please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Have been drinking here on and off for years and there's no doubt it's one of the better pubs in the area. My main criticism is the price of their beers- £4.50 for a pint of Amstels, really !
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Top notch beer pub here, with friendly and knowledgable staff and also good value gastro-pub style grub.
They have a good selection of max 5 real ale hand pulls as well as some great craft beers in their fridge (which can be very pricey) and on keg.
If you're around Merchant City and you appreciate good beer you must go here!
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Adequate range, but good quality beer. Well worth visiting when bands are on
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I think I went at the wrong time because there wasn't one pump clip on the handpulls and it looked like there was simply no real ale available - so I left! I've been before so know it is good but "bad luck this time".
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After failing to get in the pub in September (see previous review), I found myself in Glasgow again much sooner than expected. I gave this place another go, and this time there was no problem.
The pub was full with a great atmosphere whilst the range of Scottish ales on the bar was superb, whilst my own choice of Cairngorm Black gold (Stout) was well kept and decent value.
They had live music on which only added to the experienece. If you are planning a visit to the pubs of Glasgow, and you enjoy a choice of real ale in a good setting, then add this to your list.
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Against the other reviews i found this to be a cracking little pub in The Merchant City area of Glasgow.
Corner plot pub with the bar on the right as you enter.
5 ales on draught when I was in, a good mix of local and Scottish ales. I choose a beer from the Starthaven brewery and it was excellent.
A roaring trade being done in lunches and the food looked and smelt good.
A really nice bar that offers something for people of all tastes, whether it be a real ale drinker, a foody or a connoisseur of quality lagers.
Please do not be put off by the previous this place is worth seeking out.
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We are a group of thirty and forty something professionals who were on a night out in Glasgow. Having visitors from Ireland we went for a meal and decided to have a couple of drinks in the Merchant City.
We entered this place and had one drink and everything seemed fine until our female Irish friend ordered a drink. I was served and then when she tried to purchase another round we were told by the "duty manager" that we were "too drunk" and had to leave!
We couldn't believe it and after asking the "duty manager" why we had to leave, he couldn't provide us with a reason.
We decided to leave rather than cause a scene.
We left and went into Libertine across the street.
I decided to return with my female Irish friend as i was disgusted and she was rather upset, at this point it became obvious they're was no other reason other than her Irish accent that we were asked to leave. We decided to test the theory and returned to Blackfriars.
We were welcomed into the pub by the security staff and i ordered a drink from a female staff member who was serving me until the "duty manager" walked up and said we were "too drunk" to be served and called the bemused security staff to ask us to leave. In fairness to them on speaking to us they agreed that we were not too intoxicated.
It was put to the "duty manager" that it was an "Irish accent" that caused the foregoing which he denied.
I'm a 49 year old professional and up until now a proud Glaswegian who has been frequenting the pubs and restaurants of Glasgow for many years and i have never been asked to leave any establishment before.
I'll leave the reader to make up their own minds about this place.
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Visited early on a Sunday evening, but due to the Old Firm game that had taken place earlier in the day, the door staff would not let us enter - Shame really, on this my first, and maybe only ever visit to Glasgow - We hardly looked the sort to start any trouble, but it was just one of those things I suppose.
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Largeish well-kept corner pub with tables in the windows to watch the world go by. A good selection of ales, mostly but not all Scottish, and an impressive selection of pump clips on display behind the bar to confirm the quantity and variety of ales served in the past, including more from some breweries than I knew they brewed beers! Also an excellent range of foreign draught and bottled beers. A fine pint of Kilburn was enjoyed and then unfortunately had to be off to Central Station (via the Horseshoe) for the train home. Further visits to this fine pub are on the cards.
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Well kept beers, helpful staff and the food looked good. Tryst Brockville Dark - top notch. Splendid selection of continental beers - all round excellent pub.
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Went to this place when in glasgow for the Merchant City festival, after recommendations on this site.
Great selection of real ales from local(ish) breweries. I had ones from Kelburn and Inveralmond. Looks like they change beers regularly, always a good sign. All the beers i've tried in there have been in top condition, but one from the Kelham ISland brewery in Sheffield was underwhelming (not the pubs fault obviously).
Special mention to the bottled beers. Good range of Belgians but the best bit is the Americans. Seriously good beers here, like Yeti stout and Hercules IPA from Great Divide brewery. Also some Flying Dog ones. Off there soon to try the Hop Devil, hope they havent sold out! Up there with thhe Bon Accord for best pub in Glasgow.
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Jagsfan, you're a 400 lb monkey (with an IQ of 6.8)
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On a slightly sour note, there were only three ales on yesterday and the strongest was 4.1%. Had the Inveralmond Independence which was fine(3.8%), but fancied something stronger. Ended up drinking a bottle of IPA from Colorado- 400 lb Monkey- a hoppy 6.8%.
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Good pub this, with 5 handpulls and beers in good nick. Large range of quality draught lagers, Addlestones cider and a large selection of good bottled beers. Can get a bit rammed on a friday and saturday night, but that's a good thing I suppose - I'd be very concerned if a pub was only half-full. All-in-all, a great pub to head to if in the Merchant City area of Glasgow.
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Simply the best bar in the merchant city , and probably one of the best bars in the centre of glasgow .
something for everyone really, good real ales,foreign beers,fruit beers,good selection of spirits,good food ,even comedy/music downstairs at the weekends . When its busy it can be a bit cramped but thats a minor complaint.
came here when i was at UNI 20 years ago and its refreshing to see it hasnt changed that much.
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This pub sustains its beer quality and atmosphere. Quite simply a superb pub. There is plenty of real ale and it rings the changes.
I try to visit at least once whenever I'm in Glasgow - it just wouldn't be the same without a session in Blackfriars.
Bar staff are friendly too.
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Great place this. Popped in because of reviews on this site and wasnt diappointed. 4 different real ales on and a great selection of bottled beers from the likes of Sierra Nevada, Brewdog, Flying Dog.
Tried three different ales, all of which were in top condition. If I lived in Glasgow I'd be in here every day!
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A decent pub in a smart part of Glasgow's city centre. Only three ales (but space for 5) including a Williams Brothers Birds and Bees which was nicely kept. There looked like a reasonable range of German lagers in the fridge too.
The shame was that on a beautiful summer evening I was moved inside at 10, although I think this rule has been set by the council rather than the pub.
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(forgot to add) they also have around 35 malts.
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excellent pub- a good 65p LESS per pint than most other Glasgow pubs... great staff- when not serving they were actually working!- cleaning bottles and shelves- not sitting around reading.
5 real ales, 1 real cider, clean, blues music , and a pretty server with black hair- what more could one want?
warning- Google Map has the wrong address and location!
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Absolutely superb.
Timely visit last night, after the Babbity Bowster nearby. Pub rocking with a lively clientele of all agegroups, and an all-Scottish range of five ales, all well kept and including a sublime Brewdog IPA. Service was quick and local drinkers very friendly. Reasonably priced beer, with everything of 5% or less at �2.90, strong beers at �3.20.
Crowd at weekends can be noisy at times, but not so loud as to be uncomfortable; recorded music was at an agreeable level. Live music and comedy acts staged: check with the pub for further details.
Recommended.
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Moved back to Glasgow from London recently, and was in search of a real ale pub, when I found this haven. Very friendly and attentive staff, warm atmosphere, and a great selection of real ales, and assorted beers, porters, stouts, whiskies and spirits.
If you're in town, be sure to pop in - it won't disappoint.
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Probably the best Glasgow City Centre pub for it's selection of real ales. Not so sure about the kind of ambience and clientelle they are aiming at at times though and there also seems to be an eidct to staff to try and persuade everyone who comes in to eat in the place. Those little niggles are far outweighed by the beer selection available though.
anonymous - 12 Jan 2010 17:01 |
Nice pint of Dark Star Winter Solstice yesterday, and a friendly barman who's a fan of Dark Star beers.
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newly crowned for the second time glasgow camra pub of the year,easily the best real ale outlet in glasgow.so much better than the bon
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Basic darkly lit drinking house styled bar with a beer mat finish to the servery ceiling, lots of music posters, sticky tables and not all the furniture matches so the atmosphere is decidedly studenty. It is in the Merchant City so it has pricing to match and the bare board floor is actually laminate. A five pull set of pumps on the bar dispense a mix of Scottish and English micro/small brewery beers and it appears to be a regular outlet for Brewdog although sadly not on my visit but the Inveralmond Lia Fail was quite superb. A mix of ordinary and interesting kegs both European and UK are also available. I liked the small, individual, blackboard beer names above the bar made for easy changes when a beer runs out. Not many students about but there was a mix of ages, classes and nationalities, the bar staff were mainly younger and enthusiastic.
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Just missed ETA! A corner bar, with a brick faced exterior and large windows.
The interior is open plan, with two central supporting columns plastered in music posters. The place has the now ubiquitous modern look, with plain walls, wood floor, arty pictures, formal tables and chair, sofas, then the odd piano and barrel thrown in. Service was fine and the place was rammed by the younger more than all ages.
Beerwise; Inveralmond Indie Pinke, Strathaven Old Mortality 80/-, Kelburn Red Smiddy, Brewdog IPA and Easy Rider - the OM and the Red Smiddy were very nice.
Definately worth a visit, best choice of beer i had in central Glasgow in the pubs i went in - interior is modern, but apart from Scotia Bar, they all seemed to be
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Although coming in here always makes me feel old (I'm only 48!) I think it's one of the better pubs in Glasgow, based on its beer quality and the friendliness of the staff. Not too sure about the music and decor, though - but a change is as good as a rest, they say. I had an excellent pint of Kelburn's, well kept and at the right temperature. I'm keen to come back here every time I'm in the area, and it us always worth tying it in with a visit to Babbity Bowster's.
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Good pub, this. A good, interesting selection of beers, well kept and well served.
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Excellent beer selection - good Scottish micro contingent as well as imports from south of the border and the continent!
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Enjoyed this pub very much. Good selection of real ale's (6) and all in good condition. Friendly staff added to the enjoyment. The Botttleneckers band were in action when I went and they were excellent and well worth checking out.
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Laid back pub with decent food and a good choice of real ales. I had the Goldihops and the Brewdog Punk which were both excellent. Went back in the evening and ate in the back room. The service was pleasant and prompt, despite the pub being full - we got the last table - and the food was lovely.
chick - 26 Sep 2008 16:46 |
I used to frequent this pub some time ago.
Last week I found myself in the area and popped in for old-times sake - I wish I hadn't!!!
How can a pub like this justify charging over �3 for a pint of Fosters?
This is absolutely ridiculous! - For the same price I could have had THREE better pints in a better pub in Sauchiehall Street.
Obviously if you own a business in The Merchant City you can charge what you like and hope the idiots who stay there and don't know any better will pay it!
I have only two words for whoever owns this pub - CREDIT CRUNCH!
The people previously willing to pay such inflated prices will now have to spend their money on other needs such as rent and food, leaving pubs such as this to wallow in the mire.
Oh! - I've just thought of another two words!
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in on sunday loch fyne inishail was gorgeous
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kelburn beer was excellent ,and will definetly visiting again.
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nice pub good beer
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Limited but nice and rotating selection of well kept cask ales, and some decent bottled beers. Good food. Certainly a lot better than your average Glasgow boozer.
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Popped in Tuesday afternoon, and found the ales very well kept , four on tap.My lager swilling mate enjoyed the Baltic lager too.It has a very pleasant atmosphere ,with cozy seating and papers to read.
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This place had a lovely atmosphere when I went in on Monday night. The place was quite busy but not too crowded and there was a quiz on. Beers included Kelburn (Pivo Estiva - 10/10); Kelburn (Clydesdale IPA - not bad at all); and Anteallach Kildonan (didn�t sample) . Another one for the �I wish it was my local� category.
Oh, and they had newspapers to read: very good if like me you are on your own and don't want to appear too much like "Billy no mates".
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doing a very welcom mild promo during may deservedly won a top camra award
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Cracking pint from the Kelham brewery,bright and breezy pub,which has a comedy venue downstairs.You can people watch through the large windows or give the bar a determined look....Well worth a visit if in the Merchant City.
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I agree that as an antidote to the restrained mellowness of its nearby neighbour, the Blackfriars fits the bill. It is always lively of an evening, thriving on a mixed clientele that seem to lap up the various services that the pub offers - live music, good food (available even at ungodly hours!) and a range of interesting ales. It has all the positive aspects of a "trendy" corporate chain bar, but retains all the worthwhile features of a more traditional pub, and this broad approach appears to be working.
For all that, the quality of the ales on my last visit was undeniably poor, which was a huge disappointment as previously they'd always been on fine form, but this was a long time ago and I am for now happy to assume it was an unfortunate aberration rather than the norm.
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From the sedate calm of the Babbity Bowster, a visit to this pub just down the street revealed a wholly different atmosphere. The speakers weren�t in use but the voices of the many patrons created quit a level of noise. It isn�t surprising, because this end of the Merchant City is short of decent pubs. The Blackfriar has a bistro feel to it but holds on to a pubby air and has a fine selection of cask ales to boot. Throw in a large range of foreign bottled beers, wines and malts and you can�t go wrong. If your week has left you depressed, you can visit the basement Comedy Cavern!
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good friendly pub well kept real ale ,could do with opening on time
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A tired looking corner pub with live entertainment and a weekend comedy club. There is a decent selection of real ales all advertised on a chalkboard above the bar. There is an interesting stained glass window above the door and a "Quote of the Day" board. A proper pub, and a good place for a beer or two.
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