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Detail Pages
The State Bar, Glasgow
Glasgow
G2 4NG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Paul McScotty left this review about The State Bar
Situated on a side street just off the top end of Sauchiehall St (heading into the West end) The State Bar is a bit of a hidden gem. A very pleasant looking bar from the outside with hanging baskets of flowers and a tidy black frontage - inside as you enter is no less impressive, a traditional looking bar with wood panelling , red ceiling, thin pillars, and lighter coloured walls, it also has brass lights with a variety of various & interesting picture, cartoons , beer advertising signs & large pub mirrors etc on the walls all giving it a certain style. The central dark wood (with brass surrounds) bar area is very well stocked with an excellent selection of whiskeys and other spirits, a really large selection of standard pump beers so many I cant recall them all (from Guinness to Tennent's to Staropramen) all at reasonable prices (£3;10 a pint) plus a really good selection of real ale (from 5 - 8 at a time) real ales change regularly (pity State hasn't got a website for the bar) . There is ample seating with a few booth areas near the windows and seats and table to the right of the bar and enough space at the bar to stand if that is preferred. Staff are friendly and there are always enough on at one time so you get served pretty quickly - clientèle are mixed but mostly over 40 (with a few younger folk / groups) and seem pretty nice. 2 TV screens are on volume low and has papers, mags etc around during the day for a read. State has a famous and popular comedy club and pub area can be busy when an act is on - overall a great bar for a pint and to chill out (I hear they also do good food but only at lunchtime) Toilets are a bit small though for a busy bar - only downside is that for a bar with such a large range of beers I cant see a website (the Comedy club has one though) but I doubt you would be disappointed visiting on speck (plus its near other cools bars like the Griffin, Variety etc) Well well worth a vist
On 16th May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 44 recommendations about 42 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The State Bar
7 real ales served from an ornate old style island bar. Has a live venue area.
On 14th April 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3061 recommendations about 2988 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The State Bar
The State Bar is one of Glasgow’s more notable and esteemed pubs with a long standing reputation for its ales.
The interior is a single room with high ceilings sprouting a few fans and long dangly lamps. The centerpiece of the pub is eyecatching oval island bar with a quote bearing half canopy held up by pencil columns and a rack of dangling tankards. The front section is fairly basic with stools and standard pub furnishing whilst the rear has a slightly more opuklent feel with some leather armchairs. Throw in a few barrels, pendulum clocks, McKeowans etched windows and a sprinkling of original features and it all adds up to a fine traditional pub interior.
Of the ales, there were 7 available on my visit; Herok & Howells Festival Ale, Kelburn Gold Hops, Fyne Avalanche, Caledonian 80/-, Houston Killenan, Deuchars IPA and Stewart Edinburgh No 3. Prices were quite reasonable and quality was good. If there is any downside to the selection it is that they are all local (i.e. Scottish) beers so whilst we southern beer tourists may relish the prospect of working our way through them, to the locals it may be a case of same old same old.
The pub has strong theatre connections which can be evidenced by the copious pictures of theatre celebrities and posters mixed in amongst the film stars, brewery mirrors and sundry old pics of town. There is a regular live music programme and long standing comedy club that is held on the first floor.
This is certainly one I would seek out again for a return visit.
On 4th April 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The State Bar
A thriving City-centre pub which offers reasonable food and decent beer - 7 ales on this time, mostly from Scottish breweries, though it's possibyl too many for the clientele as the beers are sometimes past their best. In fairness, though, my pint of 80/- this time was very good. It gets a bit noisey with the fruit machines and Sky tv, and can get very crowded. It's also a bit twee with the clutter around the walls, but the staff were friendly and efficient despite the clamour. Worth a visit for a pint or two and a good place to include on a crawl.
On 10th August 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3781 recommendations about 3741 pubs]