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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

The Scotia Bar, Glasgow

112 Stockwell Street
Glasgow
G1 4LW

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Scotia Bar

Apparently dating from 1782, the dimly lit Scotia has a long staple shaped bar counter that supports standard, premium and craft keg alongside four hand pumps, two of which were unused during a recent midweek afternoon visit. Belhaven’s 80 Shilling and Alchemy’s Bad Day at the Office were the cask options. I went for the latter which should have been called Bad Pint at the Scotia because it was the dregs at the very bottom of the barrel and closer inspection revealed bits floating in my glass. Pointed out to the barman and soon changed, but maybe they should turn the lights up just a little so the staff can see what they’re serving. Seating is found around all the exterior walls and the odd snug is thrown in for good measure. This would certainly be a good place to hide out if on the run. Regular live folkie music is held here, although there was just some background music on during my visit. There’s also a television up on the wall that was showing a muted old Technicolour film, I’m not sure what this added to the ambiance. This is a cosy pub, in fact the wide bar means that it wouldn’t take many to make it very full. I thought the staff to be friendly and the pub atmospheric, so I’d certainly return when back in Glasgow.

On 24th November 2022 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Scotia Bar

Very authentic ,old pub where Billy Connolly performed as a young man and which has a stong reputation for live music,often acoustic.There is a small side snug to the right of the front door and an aroma of ancient timber while the serving bar is to the left.The ceiling is low and has bank notes pinned up above the bar staff.Elsewhere there is good wood panelling,seats in window recesses and lot of traditional furniture.Interesting old maps hang on the walls,it's very atmospheric inside.The large speakers indicate that some bands will play quite loud.
There were 3 handpumps working serving on my trip Orkney Raven and Corncrake (NBSS 3.5) together with Belhaven 80/-.
A Glasgow institution and should not be missed when in town.

On 5th March 2022 - rating: 9
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Scotia Bar

A good traditional locals pub, with friendly and chatty staff, along with a good pint of beer. Four handpumps, with two in use on our Wednesday afternoon visit. Their two beers were Broughton Hopo Session IPA and Broughton Wee Shilling. We went for the Session IPA, which was excellent and we parked ourselves in the snug on the right hand side of the main entrance. A notable feature was the collection of worldwide banks notes, pinned to the ceiling bar area.

On 7th November 2021 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


David Ross left this review about The Scotia Bar

This is one of a handful of pubs which claim to be Glasgow’s oldest. The Scotia certainly looks the part, though, with a low beamed ceiling, dark wall panelling and intimate snugs off the main bar. The walls are decorated with old city photographs and historical maps. Although it is best known as a folk music venue, rock, country and blues fans are also catered for and live music is advertised four nights a week. Impromptu jam sessions are also a regular feature and a pub guitar is kept behind the bar in case customers neglect to bring their own. Famous artists to have performed here include Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Hamish Imlach, The Poets and members of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. There is also a Writers’ Group which meets on the second Monday of each month. On the drink front, the standard draught beer selection is available as well as a few real ales. A pint of Festival Ale cost me £3.05. If your preference is for traditional, old world style pubs, the Scotia is not to be missed.

On 30th September 2013 - rating: 10
[User has posted 769 recommendations about 683 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Peter Rydings left this review about The Scotia Bar

Like the Clutha acroos the road worth a visit

On 15th February 2013 - rating: 9
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Scotia Bar

Excellent descriptions of the interior below. 2 real ales and regular live music.

On 17th April 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


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Roger Button left this review about The Scotia Bar

The Scotia is named after the Scotia Music & Variety Hall that once stood next door and is Glasgow’s oldest pub having been established in 1792. Fortunately it still has enough character to justify the claim.

The L-shaped interior has remained virtually untouched since the 1920’s with plenty of low, heavily beamed ceilings and dark paneled walls creating a good old fashioned atmosphere. At one end is a small, quaint snug albeit a little cramped for tables. The décor includes several neatly arranged picture displays and a large cental landscape.

Charming as the place initially appeared, it did fall short on the beer front with 2 hand pumps but neither available (1 unclipped, the other Belhaven IPA ws reversed) which, for a peak time Friday night, I found quite poor. I ended up with Belhaven Smooth (£2.78) which wasn’t bad as keg stuff goes.

The Music Hall may have disappeared, replaced by a less than picturesque Holiday Inn, but the pub’s flirtation with live music does continue and over the years it has played its part in being the launchpad for several local bands and artists including Gerry Rafferty, Billy Connolly and Alex Harvey. A (very good) live band was performing during my visit but, despite the pubs musical heritage, the internal layout for such entertainment isn’t good and sightlines are poor.

The customer base seemed fairly mixed and civilized and there was a good buzz about the place. There is also apparently a lot of ghost reportings so be careful who you end up chatting to.

With a better selection of beers the Scotia would be a worthy stop but as it stands, it’s probably not much more than a curiosity visit unless you go to see a band in which case, get there early for the best seats.

On 10th February 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


E TA left this review about The Scotia Bar

An anachronistic building supposedly from the 18th Century in a modern setting, Scotia consists of a single moderate sized bar divided to give it a rambling feel, one of the better pubs in the St Enoch area. The staff are friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere intimate. The clientele seemed mostly to be students, though there were also a few mature humans in as well. There is apparently live music on at weekends. It's currently a Belhaven house although there are regularly guest ales on. Only one ale on this time though - Howells Tantallion Sunset, which was fine.All in all a decent back-street boozer worth dropping into if the chance arises.

On 14th December 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Soup Dragon left this review about The Scotia Bar

Cant believe this place hasnt been reviewed in over 2 years. Sandwiched between to higher buildings, it claims to date from 1792. The upper half of the exterior is black and white stone, the lower half, fake beam and white rendering with nodules that make the building look like it has mumps.

The interior is class; open plan, a horseshoe around a neat looking wooden bar that faces you on entry. The decor is the wood beam and white look, with large parts of the walls wood panelled. There are planty of old pictures on the walls to give it a traditional feel.

The service was fine and the large clientele mixed.

There was a handpull beer - GK IPA, so i left that! they did, apart from the usual stuff, Belhaven Best and the St Andrews Ale, the Ale was excellent.

For atmosphere, the best i did in Glasgow that night, just needed a slightly wider choice, but then, so can many places in Glasgow. I will go back.

On 27th August 2009 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Colin Spiller left this review about The Scotia Bar

allegedly the oldest pub in Glasgow

On 28th October 2008 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 68 recommendations about 68 pubs]

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