Glasgow’s student bars are the city’s pubs, which is as it should be. Rather than segregated university bars that keep students away from the best of what Glasgow offers, the city’s drinking culture is open enough that students drink where everyone else drinks from the first week. The following places are student-friendly in the sense of being welcoming, affordable, and excellent – which describes most of Glasgow’s pub culture anyway.
Hillhead Bookclub, Vinicombe Street
The unofficial student pub of the West End. The Hillhead Bookclub occupies a former picture house – high ceilings, eclectic decor, ping-pong tables, good food, and an extensive beer and cocktail menu at student-manageable prices. The DJs on Thursday and Friday nights make it both a pub and a pre-club in one space. Almost everyone who studies in Glasgow’s West End spends considerable time here. It’s earned the reputation.
Uisge Beatha, Byres Road
Pronounced Ooshka-beh – the Gaelic for whisky, also where the word whisky comes from. The Uisge Beatha is a proper whisky pub on Byres Road with an extensive selection and staff who know it. Not cheap by the measure of house spirits, but the quality of the whisky selection makes it one of the genuine West End education experiences. Try something different every time. A student who graduates from Glasgow with no knowledge of Scottish whisky has missed an opportunity.
The Pot Still, Hope Street
City centre whisky bar with over 700 malt whiskies. More intimidating-sounding than it is in person – the atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are helpful with selection. A city-centre option for evenings when you want to start in a proper bar before moving to a club.
Brel, Ashton Lane
Belgian bar on Ashton Lane with an extensive beer selection, excellent moules frites, and the outdoor heated terrace that is one of Glasgow’s most pleasant drinking spaces in any weather. Prices are fair for the quality; the beer knowledge available is substantial. An Ashton Lane institution.
The Thornwood, Thornwood Avenue
A local pub in the residential West End that is genuinely what a neighbourhood pub should be. Cheap, friendly, good cask beer, no pretension. A Thursday night here is a specific Glasgow student pleasure that costs very little and delivers considerably more.
Corrections
Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.
