Tay Bridge Bar, Dundee

This nice former multiple room pub has now been opened out into one long, wide room with the servery along the back wall. Entering through the left hand door, you find yourself in a decent seating area with standard tables and chairs along the end wall and a fantastic poster of the Tay Bridge to the rear. The servery extends through what must’ve been three formerly separate rooms and has a pleasant dark wood counter and bar back, with the highlight being the two fabulous mirrors including one which displays a fine image of the eponymous bridge. The bar back is topped with two model ships and, like so many other Scottish pubs, a liberally scattered collection of whisky boxes. The area opposite the bar is fairly dull and offers standing room in the main, with a few pews to the front offering the only seating options, stood under some old floral wallpaper and some dark wood panels with a TV screen showing an obscure French football fixture for the benefit of absolutely no-one. Meanwhile, the right hand side is a carpeted space with a mix of padded banquettes and regular chairs under fancy chandeliers. There is more of the same floral wallpaper on show here as well as some excellent mirrors on the end wall including another with a great image of the bridge on it. A Wurlitzer jukebox stands in one corner but it was the radio that played away in the background. Unlike other pubs in the area, there were no students in the pub – just a few old boys congregated around the bar. I didn’t really expect to find any ale on in here so it was nice to find Inveralmond Ossian on the only functioning hand pump. It wasn’t in bad shape either and I enjoyed supping it whilst watching the meaningless French football match on the TV. This felt like a proper local’s pub and I have to say I felt a bit out of place sat alone drinking my pint of ale whilst all the old boys watched me from the bar with their pints of lager. Still, it was a decent enough pub and is probably worth stopping by for a quick half to admire the lovely mirrors, but it’s not one I’d include on a future crawl.

This pub has a heritage interior that you wouldn't necessarily expect from the semi-modernised façade. It has been opened out inside at some point to leave five different spaces of various sizes around the 'L'-shaped bar, all quite basic but there is some 1/3rd-height wood panelling, other low-key decorative woodwork, a variety of local-interest pictures and a generally traditional feel. Two of four handpumps in use, and whilst there was no sign of the expected Hawkhill ales, there were two from Inveralmond: Ossian (£3.20) and Lia Fail. McEwans 80/- also noted on one of a pair of Edinburgh-style brass taps.

Official site of Taybridge Bar - www.pldundee.com

Official site of Taybridge Bar - www.pldundee.com