Curly Coo Bar, Stirling

This externally unprepossessing and oddly named little corner bar turns out to be one of the most impressive pubs in Stirling. It boasts, justifiably, of being a “Malt Whiskey Heaven” and has 120 different varieties on sale. As a non-whiskey drinker, I opted for a pint of Tennent’s lager instead, which cost me £3.20. Guinness, Caledonia Best, Schiehallion, Dark Island Stout and Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted are also on draught. The bar and the pub itself are both triangular shaped and the clientele of mixed age. Music was playing, but at a low level which didn’t disturb conversations. All in all, this is an excellent pub and well worth the short walk along from the main streets of the city centre.

Re opened in December 2013 as a Whisky Bar. Over 120 Malt Whiskies, Local beers, craft kegs, Scottish Cider, good selection of Scottish gins and more...

Situated a couple of minutes from the train station, this small and simplistic, triangular pub was purpose built in 1864. Whilst it doesn’t look too inviting from outside, the carpeted, single room interior is quite neat, comfortable and more appealing than you initially expect. Comfortable banquette seating lines 2 sides with a central bar at the back on the third side. Lots of Stirling Albion FC memorabilia adorn the walls (old team photos, scarves, shirts etc) as well as some photos of other local sporting groups and old pictures of town. A dominoes board was laid out on one table and some background piped music helped create some ambience given that it was pretty quiet when I was there which was disappointing to see for peak time on a Friday evening. Consequently I’m not sure what the general customer base is seemed cosy and quite relaxed so would probably attract a relatively mature crowd. Not much in the way of beers, no real ales so I resorted to McKeowans Export (£2.95) which killed the 20 minutes or so I had before my train. I found the place more interesting than I expected and would certainly pop in again albeit the perhaps not unexpected lack of even a token ale is the major drawback.