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Detail Pages
Drum & Monkey, Glasgow
Glasgow
G2 5TF
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Drum & Monkey
The curved protruding end of the boot shaped bar counter presents seven hand pumps to those walking through the entrance of the Drum & Monkey. Black Sheep’s Twilighter, Stewart’s Jack Back and 80 Shilling, Nicholsons Pale Ale, Wily Fox’s Craft Fox and St Austell’s Tribute were available. An extensive list of standard and premium keg was also available from the friendly bar staff.
High tables sit under the right hand windows and in the front left is a small raised seating area that sits above the entrance to the downstairs toilets. To the left of the front entrance is another raised seating area and banquettes run along the left wall either side of a fireplace that was full of fairy lights. At the rear is Singerie’s Snug which is actually another seating area geared more towards dining. It’s worth casting your eyes skywards to have a look at the ceiling. A television was showing muted rolling BBC News and some background music was playing. Like most Nicholsons pubs, this place is worth a look if in the area.
On 26th November 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Drum & Monkey
A Nicholson's house in a former bank building on a street corner.The interior is quite pleasing with a gracefully curved and protruding serving bar,wood panelling,stone fireplaces,a raised section to the left and a rear snug called Singliers which is calmer and has seating booths.Meal options often include a drink so aren't as pricey as first appears but food service will be at work.I expect a transient crowd in here,it's very close to Glasgow Central.
A few handpumps were unclipped or reversed meaning a chice of Doom Bar,St Austell Nicholson's Pale,Stewart 80/- and Jack Back (NBSS 3) which was slightly disappointing for a GBG regular.There is tank Innis & Gunn with a copper piping creating another feature.
A one pint stop,some interest from a good interior but the chain vibe is too strong.
On 6th March 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Drum & Monkey
Fairly grand, this used to be a bank (the Savings Bank). Look out for marble columns, an intricate ceiling, the ‘peninsula’ shaped bar with castle turret topping, wood panelling and chandeliers. Seven pumps with three ales on; Tim Taylor Landlord, Nicholson house beer and Stewart 80/- (NBSS 3), though my companion’s keg Wild Beer was fairly awful and clearly in need of scrappage (she wouldn’t let me complain, so…). Not cheap, but the location makes it worth a stop.
On 1st March 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Drum & Monkey
A stunning looking pub, both inside and out, obviously a former bank. Four ales on handpump, Marston's Pedigree, Purity UBU, Stewarts 80/- and Wainwright. We went for the Purity which was in good shape. A bit pricey per pint, then again it is a Nicholson's. Service was good and very professional.
On 3rd November 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Drum & Monkey
Large central pub with catwalk like protruding bar. Nice but suffers a little for the central location
On 6th May 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Drum & Monkey
Opulent ex-bank with lots of marble columns and ornate ceilings, a central bar dispenses some well kept cask beers and the usual keg suspects. It’s a Nicholsons pub so up to the middling to high quality you’ll expect from one of theirs. Other notable feature:- two copper lager tanks on one wall (blocking a window).
On 16th July 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Drum & Monkey
This place was packed when I arrived here on a Thursday evening. It's a bank conversion with an ornate interior as noted below.
There were six beers listed on a board which I didn't bother to make a full note of but one was from London in the form of By The Horns Stiff Upper Lip. I went for the St Austell Harpoon Skipper which although in good nick was a ridiculous £4.35.
I thought this was a typical Nicholson's rip off and certainly wouldn't return.
It's GBG 2018 listed.
On 18th May 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Drum & Monkey
Large, attractive Nicholson’s pub with a prominent street corner location in what I presume is a former bank setting. You enter into a bare boarded room where you are immediately confronted by a marvellous peninsula bar with a dark wood counter decorated with an attractive relief panel front, simple pot shelf, mirrored bar back and impressive marble support pillar with a nice decorative capital. Similar pillars can be found throughout the rest of the pub, although most are round rather than the square one at the bar. These pillars support a high ceiling decorated with gold beams and ornate roses. Two raised seating areas straddle the entrance, including one which forms a rather snug little space. High tables and stools fill much of the area directly around the bar and most tables have glass tops, under which various displays of hops, malts, oats and the like have been displayed. To the left, there is an enormous fireplace which has sadly now been sealed off, whilst banquettes and chairs offer comfortable seating underneath nice panelled walls with marble slab uppers. The rear left leads you into a dining room, which I didn’t get around to exploring and there was a good soul and funk soundtrack playing quietly in the background throughout my stay.
The usual reliable Nicholson’s ale selection was available and included Inveralmond Lia Fail, Thornbridge Jaipur and The January Blues, Exmoor Gold, Roosters Citra and their own Nicholson’s Pale Ale. My pint of the Lia Fail was in good nick and very tasty and I noticed they also had a couple of ‘brewery-fresh’ tanks of Innis and Gunn beer racked up to the right-hand side of the room.
Like most Nicholson’s pubs, there are no real surprises here. You get a nicely restored interior with plenty of grandeur, a well-kept selection of ales and a smattering of corporate blandness which makes it, more often than not, worth spending a bit of time in. There are better pubs around the city for sure, but this is a good, solid fall-back option and well worth a look if on a crawl.
On 20th March 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Drum & Monkey
One of our favorite pubs in the Nicholson chain pubs always worth a visit bit pricey but worth it
On 2nd February 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 122 recommendations about 122 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Paul McScotty left this review about Drum & Monkey
With is central location and closeness to Central station the Drum and Monkey has always been a popular pub. Located in a former bank the building has kept its classy look with nice wood floors, ornate pillars and panelling and a nice central type bar area - the bar has a lot of very nice seating and tables (including a dedicated food area at the back) and a good area near the bar where you can stand (and places to rest you pint )various strange / interesting objects are places on the walls / ledges that add to the ambience of the bar (not surprisingly including drums and err a monkey) The bar has a large selection of standard (and a few not so standard) beers, ciders (on tap and bottled) and spirits, most impressivly it has a truly popular and excellent supply of real alse ( that regularly change - checked their website for lists of what is on offer)from all over the UK , US etc I had a nice 1/2 pint of Orkney Dark Island for £2 - Prices are what you would expect for a centrally located pub - clientèle consist of regulars and a large influx of passing trade, tourists etc that all add to the atmosphere of the place - it also hassome really nice British (& US burger) traditioanl pub food as well - Most locals will have visited this pub alredy but maybe not many have been back since Nicholson's took it over (not that previous owners were bad) the changes have really been impressive - sometimes it can get a busy with passing trade and can be mobbed after a Scotland rugby or football match (no doubt sadly drowning our tears) but never any bother - The pub has its own website which is worth visiting. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly only issue I have is when busy it can be hard to get to the bar and be served.
On 2nd February 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 44 recommendations about 42 pubs]