Toby Jug, Glasgow

The Toby's location close to Glasgow central station, means its a popular city centre haunt for regulars and visitors to the city - inside its a dark pub (dark wood floors pictures (currently) of trains etc) has a few booths on the left as you enter and at the window area that are popular with seated area at the back (mostly for food) 3 TV screen (showing mostly football some tv shows) , volume kept low means you can hear yourself talk, saying that it can be a noisy pub with the punters - The Toby does a fair trade in pitchers wither that be beer or the more popular "cocktails" - has a better than normal range of standard beers and ciders (and usually a £1 a bottle of something last time it was Tiger - good value) It also has four real ale pumps (had a really nice Bellhaven IPA FOR £3) with some nice ales and regularly has Strathaven ales for sale - busy traditional type pub that attracts all ages (occasional karaoke later in the day at weekends) staff are kept busy but manage to keep smiling - Not my idea of an all nighter pub, but well worth a visit for a pint,

Nice enough place had a pint of knckendoch a bit warm but not a lot of rel ale getting pulled but will call back

Across the road from central station 4 real ales.

Formerly known as the Blythswood Bar (which was linked by a corridor to a separate lounge around the corner called the Toby Jug), this is now a one room bar/lounge with a raised section at the rear mainly, although not exclusively, designed for dining. There is also a small, pavement café style seating area at the front, but as this is adjacent to a very busy street, it’s not particularly appealing. It’s one of the first pubs you’re likely to see if you leave Glasgow Central station by the main, front exit and the old steam train prints on the walls reflect the railway connection. Like many of the modernised city centre pubs, the toilets (except the disabled ones) have been relocated downstairs to create more drinking space. There is a good range of beer on draught, including Tennents, Stella Artois and Staropramen lagers, Guinness and Belhaven Best, in addition to Strongbow and Magner’s ciders. There are also four real ale taps, although only one, serving Duchess Anne Light Ale at £3.20 a pint, was on at the time of my latest visit. A pleasant city centre pub which tends to be busy most of the time due to its location.

The current building housing the Toby Jug dates from 1883 however the recent history is complicated and needs to be related in conjunction with what is now the Grahamston Bar round the corner in Waterloo Street. The Grahamston was the original Toby Jug wheras the current Toby Jug was called the Blythswood. They were essentially 2 ends of the same pub owned by a long standing publican and interlinked by an internal corridor and sharing common facilities. When the two pubs became separate entities, the Toby Jug name was shifted round the corner to the Blythswood on Hope Street whilst the old pub became the Montrose, then the Downtown and now the Grahamston. With it so far! The current Toby Jug (or Ex-Blythswood) is situated opposite the Central Station and has quite basic and traditional but appealing feel to it. The interior has bare floros, solid furnishings and plenty of bare wood on display. A few divides create some more intimate sections in the front area whilst at the rear is a more open raised section. Various old photos and snippets of local characters adorn the walls. Multiple screens are dotted throughout the pub mainly aimed at sports fans (which was my reason for visiting). There was a decent enough ale range with Strathaven Line Out, Timothy Taylor Landlord, London Pride and Orkney Dark Island available on my visit. Prices were pretty decent for a City Centre pub and I had no issues with the quality. Given its proximity to such a major rail terminus I would have expected the customer base to be a bit rougher round the edges than they were and whilst I dare say it has its moments, it came across as quite a welcoming and respectable pub. I certainly wouldn’t have any issues in a return visit if passing by.