Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Bon Accord, Glasgow
Glasgow
G3 7DA
Pub Type
Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bon Accord
Despite its relatively recent history, the front bar looks convincingly traditional. The additional seating in the dining areas up and down a few steps further back look a bit more modern. Sport on several TVs, but with volume low enough not to intrude on those not interested. It was too busy on my first revisit to this renowned alehouse for 13 years to see all the handpumps, but the blackboard behind the counter listed just a seasonal Line Out (but not sure which brewery), Merlin's Ale from Broughton and Inveralmond Lia Fail (although I was expecting more, and there may have been).
On 20th April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8733 recommendations about 8733 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Bon Accord
Iconic real ale pub with two banks of hand pumps, the second a bit hard to see, with a mirrored pillar in the way, but the blackboard behind the bar with eight cask beers and a cider is a bit of a giveaway. I had two halves, one from each set of pumps. There are samples in wee bottles in front of each pump, and I meant "wee" in the Scottish sense, but in fact one of them seemed to require antibiotics but was probably just a hazy IPA. I went for Kelburn Whisky Chaser, a beer name with a subliminal message, and Eden River Fuggles Blonde, both of which were in good condition but underwhelming, which is meant to indicate cognitive dissonance in the NBSS universe, but if the brewer is determined to brew a bland beer, nothing the cellarman can do is going to make me want to drink another before moving on. A quiz was taking place during my visit, but it seemed too intellectual, puzzling and punitive for my taste, with the QM going round the tables and deducting points on a system even more impenetrable than NBSS.
On 13th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4348 recommendations about 3996 pubs]
paulof horsham left this review about Bon Accord
Proper pub this, with 8 pumps, though my Chinook hopped Pale was past its best. Plenty of seats, and plenty of punters in the house. I'd have gladly stopped for another, just for quality investigation purposes, but had to get away unfortunately.
I would come back, and I'm sure the next pint would be better.
On 2nd October 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 561 recommendations about 523 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Bon Accord
Great pub in an awful location to one side of the M8 and an area of some dereliction.However it's a survivor and is well used by a boozing crowd.Very efficient bar staff helps during busy times and the interior,which extends quite a long way back has many pleasing feastures.Lots of flatscreens but all on mute for Partick Thistle v Inverness Cali meant a good buzz to the Friday evening conversation.
There is a large photo of Jim Baxter and a very young Billy Bremner near the entrance,there are seating booths and less natural light as you wind down the interior with increasing exposed brickwork.
Just four handpumps operational offering on my trip Vocation Pride & Joy (NBSS 3.5),Marston's Pedigree,Radical Road Reveree and Caledonian Deuchars IPA with a number of pumps unclipped or reversed.Friday 7.30pm may have accounted for some ales running out,but the condition of what was on offer made the regular GBG entry deserved.Strong whisky collection according to my glaswegian colleagues.Don't miss out on this one.
On 6th March 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Bon Accord
Being sited opposite the horrific M8 which drives a dagger through the heart of Glasgow isn't obviously a great location for a good pub but this manages it. Established only in 1971, this is a long knocked-through place which has the vibe of a late 90s refit; dark varnish wood and mushroom shades. A Partick Thistle pub, though subtly; a collection of what I assume to be match day footballs on high shelves as well as some discrete Jags scarves; inevitably, fitba was on a couple of screens and to be fair the Kilmarnock game was getting decent audience. Known as a long-standing ale venue, even in the darker days, I noted eight pumps all operational with a mix of national and local cask as well as a fridge of canned craft, as well as a smorgasbord of whiskies. My visit found lots of dark beers; such a large set made me wonder about turnover but quality was generally good; I went for Hybrid Bramble (NBSS 2.5), Kelburn Pacific Porter (4) and Swannay Orkney Stout (3.5). My fragrant companion went crafty and had a Das Ist Techno Sex from the fridge for lolz and to their immense credit the staff made a point of warning about the abv, style and price before opening it. We stayed for a few, enjoying the unforced locals atmosphere and I have to say I could have stayed here all evening. One to prioritise in Glasgow – maybe the city’s best? Anyway, make sure this one gets done. 8.5
On 1st March 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Bon Accord
We really enjoyed our visit here, great service with a good welcome. The food was also excellent and reasonably priced, plus you got a good sized portion. There was even a small display of men's Anti Perspirant in the Gents Toilets for one to use if needed. Ten handpumps with eight in use on our visit serving, Loch Lomond Silkie Stout, Strathaven Duchess Anne, Kelburn Brewery Jaguar, Kelburn Pivo Estivo, Mallinsons Columbus, Marston's Pedigree and Duechars IPA.
On 11th November 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3684 recommendations about 3684 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Bon Accord
This is probably the most famous real ale venue in Glasgow having been a pioneer of it for many years. Today it is also big on whisky having hundreds on sale at the bar. It's been well described below but briefly it's a long open plan room with the bar on the left and a large area of low seating at the rear. There seemed to be a lot of football memorabilia but I only saw one TV screen which was showing music videos.
They do nine beers and a cider here but on my visit the cider was off. One row of pumps was blocked by bar stools and the chalked list only showed the beer names so all I know is that two beers were Caledonia Deuchars IPA & Edinburgh Castle and the one I had was North Yorkshire NYPA. This was in good nick but at £4.00 was on the expensive side.
It is worth a visit and you don't have to walk as Charing Cross Rail Station is just the other side of the Motorway. It's GBG 2018 listed.
On 18th May 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Bon Accord
This quality, traditional pub and whisky house feels like something of a survivor, perched rather precariously on the side of the M8 which thunders past outside and must’ve come close to swallowing this place up, as it did with so many premises back when it was being constructed. Thankfully, the pub survived and now offers a warm and welcoming environment along with good selections of both whisky and ale. You enter into a bare boarded room with the servery over on the left hand wall. Some nice bench seating is available under the front windows and this is ably supported by further tables and chairs and the odd drinking ledge in what is essentially the main bar area. You know you’re in a Scottish pub, as a huge picture of Jim Baxter and Billy Bremner celebrating a Scottish victory at Wembley hangs next to the bar, alongside shelves full of whisky boxes and whiskey appreciation books. An attractive pub mirror to the right has a TV screen above showing a live football fixture with the commentary still audible. The bar is a lovely feature, with its curved, wood panelled counter and grand dark wood bar back topped with more whisky boxes. Somewhat incongruously, a tall tropical fish tank stands on one end of the bar, whilst a shelf above holds a collection of footballs from various clubs around the UK. A mirrored pillar opposite the bar splits the pub in two, as beyond, the room opens out into a decent sized rear seating area. A lot of CAMRA certificates and other such indicators of excellence have been put on display here, along with a signed photograph of Archie Gemmill. The rear space feels a little more generic than the front bar, but there are lots of good seating options back here and some decent panelling, suitable partitioning and muted lighting made for a reasonably atmospheric spot to settle down in.
A no nonsense landlord and chatty barmaid presided over proceedings on my Monday evening visit where a good ale line up was available, consisting of Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Edinburgh Castle, Green Duck Duck & Dab, Kelburn Carte Blanche and Stout Keith. I gave the Duck and Dab a try and thought it was in really good shape, to the point that I nearly abandoned my plans to tick off a couple more pubs before closing, so that I could stay here and try some more of their beer (although the call of the crawl eventually won out, as it so often does).
I really liked this place which felt in a way like a fairly authentic old Glaswegian boozer given a bit of a tidy up. The welcome was warm, the beer was great and the pub is well worth spending a little time exploring, making this one of the city’s must-do pubs.
On 27th April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Bon Accord
Stuck in Glasgow for a few days after the end of Feb / start of March 2018's "Beast from the East" snow inundation, this was stumbled across after the varied quality central city Wetherspoons had been exhausted as it was on the route back to my guesthouse. I'd always associated the name with the team that (allegedly) suffered the heaviest ever defeat in British football history - a 36-0 reverse to Arbroath in the 1885 Scottish Cup. Well described below, this had 10 handpumps - five either side of a mirrored column. Playing safe, Bingham's Coffee Stout and Space Hoppy IPA were in superb form. The Wetherspoons are your best bet for decent real ale in the centre, but if you want a proper pub, don't be afraid to make a ten-minute walk to visit this gem.
On 2nd March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1078 recommendations about 1078 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Bon Accord
Through the entrance of the Bon Accord the bar on the left-hand wall faces some booth seating that runs down the right. At the end of the bar some steps lead down to a larger seating area and the toilets at the rear. Plasma screens are located throughout and Sky Sports is advertised, although a muted music channel was airing during my recent early Tuesday evening visit. Live music is held here on Saturdays and the 3rd Tuesday of each month is time for traditional Scottish music.
I counted ten hand pumps on the bar alongside a range of standard and premium keg products. Food is available all day, and I must say that it is very reasonably priced with cheeseburger and chips coming in at £5.25.
There are a couple of picnic tables on the path out the front and another couple in the rear yard area where access can be gained to the Bon Accord Whisky Shop.
I’m a big fan of traditional boozers so I was not disappointed with this place. It is a bit of a walk from the main drag, but worth it for the good atmosphere and friendly service.
On 21st December 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 6133 recommendations about 6099 pubs]