The Scotia Bar, Glasgow

This is one of a handful of pubs which claim to be Glasgow’s oldest. The Scotia certainly looks the part, though, with a low beamed ceiling, dark wall panelling and intimate snugs off the main bar. The walls are decorated with old city photographs and historical maps. Although it is best known as a folk music venue, rock, country and blues fans are also catered for and live music is advertised four nights a week. Impromptu jam sessions are also a regular feature and a pub guitar is kept behind the bar in case customers neglect to bring their own. Famous artists to have performed here include Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Hamish Imlach, The Poets and members of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. There is also a Writers’ Group which meets on the second Monday of each month. On the drink front, the standard draught beer selection is available as well as a few real ales. A pint of Festival Ale cost me £3.05. If your preference is for traditional, old world style pubs, the Scotia is not to be missed.

Like the Clutha acroos the road worth a visit

Excellent descriptions of the interior below. 2 real ales and regular live music.

The Scotia is named after the Scotia Music & Variety Hall that once stood next door and is Glasgow’s oldest pub having been established in 1792. Fortunately it still has enough character to justify the claim. The L-shaped interior has remained virtually untouched since the 1920’s with plenty of low, heavily beamed ceilings and dark paneled walls creating a good old fashioned atmosphere. At one end is a small, quaint snug albeit a little cramped for tables. The décor includes several neatly arranged picture displays and a large cental landscape. Charming as the place initially appeared, it did fall short on the beer front with 2 hand pumps but neither available (1 unclipped, the other Belhaven IPA ws reversed) which, for a peak time Friday night, I found quite poor. I ended up with Belhaven Smooth (£2.78) which wasn’t bad as keg stuff goes. The Music Hall may have disappeared, replaced by a less than picturesque Holiday Inn, but the pub’s flirtation with live music does continue and over the years it has played its part in being the launchpad for several local bands and artists including Gerry Rafferty, Billy Connolly and Alex Harvey. A (very good) live band was performing during my visit but, despite the pubs musical heritage, the internal layout for such entertainment isn’t good and sightlines are poor. The customer base seemed fairly mixed and civilized and there was a good buzz about the place. There is also apparently a lot of ghost reportings so be careful who you end up chatting to. With a better selection of beers the Scotia would be a worthy stop but as it stands, it’s probably not much more than a curiosity visit unless you go to see a band in which case, get there early for the best seats.

An anachronistic building supposedly from the 18th Century in a modern setting, Scotia consists of a single moderate sized bar divided to give it a rambling feel, one of the better pubs in the St Enoch area. The staff are friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere intimate. The clientele seemed mostly to be students, though there were also a few mature humans in as well. There is apparently live music on at weekends. It's currently a Belhaven house although there are regularly guest ales on. Only one ale on this time though - Howells Tantallion Sunset, which was fine.All in all a decent back-street boozer worth dropping into if the chance arises.