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    Old Smiddy

    4.3 (15 reviews)
    ModeratePubs

    Old Smiddy Photos

    OLD SMIDDY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Puff pastry steak pie
    Debs M.

    (Don't tell Mr Debs I'm giving this a 3. This is his favourite pub EVER.) The Smiddy is the very definition of a "local" and is always pretty busy no matter when you go! They also show different sports matches (the place is MOBBED whenever there's any kind of football on) and hold a weekly pub quiz on a Monday night which is also really popular. It's also pretty difficult, but good fun nonetheless! The 3-star rating is mostly for the pub-ness of this establishment, as the staff are really friendly, there's always a good atmosphere and they usually have good beer and stuff in for reasonable prices. (I think I've only actually ever had an alcoholic drink in here about 3 times though, mind you!) It's also quite a cosy pub, and somewhere I will happily pass the time in. The food is...ok. They've had a few menu updates in the past while and usually try and keep relatively up-to-date with food trends. Thankfully they've kept the chocolate fudge cake on the menu because it is SO GOOD. It's also massive, as I once shared it with a couple of dessert-loving pals and even we were pretty happy afterwards. I'm not sure if maybe I just pick the wrong things when I go here, but I've had a few dishes that were reminiscent of a Spoons on a bad day :( Last time I got food here, I got butterfly breaded prawns and while they were delish, they erm...didn't do so well later on! But for a drink or three and delicious desserts, The Smiddy is the place to be!

    Mega Grill
    Ivan P.

    That's a very lovely place with very attractive prices. The dish I had was well cooked and tasty. The only thing that disappointed me a bit - there was no scotch at the bar. It is a shame since it's in Scotland :(

    A wonderful place to have a bite to eat and a beer!

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    2 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    15 years ago

    Brilliant old style pub. Does good pub grub and drinks at reasonable prices.. Really really could do with a beer garden though.

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    13 years ago

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    17 years ago

    Lovely place by the river for a bite to eat. Can't resist the soup and sandwich combo.

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    14 years ago

    this is a great wee pub with a fantastic menu.its always busy but staff are cheery and helpful. i wish i stayed nearer

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    Review Highlights - Old Smiddy

    Does good pub grub and drinks at reasonable prices..

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    Laurieston Bar

    Laurieston Bar

    4.5(19 reviews)
    2.6 miTradeston, South Side
    £

    I've been past this place at least 1,000 times and yet I'd never been in. I'd heard good things,…read moreI'd read good things and yet I was too scared. I don't love this area of Glasgow - the roads are so confusing, the area is quite industrial and it's not really somewhere you'd head for a pint. Or, so I thought. Once in the doors of the Laurieston, it was like I had an epiphany. It was just like my Nanna's house (although my Nanna's was a bit classier, no offence). It was warm, comforting, welcoming and had some seriously retro decor. As others have mentioned, there's a tasty selection of beers from Fyne Ales but on this visit I opted for cider. We took a seat in the lounge area as the bar was pretty heaving for 1pm on a Saturday (those damn subcrawlers!) and enjoyed the atmosphere and hospitality of by far the friendliest bar staff I've encountered in a long time. Over they came to take our photo, find out our story and give us tips and advice on completing the subcrawl. They even have maps for you! That is SO cool and was very handy later on when I'm sure some people didn't know where they were (um, like me). There's a JUKEBOX as well - a proper old school one where some of the cards are handwritten. It tells you that you have to pay, but just push the buttons and you'll discover that you don't. I put on some great tunes while we were there but I'm not sure anyone else appreciated them. Handy tip: the ladies toilet is only accessible from the lounge.

    A pub that until Saturday I had written off by the outside appearance. The yelp Subcrawl took me…read morehere for the first time and I was was very pleasantly surprised. Yes from the outside you would not give it a second glance. It all looks a bit run down and perhaps even a bit dodgy. To be honest the inside ain't much of an improvement on the outside. It is an old bar that looks like it has not been done up in years. Why four a stars then? Well, what it does not have in terms of polished finishes and decor is made up for by the friendly atmosphere and great array of beers on offer. The staff could not have been more welcoming. They supplied Subcrawl maps and made a point of coming out to chat with us. The even took our photo as they take records of all the "subcrawlers" who pass through their bar. I must admit, I stuck to a boring bottle of becks on the drinks front as I was being very careful what alcohol I took on at this early stage. I would like to go back though and try a few of the far more interesting beers they had on offer. 4 stars for a traditional and slightly shabby, but friendly boozers.

    Photos
    Laurieston Bar
    Laurieston Bar
    Laurieston Bar - The beautiful Laurieston. Complete with wisecracking old men on the doorstep.

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    The beautiful Laurieston. Complete with wisecracking old men on the doorstep.

    Mulberry Street

    Mulberry Street

    4.0(18 reviews)
    1.5 miSouth Side
    ££

    I've been to Mulberry Street loads of times down the years yet shamefully have never reviewed it…read more Time to put that right! Mulberry Street is a bar/restaurant that's doggie friendly, sells up to three real ales (usually Harviestoun and Fyne Ales), serves food and has a pretty big outdoor seating area. The beers are always well kept and this is shown by the yearly entries in the Good Beer Guide that Mulberry Street enjoys. The food is really good and not that expensive too, with Sunday brunch being the highlight with all dishes being served with a pot of tea or speciality coffee. They also have a quiz on Monday nights which is free to enter. The staff are really friendly and efficient too. It tends to get pretty busy on a weekend and in the evenings, and if it's a sunny day you'll need to turn up early to get a prime seat at one of the bistro style outdoor tables to watch Strathbungo life go by! Other establishments in the area may be more hyped, but they can't beat Mulberry Street's dedication over the years to this once obscure area of the Southside.

    This dog friendly pub is a nice spot to pop into for a drink. We initially sat outside although it…read morestarted to rain a little so moved inside. It's not all that memorable in terms of decor (lots of cream colours) but it is nice enough and had comfortable couches. There's a separate area for the restaurant which was very quiet compared to the bar area but maybe that was because it was mid afternoon. Toilets are downstairs although when we'd visited, the power had gone out so the waitress directed me to the disabled instead. Staff at the bar were really friendly and chatty and I was impressed with the range of drinks. I opted for Strongbow on tap, and there was also West beers available. A round of 4 drinks was just over £10 so not too pricey either. Only downside was that they don't do cocktails but it is a pretty small bar so I guess they can't do everything! I'd definitely head back to check out the food after this visit.

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    Mulberry Street
    Mulberry Street
    Mulberry Street - Salmon and scrambled eggs. Only £5.25 for Sunday brunch including a coffee or pot of tea!

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    Salmon and scrambled eggs. Only £5.25 for Sunday brunch including a coffee or pot of tea!

    Brazen Head

    Brazen Head

    4.8(4 reviews)
    2.3 miGorbals, South Side
    ££

    If you are either Celtic or St. Pauli Fan this is a must visit. We've been there with 3 guys from…read moreSt. Pauli had a lot of fun. The first night we have been there was a Friday and it was pretty quiet still the atmosphere was really nice. Met a lot of nice people there. Unfortunately they already closed at midnight. The second night was on a Saturday after the Celtic match. The place was really crowed and it was even more fun than the night before. Later that evening they had live music. All staff and guests were really nice and you are more than welcome to stop by if you are a St. Pauli fan. The prices are pretty cheap. I will stop by there every time I go to Glasgow again.

    I came here with a friend to watch a St Pauli match on TV, as he noticed it was being shown live on…read morea discussion forum. Having researched the pub before going (The Times calls it the "Hardest pub in Glasgow") we were not sure quite what to expect... Wearing a St Pauli shirt and holding a pint of well kept and very well priced (£1.95) Guinness helped defuse any situation that could have arisen, but we didn't come across any agressive behaviour in the bar at all. The staff are dedicated and friendly and the whole pub is plastered floor to ceiling in Celtic photos, shirts, scarves etc. Do not come into this pub in a Rangers shirt, or any other football team's merchandise just to be safe. Do not talk about Rangers at all, just to be safe. They have a pool table, although it's best to let the locals play.

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    Brazen Head
    Brazen Head

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    Allison Arms - Adults only! But kudos for the info & variety of free condoms on offer.

    Allison Arms

    3.9(18 reviews)
    1.6 miSouth Side
    £

    Noah or Moses? I need to go back to Sunday school!…read more I began to wonder if there was any hope, but deploying my sharp elbows and a deep holler of "mind yir pints!" soon opened a corridor of biblical proportions for me to saunter through. It was obviously the threat of a 'spilt' pint that did the trick, but nevertheless Moses would have been proud. And there he was, DF. The only one who didn't move for my arrogance, and with eyes firmly on the fitba telly he said "All right Steph? There's no hope, Scotland are p*sh tonight!" But there was hope. They've added a third fridge full of bottled wonders. Just when I thought I'd only have 50 or so beers to choose from, they come along and add another 25! Help yourself and Bob, is indeed your uncle! But maybe that's why there's no room for people in this pub? It's full of beer fridges. This all suits me perfectly well, as craft beer IS my best friend and people are overrated anyway.

    If you're different, poor, or have a disability: stay away from this bar…read more I was standing having a drink and making a huge effort to try and spark conversations which is hard for me as an autistic man. The manager approached me and said simply: "You're weird and you're barred." I guess I can talk too loud or miss some social cues. But a good manager would have said, you're being annoying go and sit down. I hadn't sworn, or been in a fight. Two Italian tourists were just annoyed at me using Google Translate to try and chat with them. No warning. No communication. Barred. I phoned and said that I don't expect him to bow down my personal problems but that he treated me grossly unfairly. He laughed and ended the call. I am deputy chairman of an autism group. Some of our members are far more random and socially awkward than me. But they are still good people. I won't be bringing them to this bar for a night out. I didn't deserve to be victimised and neither do they

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    Allison Arms
    Allison Arms - Gav would be proud.

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    Gav would be proud.

    Victoria Bar

    Victoria Bar

    4.3(3 reviews)
    1.5 miSouth Side

    I instantly felt like a local when I stopped there to wait for The Community Newsroom to open two…read moreSaturdays ago. The price of a pint of cider got me change from four pounds...and went into the Food bank donations bucket. The manager; although pint-sized herself, conducted proceedings as a conductor of a large orchestra with everyone in their place and as customers arrived, she was already pulling their pints. It was with some regret that I had to leave otherwise I would have needed help to get to the train station. I am used to London prices (7.50 for a Strongbow) and can honestly say that I wish this pub was my local. Please ask The Brass Cupcake if she will make you Saharan tea. She tells me that it is second to none. I had to smirk because I have been making Saharan tea since 2005....

    Situated near Queen's Park station, the Victoria is a grand, darkly lit bar which almost feels like…read moreit's three pubs in one due to its size. My visit seemed to coincide with the showing of a Kevin Costner film on the plethora of big screen, which was bizarre given it was a Sunday afternoon and the pub definitely has sports channels. Nevertheless it was a nice atmosphere and with plenty of little pockets to lose yourself in and plenty of change in your pocket from a pint, the Vic (I'm not actually sure if anyone nicknames it this) is a top notch traditional British boozer, missing only Babs Windsor pulling the pints to complete the effect.

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    Victoria Bar
    Victoria Bar
    Victoria Bar

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    Church On The Hill

    Church On The Hill

    3.0(28 reviews)
    1.0 miQueen's Park, Shawlands, South Side
    ££

    Gillian was right in her previous review in that during a trip here you do tend to spend an awful…read morelot of time thinking up how you'd make the place better. Nothing about the pub quite seems to fit, with the knocked up cheapo style bar decor being the chief offender. The impressive building deserves better. We were in during the day so weren't on the booze, but I noted that it did have a fairly big cocktail list which isn't a standard in the Queen's Park area, and I can have no complaints about the quality or price of the soup and sandwich we had. It all feels a bit sterile though, and if The Church on the Hill wants my coveted 5 star award, they will need to sort out the non-existent atmosphere.

    The Church on the Hill has been through a few incarnations in the past decade: perhaps the most…read morecohesive design was its neo-Buddhist period, where Thai statues of the Enlightened being would watch the drinkers: it had an atmosphere, relaxed and intimate. The current lay out is aimed at daytime trade, I think: the food menu is pretty standard, but has a few nice touches, and much of the bar, at least during the day, is laid out like a restaurant. This might be a little ambitious, as most of the customers come in for a quick drink, and the diners are scattered around the large space- hence the lack of atmosphere noted in the other reviews. However, I rather like the anonymity it offers. I meet here if I want to actually have a conversation with somebody.

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    Church On The Hill - From official website

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    From official website

    Sweeney's on the Park

    Sweeney's on the Park

    3.9(7 reviews)
    1.4 miQueen's Park, South Side
    £

    Why I like Sweeney's on the Park: -it sells two real ales…read morefrom Fyne Ales at £3.30 and in good condition -it has very friendly staff -nicely refurbished interior -feels like a locals' pub even though it's been gentrified somewhat -has a selection of great value snacks such as pies and sausage rolls -has sky TV for the fitba -welcome break from some "classier" venues nearby -breaks up the journey between John Striling Maxwell and Mulberry Street

    We were booked as a band for a night of music in Sweeney's, playing alongside some other local…read moreacts. The night itself wasn't organised by the bar but someone outwith who hosts a regular music showcase. The evening felt very uorganised, and although, little of this is down to Sweeney's, the staff were of little help. We arrived early. The decor is eclectic, the pub definitely has a personal touch. I really liked the musical and instrument motifs by the stage area. There's also some quirky signs by the bar. Although, it did all a bit funky and mismatched to me. When we walked in, instruments in hand, we made our way from one half of the bar to the other; one which has the stage. Although the bar staff in the first room had explained we'd to head through to the second, nobody welcomed us or explained what would be happening when we got there. Other than a heckle from some folks at a table and a 'What will you be playing for us?!', we were left to it. We took a seat and, noticing no other instrument-in-hand folks, wandered exactly what the plan was. So we ordered drinks, and then I introduced myself and the band. At this point, more musicians were in the bar. Phew! The barman explained that the person who runs the night was running late. Understandably not their fault, what could they do? But then time went on and on. And there was no update from the bar. We just waited and waited. We'd presumed we were first since it had been listed that way without a mention of running times but after waiting till after the night should have begun (when the organiser finally arrived), we found out we were second. By this point, we just wanted to play; play and go home. In addition, the monitor mix wasn't great and the organiser had mistakenly thought there was two of us, so Sweeney's only paid two of us for performing. The general feeling was that there's venues out there doing amazing things for local music. The best and memorable gigs for us have had great hosts behind them. We just didn't feel this way about Sweeney's, and that's a pity.

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    Sweeney's on the Park
    Sweeney's on the Park
    Sweeney's on the Park

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    Old Smiddy - pubs - Updated May 2026

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