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Nightlife
Unlike England and Wales, licensing laws in Scotland allow for much variation – bars may stay open all day, until 2400 or only between 1230-1430 and 1830-2300, while clubs are often open as late as 0300, although last entry is usually at 0100. There are over 700 pubs and bars in the city – evidence that Glaswegians like a tipple now and again – as well as numerous nightclubs catering for all musical tastes. A number of the venues listed below blur the boundaries, morphing from bar to club and often serving very decent meals as well.
The nightlife scene varies from the student hangouts of the West End to style bars in the Merchant City – Downtown lies between the two, both geographically and in terms of venues. The minimum drinking age is 18 and there are generally no dress codes, although smarter clubs may not permit jeans or trainers. If there is a cover charge, it is usually 3-5 on weeknights and higher on the weekend, depending on the venue. Sinking a pint or a mixed drink costs around 2.
Tickets for most events can be purchased at Virgin Megastore, Buchanan Street (tel: 0141) 353 2993) or through the Ticket Centre (tel: (0141) 287 5511 or (0870) 040 4000). The main guide to going out is The List (website: www.list.co.uk). A selection of its listings is currently available online in the ‘This Month’ section of Time Out’s Glasgow pages (website: www.timeout.com/glasgow).
Bars: The city’s greatest concentration of bars is on the cobblestone Ashton Lane, a favourite haunt of students in the West End. Elsewhere, The Horseshoe, 17 Drury Street, has the longest continuous bar in the city, although it is still difficult to get a place there at the weekend. Bargo, 80 Albion Street, is a popular pre-clubbing venue with a stylish industrial interior in the Merchant City. Bar 10, 10 Mitchell Lane, just off Buchanan Street in the heart of the city, is a popular and stylish bar, serving food. Spy Bar, 153 Bath Street, is a happening pre-club hangout, with DJs at the weekend. The newly revamped Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street (website: www.cca-glasgow.com), attracts an arty crowd to the bar and terrace facing onto Scott Street – the CCA has club nights as well.
Casinos: The main gambling venues include the Stanley Berkeley Casino, 506-516 Sauchiehall Street, and the Gala Riverboat Casino, 61 Broomielaw. Dress code is smart and only those over 18 years are allowed entrance. As with all casinos in the UK, membership – which must be applied for with appropriate ID, at least 24 hours in advance – is required. Membership for the above casinos is free.
Clubs: As in most cities, the club scene in Glasgow is ever evolving and the music and atmosphere of a venue can change from night to night. Check out The List or get some local advice if you do not like surprises. The Tunnel, 84 Mitchell Street, is a large club with top DJs spinning different styles of house, with a more eclectic mix in the second room, while Archaos and Yang, 25-37 Queen Street, offers everything from R&B, dance and house music over its five floors of space. The Arches (website: www.thearches.co.uk), located in a cavernous brick-vaulted space at 253 Argyle Street, below the railway tracks, has club nights in addition to live bands and theatre. The Corinthian, 191 Ingram Street, and nearby Art, 13 Walls Street, are both happening spots in the Merchant City, serving food as well as tunes. The Polo Lounge, 84 Wilson Street, is a popular gay club, playing a mix of camp dance tunes and 80s pop sounds.
Live music: Large-scale pop and rock concerts take place at the Clyde Auditorium in the SECC, off junction 19 of the M8, with its own dedicated railway station (trains depart from Glasgow Central station), as well as at the Barrowland, 244 Gallowgate, near the Barras market. Up-and-coming bands play at the venerable King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272A St Vincent Street (website: www.kingtuts.co.uk), where the Mancunian band, Oasis, was discovered. The Bar Fly Club, 260 Clyde Street is another good spot, with a range of styles. Jazz acts perform occasionally at Brel, 39-43 Ashton Lane.
The best bet for folk music is the annual Celtic Connections festival (see Culture). Throughout the year, The Riverside Club, 33 Fox Street, hosts ceilidh dances at the weekend, drawing an energetic crowd. Molly Malone’s, 224 Hope Street, has live Irish music nightly, ranging from traditional folk to Celtic rock, while Park Bar, 1202 Argyle Street, is a good spot for Highland sounds at the weekend. Scotia Bar and Clutha Vaults, both on Stockwell Street, are great pubs with authentic folk music thrown in for good measure.
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Nightlife