner. Up from here are The Solid Rock Cafe, The Alpen Lodge and The Park Bar. Cross over to the station side and see 26 Hope St and then into the station.

 A place this size is bound to have its own guides to illustrate the vast quantity, quality and styles of pubs.

CAMRA in Glasgow

Glasgow guide illustrating top ten pubs in different styles of drinking (and dining) eg Style pubs or Live Music pubs.

Timeout listing of best pubs - controversial

A good proportion of the pubs have real ale but many do not. The west coast still has a bit of a lager flavour - occasionally only lager. Real ale is not limited to trendy style pubs, and not even in many of these.

Glasgow does not have the tourist grouping of pubs as found in Edinburgh - they are mainly aimed at Glasgow folk.

Practically every pub offers food at lunch or all day

The Smokin' Fox (Was The Hope) ★

The Smokin' Fox (formerly The Hope) is an old two roomed bar which has been renovated to a high standard. The bottom half has an old counter and nice back bar. The room is light an airy due to high ceiling and large windows. This room has a large plinth table between columns for standing at in the middle of the room. There are tables at the windows, either side of entrance, and down the right-hand side. The second room is up a few wide steps from the back of the lower room and has a interesting ceiling. This has more tables and chairs and is used for dining.  This pub used to be connected to The Toby Jug around the corner via both pubs back rooms. Some seating outside

This was formerly the Blythswood Bar and the lounge was, what is now, The Toby Jug now a separate bar on Hope St - History

Have a pint here

Real ale:    was on sale when it was The Hope

Bitter:        Camden Pale; Cold Town Beer New England Pale; Gamma Ray

Lager:       Cold Town Beer Lager; St Mungo; Birra Moretti ; Tennent’s

Cider:        Inch’s Cider;                   Guinness

Kitty O’Shea’s

Part of it was was El

Kitty O’Shea’s is an Irish pub situated in a basement and another one at street level.

The street level venue is where

The basement has the bar around to the right. It has a low ceiling, is dimly lit and furniture and walls are dark wood. As such it is quite dark and there is a feeling of intimacy enhanced with a lot of boxed in seating, booths and small rooms around the bar area. It opens up further back to a larger area for performance or big screen TV watching. Some booths have their own TV. food is available.

Have a pint here

Heavy/Beer:   Chieftain; Blue Moon

Lager:    Madri; Staroperamen; Coors; Carling; Blue Moon

cider:    Cold River Cider; Rekorderlig Guinness          

Pub Jukebox:

Alcohol themed music to listen to while you browse.

Warm beer, cold woman - Tom Waits

Kitty O’Shea’s (street level)

was El Camino, before that Nomad (a late night venue), and before that was The Drop

Kitty O’Sheas has taken over the streetlevel, mezzanine level and top floor of what was formerly El Camino, previously a late night venue called Nomad and before that The Drop. Lets hope Kitty’s can keep it going longer. The layout is the same as The Drop, two tall tables at window and servery is along the left wall. There are a couple of booths opposite the servery. Beyond the ample standing room are steps to an mezzanine level with a performance area. Then, both right and left are some steps to next level which has dining sizes tables and five tall table booths at the front windows.

Have a half pint here

Heavy/Pale Ale: Chieftan

Lager:       Madri; Staroperamen; Coors; Carling; Blue Moon

Cider:    Cold River Cider ; Rekorderlig Guinness

 Rhoderick Dhu

Rhoderick Dhu has a horseshoe shaped bar lying at a slight angel to the room. Plenty of bar stools. There are normal tables and chairs around the walls. The frontage can open up onto pavement area for al fresco drinking during the summer. There is always seating outside by the pavement. Food available and lots of TVs

Have a pint here

Heavy/IPA Belhaven Best, Level Head; Neck Oil

Lager:        Innes & Gunn; Flint Eye;;  Peroni;  Tennent’s; Birra Moretti; Schiehallion; Madri; St Mungo

 Cider: Old Mout Cider    ; Inches                                 Guinness

The Admiral Woods ★ was The Woods

The Woods, as in "If You go Down To The Woods Today"; Not a corner pub but stretches around the corner with entrances on both Waterloo and Wellington streets. The Waterloo St side is the shorter frontage and has booths and tables leading up to one side of a horseshoe shaped bar. Behind the bar there is an entrance to a smaller outside seating which catches sun is in an area behind the servery separated from the bar area by a glass wall.

The Wellington St entrance has a larger frontage and contains much more of a dining area feel and with tall tables closer to the bar and dining tables alongside the full sized windows . There is a performance area flanked by big red booths along the right-hand wall. Has a lovely contemporary light brown wood retro style to it.

Food served all day

Have a pint here

IPA:                  Neck Oil IPA

Lager:             Heineken Silver;  Heineken;  Bones Lager;  Amstel;  Red Stripe;  Birra Moretti

Cider:               Strongbow ; Inches                         Guinness

PUB QUIZ

What stretch of water separates Sweden from Jutland (Denmark)?

Answer at foot of page

 The Waterloo

The Waterloo is a corner bar with stained glass in upper half of windows around outside. Entrance doors in middle of short side and far end of the longer side. The one room has the servery against the middle of the long wall. Seating all around sides under the windows with small performance area in window corner.  Stools around the bar but with reasonable standing room between bar and tables. Noted as one of the first gay pubs in Glasgow.

Have a pint

Heavy: John Smith’s

Lager:    Peroni;  Tennent’s;  Birra Moretti; Amstel; Stella

Cider:    Strongbow Dark Fruits       Guinness

The Duke’s Umbrella ★

The Duke’s Umbrella is a corner bar/diner with lots of light coming in from the windows running down two sides. Don’t be put off by the rather distressed looking appearance above the windows as inside tastefully decorated with the subdued lighting and dark wood combining to give a cosy private atmosphere.

The short servery is straight ahead tucked in at window and back wall. Along all of the windows are small glass shelves and stools. The main roomm has two long passages for seating/dining. the passgae closesr to the servery has four booths with padded seating while the passgae closer to the door has small dining style tables. The floor, tables and walls are all dark wood while lighting is low with ‘candles’ for each table

Have a pint

Real ale: there, but not on during the quiet winter months

Pale ale: Neck Oil; Gamma ray

Lager:    Amstel;  Heineken;  Weihenstepaner;  Birra Moretti

Cider:    Orchard Thieves Apple Cider       Guinness

The Sir John Muir

The Sir John Muir is a large Wetherspoon's pub. The bar is straight ahead and there is the usual variety of table styles. Some outside seating on large pavement.

Have a pint here.

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

Real ale:   Glasgow Cross; Doombar; Stewarts 80/-; Green devil (Oakham); White Shores

Heavy/Pale Ale: Punk IPA   ; Worthington Cream Flow;  John Smith      ; Joker   

Lager     Tennent’s; San Miguel; Corona; Coors;  Carlsberg;      Stella; Bud Light

Cider     Strongbow and dark Fruit;  Aspall      Guinness   

Oswald’s

(was Kelly's ,before that was The Quarter Gill)

Oswald’s (was Kelly's ,was The Quarter Gill) is a small L-shaped corner bar. The counter is to the left with some seating to the window. Further on after the servery the room opens out with more banquette seating. This back area is decorated with paintings on the wall of Rangers’ heros and Rangers triumphs are on the wall opposite servery.

History

have a pint.

Heavy:   Belhaven Best

Lager:    Staroperaman; Coors; Carling

Cider:     Strongbow Dark Fruit Guinness

Number 16 Bar & Kitchen

(formerly Sotto and The Two Heided Man (aka McGinn's)

Lafferty’s ( has been Number 16 Bar & Kitchen formerly Sotto and The Two Heided Man or McGinn's) has a centre bar with couple of tall tables to the right and more tall tables in larger area to the left. The serving counter is taller than usual. Pleasant wee bar. Seating outside along pavement.

History

Have a pint here     

Lager     Grolsch ;  Peroni; Ashi; Tennent’s

              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.

HOME MAP of places visited

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 Knaresborough 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

Denholms Bar

Denholms Bar is an old traditional bar that has been updated to a comfy unfussy lounge with padded fixed seating around sides. Screens separate each corner of the bar counter from the middle. Padded bar stools, interesting mural of customers above the bar. There is a downstairs lounge bar.  Some outside seating on pavement. Serves coffee.

Old Glasgow Pubs

Have a pint here

Heavy/IPA     Neck Oil; John Smiths

Lager      Birra Moretti;  Cruzcampo;  Carling;    Tennent's

Cider      Strongbow and Dark Fruit       Guinness

Solid Rock Cafe

Solid Rock Cafe is a long thin dark bar with low ceiling. The dark servery starts quarter of the way in. Seating around sides and in a slightly raised portion at the window. Booths are on the right after the servery.

Have a pint here

Heavy/IPA      Joker; Gladeye IPA; Disc Forklift Truck; Cloud City (Drygate)

Lager:      Amstel; Kelvin (Drygate);  Fosters;  Heineken;  Budweiser; 

Cider:     Strongbow and Dark Fruit   ; Old Mout Cider Guinness

 Alpen Lodge

Alpen Lodge very small upstairs bar with larger downstairs lounge which is only open at the weekend. Small servery in top left with some banquette seating and small round tables at front and some more tables opposite servery.

History

Have a pint here

Heavy      Belhaven Best

Lager       Tennent's ;  1664, Staroperamen; Heverlee

Cider        Strongbow Guinness

Park Lane

Park Lane is a small one roomed pub opposite the station. Stools are around the small bar.  Dining tables and chairs in main room.

History

Have a pint here.

Heavy                  John Smiths; Caledonia Best

Lager                     Tennent’s; Birra Moretti

Cider                     Strongbow Guinness                       

No 26 Hope St

No 26 Hope St is a small one roomed pub made bigger by long mirror on wall. It is a city centre local close to station. Bar is on right hand wall by the entrance. Table by window to left of entrance. Black banquette seating and tables along wall opposite servery with room length mirror above. TV on back wall. Tall tables with stools in middle of room. Outside seating on pavement.

Have a half pint

Heavy      Belhaven Best

Lager        Madri;   Stella;   Tennent's; Peroni;

Cider       Strongbow; Thatcher’s Blood Red;     Thatcher’s Apple & Blackcurrant; Thatcher’s Cloudy lemon    Guinness

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

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Trail 23 - Shawlands

    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

Links for Glasgow West End & Subway Pubtrails

  • Trail 11 a nd b - St George's to Kelvinbridge

    (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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Links to pages and sites

  • Books on Beer

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

  • 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.

  • Books on Pubs

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

  • CAMRA

    The Campaign for Real Ale

  • Places visited by Pubtrails

    Villages, towns and cities which appear on this website.

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

— Benjamin Franklin

ANSWER: Skagerrak