Laurieston Bar

I liked this pub a lot more than I expected to! From the outside it looks a bit intimidating but inside it’s just a friendly, comfy traditional pub, albeit with some slightly odd art choices. Still, while I don’t expect to be in the area regularly, I’d definitely drop in if I were. I’d definitely recommend it to others as well, especially if they were on the subcrawl, as we were.
The staff are obviously very happy for subcrawlers to visit, they didn’t mind us sitting down and getting ourselves organised before we ordered drinks. Once we’d got ourselves sorted and we’d all been served (with remarkable efficiency) they even came to take a photo of us for their subcrawl albums. You can find these near the entrance to the pub — they try to take a photo of every group that visits.
It’s a cool and quirky pub with cheap beer and friendly staff. The toilets are teeny-​tiny but otherwise fine. What more can you want?

For years I avoided this pub purely on its location and its exterior look.
I WAS WRONG!
I have now been in on at least 3 subcrawls and a few times before gigs at the 02 Academy.
Every time I have been in, I have received a warm and friendly welcome from staff and the locals.
On subcrawls (mainly Saturdays), we’ve been offered the lounge so we can all fit in comfortably. Often this just means the room to ourselves. A great way to start the day.
The jukebox has had the same songs on it for an eternity, but its free play and at least you know whats on it so can plan your playlist accordingly.
The staff are brilliant, they’ll take group pictures for you and also they’ll take one of the group to be imortalised in the many subcrawl photo albums the have.
From memory, the drinks prices were very reasonable too.
Im never over that way these days, but I always say I want to pop back into The Laurieston as it just seems like a great wee pub

I do like the Laurieston, it’s a great «local» pub but you always feel welcome there no matter where you come from! It has a historic interior (a listed building) so there’s some proper Glasgow bar character, like Formica tables with 2 levels. They do pies and occasionally (if you’re lucky) toasties! They have a good choice of real ales and the staff will explain what they all are (and give you tasters). I also like their range of bottled beers and the «Dublin porter» on tap. The lounge is well used and will often host random musical events (from people gathering to play guitars to hearty singalongs. It’s always fun to people watch too as «Subcrawlers» often appear (it’s quite near the Subway at Bridge Street)

Just arrived in Glasgow and off to the first watering hole. We weren’t doing the subcrawl but many of the places on it were on our drinking bucket list. Chief amongst them is the Laurieston I echo my mate Briony that the location of this pub can be s little off putting as can the exterior of the pub itself. But once inside it is a unique almost timeless pub which would not look out of place in the 70s. I could have spent hours simply browsing the walls which are plastered with newspaper cuttings, a funky painting of the Stranglers (?) and obituaries of people.
We made our way to the bar and ordered 80 shillings first, then I headed into Fynne territory with a pint of Jarl. Both were nice. I liked the Laurieston a lot and hope it never changes.

If you want a good honest and friendly Scottish experience, get here! Classic beers, great service and beautiful décor inside a historic building. Love this place.

I’ve been past this place at least 1,000 times and yet I’d never been in. I’d heard good things, I’d read good things and yet I was too scared. I don’t love this area of Glasgow — the roads are so confusing, the area is quite industrial and it’s not really somewhere you’d head for a pint. Or, so I thought.
Once in the doors of the Laurieston, it was like I had an epiphany. It was just like my Nanna’s house (although my Nanna’s was a bit classier, no offence). It was warm, comforting, welcoming and had some seriously retro décor. As others have mentioned, there’s a tasty selection of beers from Fyne Ales but on this visit I opted for cider.
We took a seat in the lounge area as the bar was pretty heaving for 1pm on a Saturday (those damn subcrawlers!) and enjoyed the atmosphere and hospitality of by far the friendliest bar staff I’ve encountered in a long time. Over they came to take our photo, find out our story and give us tips and advice on completing the subcrawl. They even have maps for you! That is SO cool and was very handy later on when I’m sure some people didn’t know where they were (um, like me).
There’s a JUKEBOX as well — a proper old school one where some of the cards are handwritten. It tells you that you have to pay, but just push the buttons and you’ll discover that you don’t. I put on some great tunes while we were there but I’m not sure anyone else appreciated them.
Handy tip: the ladies toilet is only accessible from the lounge.

A pub that until Saturday I had written off by the outside appearance. The Unilocal Subcrawl took me here for the first time and I was was very pleasantly surprised. Yes from the outside you would not give it a second glance. It all looks a bit run down and perhaps even a bit dodgy. To be honest the inside ain’t much of an improvement on the outside. It is an old bar that looks like it has not been done up in years.
Why four a stars then? Well, what it does not have in terms of polished finishes and décor is made up for by the friendly atmosphere and great array of beers on offer. The staff could not have been more welcoming. They supplied Subcrawl maps and made a point of coming out to chat with us. The even took our photo as they take records of all the «subcrawlers» who pass through their bar.
I must admit, I stuck to a boring bottle of becks on the drinks front as I was being very careful what alcohol I took on at this early stage. I would like to go back though and try a few of the far more interesting beers they had on offer.
4 stars for a traditional and slightly shabby, but friendly boozers.

Relaxed old style Glasgow pub.
My first experience of The Laurieston bar was today on the Unilocal!Sub Crawl — it looks dodgy from the outside, but Id happily come back here for a decent beer! Maine decent ales on tap.
Friendly staff who were happy to chat and take pics if us, as well as a few to add to their own wall.
I’m coming back here!

Was here as part of Kris B.‘s birthday subcrawl. It might look like a timewarp back to an old man’s boozer in the 70s but I personally love it; it gives the place character and it stands out against all the ‘samey’ modern interiors you can sometimes get in the town.
Booze selection: really great! CAMRA itself recommends the Laurieston for the great range of beers, real ales and lagers. It also has a full bar, with all the normal wines and spirits you would expect to find. One nice little touch I noticed was that the boys all ordered pints of Amstel and these came in glasses straight from the freezer, poured to perfection!
The bar staff are incredibly friendly too, more than willing to take your photo for their subcrawl albums and ready to dish out tips on the best pubs to visit as you go round on the subway! I would happily go back if it were a little handier for me to get to, but I still really like it!

Fantastically 70’s
So trudging back from the cup final Dave suddenly lays it on the line — he’s meeting his partner in The Laurieston for a pint. «What? The grey prison like pub on Bridge St? If we must» I sigh :-\
The grey tiled and frosted safety glass exterior certainly makes you feel like «nope»! And the 70’s wood clad and melamine interior isn’t much better, but all these aesthetics are soon forgotten with the warm welcome on offer.
The locals seemed to be articulate and well read in the main and the staff and owner also. There was a Spanish couple, a table of deaf people signing, a sub-​crawl, Carling Academy goers and a bar full of academics all enjoying each other’s company. The ever friendly owner supplied us with our real ale and asked us to taste a lager that he thought was off. It tasted ok to me, but he was convinced so offered us more to confirm his thoughts. «Nope tastes fine here» I confirmed, so more was poured! A full pint later we gave up and ‘conceded’ his point :-)
Dave ordered the only food on offer — sausage roll and mushy peas and we made our way to a table. Well it’s more like a melamine covered plank of wood screwed to the floor, but enough room for drink. Mel arrived and after the pleasantries she pointed out the wall décor. It’s a haphazard mish mash of stuff, but the multitude of obituary newspaper cuttings stood out. Btw, that sausage roll was more roll than sausage apparently :-/​
So several drinks later, more friendly chit chat with the bar staff on the brewing process and a discussion on Glasgow’s history in The Spanish Civil War with the academics and Spanish couple it was time to head to pastures new. But suffice to say The Laurieston was surprisingly and easily the best establishment we visited that evening :-)

surviving 60, s street corner local serving great cask ales, from Fyne brewery
very helpful friendly staff, more pubs should be like this and not like pretentious crap like brewdog

Awesome pub. What do you look for in a pub? If it is the following, you’ll love it.
–Well kept real ales from Fyne Ales
–Very friendly bar staff
–Toasties on the house (if you’re lucky)
–Free jukebox (be prepared to wait for your song to come on though)
–Bar design that hasn’t changed since the 60’s
-«Indoor» (not legally) smoking area, complete with TV
–Split bar and lounge, both as welcoming as the other
If, however, you look for the below in a pub then I suggest you visit elsewhere — perhaps a G1 venue.
–Pretentiousness
–Skanky skanks
–Overpriced euro-​lager
–Jaegerbombs
–Fighting

This is a smashing pub! Don’t get me wrong, on approach I said there was no way I was going in — it doesn’t look all that safe — but it really is a great pub.
Very, very, very outdated décor inside, but the staff are so lovely and friendly — they’re like long lost family types. They feel the same way — if you’re crawling the subway then they take a photo as they keep photo records. Drinks are cheap and there’s a jukebox.
What more could a Subcrawler want?

Now if you’re as sceptical as me, from the outside this pub doesn’t look very promising. But I’ve been told that this is a pub I should be drinking in for quite some time now. Having spent an evening here, I think I’m in love (if that’s possible) with the wee place. Although I accept this might not be everyone’s cup of tea for a pub venue, if you’ll excuse the mixed puns there…
The interior is definitely from another era and the pub is split into 2 parts — the bar and the lounge. This is from the older era when you wouldn’t take your little lady to a bar so the lounge offers a plush setting (with carpets!) in which to enjoy your small sherry. Indeed this is the half where the women’s toilets are. Meanwhile in the bar there are table to enjoy a quiet pint or chat with the brilliant bar staff.
The usual drinks on offer but reasonably priced. Fyne ales (yes please) for those more ale minded and my guilty pleasure Tartan special. I felt at home here and was made welcome, with the bar man chatting to us for ages. It is one of those boozers from an era where the barman give a really personal service and knows everyone who comes in the door. And those who are new to the place are given a royal welcome.
Next to Bridge st subway, so (too) convenient for transport. I will be back.

This is an amazing hidden gem of a pub. I popped in before going to a gig at the Academy, and I’d forgotten how good it was.
It’s on the famous Subcrawl list of approved pubs, so I’d been in before… but it’s much better than that once in a lifetime popping in.
The Guinness is fresh, cold and expertly poured; it’s cheap; it’s warm, comfortable and there’s a choice of other beers and ales that really make the mouth water.
They offer good old fashioned cheap pub food. I saw a cheese toastie that looked heavenly.
The people all seem friendly too, there was none of the staring that you sometimes find at these out of the way local pubs.
Honestly, well worth a visit. I know I’ll be back

Fantastic bar with a classic 50s Formica interior (as seen in the film Young Adam, and numerous music videos), well kept real ales from Fyne, and the friendliest bar staff in the city. Don’t let the exterior put you off, it’s a gem.

The Laurieston Bar is a wee cracker!
Resplendent with full 60s/​70s décor than looks as if it’s never changed, this is a great wee neighbourhood boozer that keeps things simple and does it right!
The pie thingymabob on the counter is a personal favourite of mine. The smoking area is great too — it’s outside, but it feels like it’s inside — TV, armchairs, radio with tape deck and a heater — all there. Lovely!
This places popularity is often attributed to the Subcrawl and they do get a fair amount of trade from that ill-​informed tradition, but in reality this pub is more than that: it’s a local boozer that keeps things simple and does it well. The service is great, the regulars are friendly and the formica tables are amazing!
Well worth the trip!

This pub had a very welcoming atmosphere. They had pictures of all the previous subrcrawlers on the walls and, once they found out we were on one, our photo was taken too.
The boys’ toilets (so I’ve been told) have a height chart on the wall, like the one you’d get in a prison mugshot. Overall, the drinks were pretty cheap, and served with a smile.

One of the best bars in Glasgow
Famous location for movies [Young Adam], music videos [Fratellis and franz ferdinand] and Rebus
Near hand to Carling Academy and also on Subway Crawl