Entertainment in Scotland
-
A
Roseleaf
Cute and quaint and verging on chintzy, the Roseleaf could hardly be further from the average Leith bar. Decked out in flowered wallpaper, old furniture and rose-patterned china (cocktails are served in teapots), the real ales and bottled beers are complemented by a range of speciality teas, coffees and fruit drinks (including rose lemonade) and well-above-average pub grub (served 10am to 10pm).
reviewed
-
B
Abbotsford
Dating from 1902 and named after Sir Walter Scott’s country house, the Abbotsford is one of the few pubs in Rose St that has retained its Edwardian splendour, with a grand mahogany island bar. It has long been a hang-out for writers, actors, journalists and media people and has many loyal regulars.
reviewed
-
C
Guildford Arms
Located next door to the Cafe Royal Circle Bar, the Guildford is another classic Victorian pub full of polished mahogany, brass and ornate cornices. The range of real ales is excellent – try to get a table in the unusual upstairs gallery, with a view over the sea of drinkers below.
reviewed
-
Reading Rooms
Dundee’s hippest venue is an arty, bohemian hang-out in a run-down former library that hosts some of Scotland’s best indie club nights. Live gigs have ranged from island singer-songwriter Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society) to Ayrshire rock band Biffy Clyro.
reviewed
-
D
Bow Bar
One of the city's best traditional-style pubs (it's not as old as it looks), serving a range of excellent real ales and a vast selection of malt whiskies, the Bow Bar often has standing-room only on Friday and Saturday evenings.
reviewed
-
E
Sub Club
Saturdays at the Sub Club are one of Glasgow's legendary nights, offering serious clubbing with a sound system that aficionados usually rate as the city's best. The claustrophobic, last-one-in vibe is not for those faint of heart.
reviewed
-
F
Beehive Inn
The historic Beehive, a former coaching inn, is a big, buzzing party pub, with a range of real ales, but the main attraction is sitting out the back in the Grassmarket's only beer garden, with views up to the castle.
reviewed
-
G
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
One of the city’s premier live-music pub venues, the excellent King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut hosts bands every night of the week. Oasis were signed after playing here.
reviewed
-
H
Last Drop
The name commemorates the gallows that used to stand nearby, but the only swingers today are the pub's partying clientele, largely students and backpackers.
reviewed
-
I
O’Donnells Irish Pub
This Irish bar, opposite Oban Backpackers, has live entertainment – usually Celtic music – most nights.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery & Theatre
Great fun for kids and fruit for reflection for adults: check out a show at this extraordinary mechanical theatre. Originally from St Petersburg, it brings inanimate objects to life; sculptured pieces of old scrap and tiny carved figures perform humorous and tragic stories of the human spirit to haunting music. It’s joyful, ironic theatre: inspirational one moment and macabre the next, but always colourful, clever and thought-provoking. Full performances are at 7pm Thursday and Sunday, and there are shorter daily performances (£5 with two kids free) from Wednesday to Sunday (check by phone or online for times). The gallery is also open between performances.
reviewed
-
K
Artà
This extraordinary place is so baroque that when you hear a Mozart concerto over the sound system, it wouldn't surprise you to see the man himself at the other end of the bar. Set in a former cheese market, it really does have to be seen to be believed. As its door slides open, Artà's opulent, candle-lit interior is revealed with its floor-to-ceiling velvet and red curtains revealing a staircase to the tapas bar and restaurant above, in a show of decadence that the Romans would have appreciated. Despite the luxury, it's got a relaxed, chilled vibe and a mixed crowd. The big cocktails are great.
reviewed
-
L
West
A cavernous room with an airy, industrial feel on the edge of Glasgow Green, this brewery churns out beers brewed in strict accordance with the Reinheitsgebot – a traditional German beer purity law. Which basically means it's bloody good. Excellent German dishes accompany the amber fluid, such as bratwurst sausages, sauerkraut and schnitzels. Migrate to the beer garden overlooking the People's Palace in summer. To get there, head to the People's Palace and you'll see it opposite, next to the bizarrely ornate facade of the former carpet factory.
reviewed
-
M
Aikman’s – the Cellar Bar
Aikman’s – The Cellar Bar Want to get away from clipped accents and enjoy a real beer or two? Any bar that has spent 19 years in the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer Guide is all right by us. Here you’ll find the best selection of real ales in town and a dimly lit cellar bar to enjoy them in. It’s worn around the edges (and in the middle too), but geez the beer is good. An antithesis to the more prissy bars in town.
reviewed
-
N
The Butterfly & The Pig
A breath of fresh air along trendy Bath St, the piggery is a little offbeat, a little zany and makes you feel comfortable as soon as you plunge into its basement depths. The decor is eclectic, with a retro feel, and this adds to its familiarity. You get the feeling that patronising this place regularly would be rewarded with your favourite pint being poured just as you enter the doorway. There's a sizeable menu of pub grub, and more refined fare in the tearoom upstairs.
reviewed
-
O
Uisge Beatha
If you enjoy a drink among dead things, you'll love Uisge Beatha (Gaelic for whisky, literally 'water of life'). This mishmash of church pews, stuffed animal heads and portraits of depressed nobility (the Maggie mannequin is our favourite) is patrolled by Andy Capp-like characters during the day and students at night. With 100 whiskies and four quirky rooms to choose from, this unique pub is one of Glasgow's best – an antidote to style bars.
reviewed
-
P
Òran Mór
Now some may be a little uncomfortable with the thought of drinking in a church. But we say: the Lord giveth. Praise be and let's give thanks – a converted church, and an almighty one at that, is now a bar, restaurant and club venue. The bar feels like it's been here for years – all wood and thick, exposed stone giving it warmth and a celestial air. There's an excellent array of whiskies. The only thing missing is holy water on your way in.
reviewed
-
Q
Canny Man’s
A lovably eccentric pub, the Canny Man’s is made up of a crowded warren of tiny rooms that are crammed with a bizarre collection of antiques and curiosities (a description that could also apply to some of the regulars), and where the landlord regularly refuses entry to anyone who looks scruffy, inebriated or vaguely pinko/commie/subversive. If you can get in here, you’ll find it serves excellent real ale, vintage port and Cuban cigars.
reviewed
-
R
Athletic Arms
Nicknamed after the cemetery across the street – the gravediggers used to nip in and slake their thirst after a hard day’s interring – the Diggers dates from the 1890s. It’s still staunchly traditional – the decor has barely changed in 100 years – and has recently revived its reputation as a real-ale drinker’s mecca by serving locally brewed Diggers’ 80-shilling ale. Packed to the gills with football and rugby fans on match days.
reviewed
-
S
Stereo
Stereo pulls in a pissed-up, dance-till-you-puke crowd, who queue up for the weekly Shagtag, a hugely successful student night which involves a complicated snogging-by-numbers event. Weekends are devoted to party nights, with the crowds gamely thrashing away to a soundtrack of pop, funk, disco and house while trying not to barf up the gallon of cheap promo drinks they just downed.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Bar 10
A tiny city treasure that will cause the canny Glasgow drinker to give you a knowing glance if you mention its name. As laid-back as you could ask for in a hip city bar, the friendly, tuned-in staff complete the happy picture. It transforms from a quiet daytime bar to a happening weekend pub on Friday and Saturday nights. It also does decent, cheap paninis, salads, and the like during the day.
reviewed
-
U
The Butterfly & the Pig
A breath of fresh air along trendy Bath St, the piggery is a little offbeat, a little zany and makes you feel comfortable as soon as you plunge into its basement depths. The décor is an eclectic bunch with a retro feel and this adds to its familiarity. You get the feeling that servicing this place regularly would be rewarded with your favourite pint being poured just as you enter the doorway.
reviewed
-
V
Liquid Room
The Liquid Room (see also Nightclubs) stages all kinds of gigs from local rock bands to tribute bands to the Average White Band. Check the program on the website.
reviewed
-
W
Blue Lamp
A long-standing feature of the Aberdeen pub scene, the Blue Lamp is a favourite student hang-out – a cosy drinking den with good beer, good craic (lively conversation) and regular sessions of live jazz and standup comedy. The pub is 150m north of the city centre, along Broad St.
reviewed
-
Lade Inn
Callander's best pub isn't in Callander − it's a mile west of town. They pull a good pint here (the real ales here are brewed to a house recipe), and next door, the owners run a shop with a dazzling selection of Scottish beers. There's low-key live music here at weekends, but it shuts early midweek. The food at last visit was overpriced and mediocre.
reviewed