The Old Smiddy, Cathcart, Glasgow

This is an extremely attractive and quaint old pub in a suburb of Glasgow which was once a separate village. Appropriately, therefore, it manages to retain something of a village local atmosphere despite being in the middle of a big city. It consists of one, moderate sized room with a raised section at the rear set aside for dining, although you can also eat in the main bar area. It’s surprisingly inexpensive for such impressive surroundings, with two meals on offer for only £7.95. Beer prices are equally reasonable, with Tennent’s lager selling at £2.85. Also on tap are Carling, Carlsberg and Amstel lagers, Guinness, Belhaven Best, John Smith’s, Strongbow cider and two real ales, Bank’s Bitter and Greene King IPA. A TV with the sound muted and low level music make for easy conversation. All in all, this is an excellent pub which is worth taking the trouble to discover, despite being a bit off the beaten track.