Molly Malone's, Glasgow

When checking out Molly Malone’s yesterday, it was open and trading again.

This is a fairly typical example of the well known Irish Pub chain, so if you've been in any of the others, you'll know what to expect. It was very busy, with customers both eating and drinking, on the Saturday afternoon I popped in, although this was probably not unrelated to the fact that a live Celtic v Hibernian Scottish League Cup Semi-final had just finished showing on each of the five TV screens. Guinness was on sale at the very reasonable price of £2.99, there were Irish Republic flags above the bar and in the windows and Irish folk music was playing at a moderate level. Live music, from a presumably Irish band called The Keelies was advertized later in the evening. There was even at least one staff member with an Irish accent. The draught range, although all at more expensive prices than the Guinness, also featured Belhaven Best, Tennent's, Heineken, Stella Artois, Coors, Saint Mungo and Hop House 13 lagers and Strongbow ordinary and Dark Fruit ciders. The single room bar is of medium size, with raised areas at the corners near the windows and plenty of seating. The script on the ceiling beams saying things like "Sorting Office," "Dispatch" and "Savings Bonds," suggests that the building might once have been a Post Office, although it has been a pub for as long as I can remember. It was all predictable enough in the tradition of all the would-be Irish pubs which are to be found around the U.K., but a pleasant place to spend a few hours nevertheless.