The Village Tavern, Larkhall

Situated at the Hamilton end of the town about 5 mins walk form the rail station, the Village Tavern (although technically Larkhall is no longer a village more a satellite town for Glasgow)is a popular local bar that attracts visitors from the surrounding towns and villages. A grade C listed heritage pub the tavern has a nice free-standing island gantry with cream panelled walls. A few pictures are on display maps, pictures of Scottish battles, bar advertising mirrors, posters etc etc with nice darker coloured ceiling cornices. 3 TV screens (the main one above the door as you enter) are on showing sports etc and sound is low. Seating is ample around the bar with stools and fixed slatted wooden benches with cushions and a few tables at the windows. It can be busy and with the seating all around the bar you can get bumped a lot. Through the back is a more modern smaller area with sofas and a table that the younger folk tend to occupy. Beers are the usual Tennents, Caledonian etc and prices are the norm for the area (£3.10p a pint of Caledonian, sadly no real ales - spirits are ample but you have to buy a can of Coke for your Vodka a pain if you only want one drink. Locals and bar staff are pretty friendly - The pubs football allegiance is to the local Junior team Larkhall Thistle (a change for the town)and the Scotland National team. The bar also has a pool table, dart board and puggy. Well worth a visit to sample a traditional pub and really nice locals. Toilets are very clean (always a plus to me)

The Village Tavern has a large central bar which takes up a good part of the pub, but still leaving lots of room for customers. The place is very tradition looking and appears straight from the 1950/60’s. There is live music on Saturdays & Sundays. The beer is the usual Tennents on tap and Caledonian Best. The stain glassed windows on the pub show a former brewery: William Murray & Co Ltd – Duddingston.