The Flying Duck

When I have some free time on my hands, I like to go to Cineworld and just relax, catching a couple of movies on one day. However, this activity is made all the more enjoyable by popping across the road to The Flying Duck in between showings for some refreshment. I don’t know why this has only just occurred to me, as it’s a perfect combination.
Flying Duck has fairly recently been renovated. Previously, it had sort of been just the wrong side of ‘bohemian’ for my tastes, but it’s lovely now. They’ve done a splendid job on it, and I’d say it’s now quirky and vintage, but the right side of vintage.
They also seem to have revamped the menu. Previously it had been a bit too sided towards the fake vegan meats, which I find are just a bit strange. They still have their burgers and their ‘dawgs’, but they also have healthy options too such as roasted pepper and chickpea burrito babies, and sauteed kale. I love kale!
To be fair, I’ve not tried the savoury food yet, but now I know that it’s there, I will do. On my recent visit, I could not resist the alcoholic milkshakes — that’s a piece of genius right there. I had the Siberian Shake — vodka, kahlua, coconut milk, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream. I also had some apple crumble, which was pretty good. Some of their desserts, such as the brownies, are supplied by the very talented Smashing Tarts, so I’ll definitely be returning.

We needed somewhere to crash before we headed home last Sunday. David had been to The Flying Duck during his uni days so he was a bit reluctant at first. Once I’d shown him the positive reviews by you lovely Unilocalers we decided to give it a go.
As you head downstairs you feel like you about to enter a comedy club or tiny underground bar but it is surprisingly roomy inside. There is a large well-​stocked bar at one end and a small stage. We settle in one of the cozy tables for two.
What I failed to share with my carnivorous better half was that this place is entirely vegan! After a slight panic he went for his default — a burger. I ordered the haggis balls, mac n’ cheese and pulled pork tacos. Again ALL vegan!
The food came quickly and was great! David’s burger although not actually meat was hearty and tasty. My favourite thing was the pulled pork tacos which were actually made from Jack fruit, who’da thought it!
This place is great for an informal, relaxed bite and a brew. Oh and we got some free live folk music to boot! Happy days!
Cheers, Amy

Really not my type of place. Was in for a workmate’s leaving do (she’s an art student. I need say no more regarding the clientele. Hipsters! Just that word then) and it was pretty dull, pretty crap music, decent selection of beers and a nice cider, which was quite pricey. Plus, I’m really not a fan of vegan food. If ye wanna eat cheese and meat, eat cheese and meat. If ye don’t, eat veg and pulses. But the «substitute» stuff is… just wrong.

Has the lime tacos and mash and bangers. Food was good and the ambiance suits it. Good location and beer selection.
Would definitely come back.

This review is mainly about the food, not the bar/​club aspects.
The good: the pulled «pork» tacos, made from jackfruit, were surprisingly good, resembling meat in both texture and taste. The service was also good.
The bad: everything else. The burger was bad, the mad dog was bad, the sriracha cauliflower was terrible, mushy and cold with an awful sauce that tasted of ginger, and the fries tasted old, like they’d been put back in the fryer after sitting for a few hours. Don’t eat here. Let this place be a bar/​club!

The place is cool, the ambience is fantastic, the people who work here are beyond awesome and the drinks are cheap (ish) got unfortunately I think this hidden gem might be a bit too well hidden.
It takes a while to fill up, and even when it foes it’s still far from packed. That being said, its still pretty awesome. If you like hipster bars, come here.

Next stop on Clarissa’s tour of Glasgow: the Flying Duck!
I’ll admit when my trail guide for the evening said we were going here, and I saw that it was listed as a «club» on Unilocal,I was a bit hesitant at what I’d find. (I think American’s ideas of «club» and U.K. versions can end up pretty different!) However, when we did weave our way inside, what I found was just peachy!
The main room of the Flying Duck is a sprawling affair, cluttered with mismatched chairs and tables. The whole room is lined with quirky and funny paintings and signs. A table close to us was playing some intense games of Jenga, and the rest were socializing over food and drink. A small but perfunctory bar heads the room, complete with a string of small lights and more quirky signage to add to the dimly lit ambiance of the place. They had some decent specials going – gin and juice, some hot drinks like toddies and alcoholic coffees, and the like. Each for a couple of pounds… not bad!
As a vegetarian, I was chuffed to bits when not only was this place cute and quirky, but serve vegan food. Not only that: but CHEAP, good vegan food? Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit! I ended up ordering the veggie haggis burger, just ’cause, when in Rome and all. I’ll admit the burger itself was a bit dry, but that’s just kinda how veggie haggis goes in my experience. I think I’d’ve been set if the guy came with a side of something juicy, like mayo or gravy. The sweet potato wedges definitely stole the show: I’d sell my soul for a decent side of sweet potato fries, and these were nom-​tastic. Food: four stars all round, especially for that price!
I didn’t actually witness the more «club» activities of this place, which appear to take place in one of the larger back rooms – be it dancing or, as my partner in crime explained, life drawing classes. With the eclectic music that was blaring over the speakers inside though, I could see the Flying Duck turning into a place to have a good ol’ time in the later hours of the evening. That said, the Duck has an appeal for a wide variety of folk, and I’d definitely return if I was in the area again.

The Flying Duck is one of those places that when you discover it, you wished you had known about it before.
As soon as you go in, it looks like a friend’s house. There’s fake kitchen wall units and decorations to make it look like someone’s flat. It’s very cosy and you can play board games.
Through the back is where they hold club nights and groups.
The Flying Duck sells cheap vegan food and I love coming here for a bowl of vegan ice cream as I’m lactose intolerant.
The staff are so lovely and they put on a good pub quiz.

The Duck has been one of my regular hangouts over the last few years and I love the variety of events this quirky pub/​club offers: everything from your standard club nights to craft fairs and nude drawing sessions.
I’ve mainly been to the Duck for a few drinks and/​or one of the club nights. There’s a wide selection of music genres covered by the nights offered, some quite specialist so it’s generally a good idea to check what’s on in case it’s not your cup of tea. Common People is definitely my favourite, can’t help but love 4 hours of dancing to the 90s music of my yoof (and they’ll always play me some Divine Comedy!) And who could resist a place that offers free rounds of toast to revellers?
To add my love of the Flying Duck as a club I’ve also been to their Monday quiz night, hosted by Quizmaster Gary, a few times lately and had a fabulous time. It’s slightly off the wall with a few twists on the regular pub quiz format that include a drawing round and pub family fortunes. It seems to always be standing room only on Monday due to the popularity of the quiz, so I’d suggest arriving well ahead of the 9pm kick-​off. And if you need something to keep you occupied in the meantime you can make use of their retro gaming consoles or boardgames!
I’ve not tried the food as it’s a vegan menu and I’m a meat and/​or cheese addict but have heard good things from friends who have sampled their fayre. The choice of drinks is pretty decent, with plenty of cheap drinks promos, for those looking to save a few pennies, whilst also having a good range of quality beers for those of a more discerning taste. Having access to a range of Williams Bros beers always makes me happy. One caution on that front though, the wine is not the greatest so I’d recommend sticking to beer, cider or spirits.
I imagine the Flying Duck will remain one of my favourite hangouts in Glasgow for a long time to come.

I went along to The Flying Duck Monday night quiz the place was buzzing with excited quizzers. I like the quirkiness of the Duck the staff are always very friendly and give great service they have a good selection of draught and bottled beers. If alcohol is not your thing they will happily make you a you a cup of tea or coffee, and they also do some very nice Vegan Snacks.
I did not catch the name of the Quiz Master but he is very good, I think if you are a regular you will know about the Family Fortune round and the picture round was very cleverly put together, we came fourth to be fair there were a quite a number of us in the team and nobody objected.
The only downfall it is a Monday night, I will go back again as it was good fun.

I love this place.
Not the smell, which is sometimes covered over by food or perhaps incense. There is a moldy smell, at least near the bar, where we were.
But there are games, and people actually playing them.
There are weird little gems, like a pair of eyes at the top of a cabinet, with a sigh that reads «Eye see you,» and a faux fish tank with a diver and a shark suspended by wires.
We didn’t eat, so this is a bar-​only review. The drinks are basic, serviceable. The staff are almost too-​cool to pay customers any mind, but why do we like that? I don’t know. But the people… yes, the people here are cool. Maybe this is typical in glasgow, but I was enjoying watching the different groups, guessing what they were up to.
I’ll be back.

After my initial iffy experience of the place, I’m so glad I gave The Flying Duck another chance, because it’s now a firm favourite of mine.
I love that I can come here for beer and a board game in their homely kitchen bar during the day and the friendly staff provide some marvellous music to accompany an ambient afternoon.
The Flying Duck also hosts a lot of brilliant club nights including Freakbeats, a sixties and soul night and Common People, a nineties night, complete with nineties bingo and retro prizes. There’s always a plate of toast on the go at club nights, which adds to the warm and welcoming feel of the place along with the comfy couches and familiar old furniture.
They also do lovely vegan food during the day and it’s worth visiting on Taco Tuesday when you can get a tasty plate of tacos made with lentil chilli, alongside some fresh guacamole, salsa and nachos, all for only two quid!
The Flying Duck feels like the cosy flat of a friend, who welcomes you in for tea and toast, has an amazing record collection and loves a good booze and boogie.

Love the Duck!
Whether it’s for pre-​cinema food and coffee, drinks with friends, club nights, quizzes… I’ve never have a bad time in this place.
Cheap drink, tasty vegan food, laid-​back atmosphere, games, books, retro games consoles, free wi-​fi, excellent music policy. The list goes on and on.
We popped in last week before the cinema for a coffee and bite to eat. The soya lattes are seriously amazing. We ordered a burger, some wedges and a hot dog to share and enjoyed it all. The vegan hot dog came smothered in curry spice and sauce, the wedges with a chunky tomato relish and the burger was made from seitan (that’s a guess, but it certainly tasted like it). They do a plate of tacos for £2 on a Tuesday, beer and burger for £5 on a Wednesday and student discount.
I’ve been to loads of club nights in here, the music is always brilliant and the dance floor is usually packed with drunken, smiley, happy people. We went to the Lebowski night last year which was a quiz and after party complete with make-​shift bowling alley, competitions, vegan White Russians and other delights. Amazing!
I hope this place never closes down, one of Glasgow’s wee hidden gems.

I’m a huge fan of The Flying Duck, I love there quirky décor, there great prices, the food, the staff tend to be good banter and there Monday quiz is brilliant! It also lacks a signal which is helpful for not cheating at the quiz although there free wifi can be a problem!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad night out in The Flying Duck, even when it’s been a little more empty than expected. They run various entertainment nights and there a range of music. The «club» side can be an issue when bands and entertainers are on due to it’s layout and there a giant set of stairs to climb if you enter from this side, however we took my granny and her best friend last month after a night at the theatre and even they loved it so I reckon it’s defo 5 stars!

The excitement of finding that the white Russians for £2.50! And there’s a soya milk option: D there have been many occasions where i have been at a bar and they have white russians and don’t offer a vegan version. I’m not going to lie, I was excited. I also drank more than I probably should have but I feel no shame.
We celebrated the joy of finding the vegan White Russians with an evening of 90s music bingo. It got quite tense when it came down to 3 people at our table with 1 or 2 left. I won. This may be reflected in my rating. Winning things usually makes me like places more. And cocktails with soya milk… no I stand by my rating. Good job Flying Duck!

The Flying Duck is a venue I’ve frequented many times — sometimes with exceptionally bad dancing, others for a quiet drink. But every time I go here, I have a blast.
I visited on Saturday night for casual drinks leading into a bit more of a party atmosphere as the night went on. There’s always an interesting mix of people in the Duck and it generally has a relaxed, friendly vibe to it. I was having a few drinks and went for cans of Strongbow (don’t judge me) which are around £2.80. There are discounted prices for Sunday — Thursday but I wouldn’t exactly say the prices are steep on the weekend!
The main area is great for dancing with different levels and a bit of an odd layout (pillars to hide behind if you’re not a confident dancer!). On another visit here, they put on toast out in the main room which was free. After a few drinks, I think this is a really sweet touch that they don’t need to do, but shows they care about their slightly (or very) drunk punters who feel like some food.
I think The Flying Duck is a bit of a marmite (vegemite) venue — you’re going to like it, or you won’t. It’s not flashy, fancy or classy but it’s comfortable, welcoming and slightly dingy without being dirty. The toilets are always clean and appropriately stocked with toilet paper.
I can’t think of a venue I’d rather go to for some dancing &/​or drinking in Glasgow.

I shall declare my interest and state that I used to run a monthly club night in The Duck before retiring last March. It is kitted out inside like a flat and there is no other club venue in Glasgow like it, although it has spawned several pale imitators (Flat ⁰⁄₁ on Bath Street being the most obvious). The kitchen bar is a great option for an afternoon pint for students at Glasgow Caly/​Strathclyde. The club nights can admittedly be very hit and miss — some are really busy and some are dead. If you intend on coming to a night do a bit of research first — for example check if the party has a Facebook event page with attendees of at least 50+.

I hate nightclubs. Loathe them, in fact. What are they other than cramped boxes filled with the latest idiot anthems being pumped at a disturbing level towards the ears of a number of identical orange-​tinted 19 year old clones who wouldn’t look out of place on Geordie Shore and who are more interested in taking pictures of themselves in various ‘sexy’ poses on the dancefloor than, say, dancing or mucking around with their pals? Needless to say, as someone who isn’t orange (apart from one Halloween when I dressed as an Oompah Loompah), likes to talk to people and who would rather be repeatedly kicked in the shins than have a photo taken, I feel completely redundant in nightclubs.
And then I found the Flying Duck!
It’s split into two rooms, the main club area and the bar, both of which have a relaxed atmosphere and both of which have excellent music on the PA system. At what other club in 2012 can you hear Dexys Midnight Runners?! The bar is open alongside the club, so you don’t have to spend your night dancing: you can sit down and have a conversation. And play Monopoly if you like: there are plenty of board games for patrons to utilise if they so wish! Free stuff! Cool, thanks Duck! There’s also a microwave so you can heat up any food you bring in with you — brilliant! So, in case you can’t already tell, the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious which is just the ticket if you’re an uptight hater of clubbing/​other peole like I am.
The décor is brilliant, too — I never tire of looking at the picture of the galloping horse, upon which someone has pinned a speech bubble saying ‘MOO!’, nor will I stop giggling at whoever wrote ‘Rebecca’ above the sign for the ‘Loos’ (which are clean and have always worked — at last a drinking establishment with clean toilets! If that’s not a case for going ‘woo’, then I don’t know what is, so… WOO!). Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that keep you going, you know?
It’s quite a nice size, too, very cavernous and on the right side of cosy. It’s never stupidly busy and drinks aren’t too expensive. The Duck also holds open mic blues nights, life-​drawing classes etc during the week, so there’s a great variety of things going on down there if you don’t really fancy having a drink/​dance.
In short, it’s completely bloody brilliant and if you don’t go then you’re sincerely missing out on a decent experience!

Basically, the Flying Duck is a gem of a place.
It has two rooms: The kitchen Bar which feels like home with funny news articles, quirky décor, random bits of tat and even a fully laden clothes line suspend over the bar.
The mood in the bar is chilled, with nice mood lighting, good tunes and board games and books to use at your leisure should you want.
There’s even a microwave which you can use if you bring in your own food to eat!
The kitchen bar is open during club hours too, so if you don’t feel like dancing you can head on in to the kitchen and chill and/​or eat and/​or drink and/​or play some board games at 2am!
The club is just as unique. there’s parts of old furniture attached to the walls, lots of subtle nods to «The Big Lebowski» everywhere and lots of places to sit.
There is a big quirky bar with all the mod cons including that lovely vintage tv playing some obscure Japanese films, of course.
There’s a big no frills dance area, complete with a wardrobe in the middle of the floor to dance around. There’s not much in the way of flashy flashy lights, instead they have projections bouncing about the venue providing lighting changes and blasts from the pasts in the way of old footage and stuff. I’ve seen people stop dancing to reminisce at what they are seeing on the big projection screens.
There is a nice set of standard lamps around to supply extra lighting around the tabled ares too. There is space for fowk to dance and sit and mingle with out feeling like a club, even though it kinda is.
Friday and saturday nights see a good varied selection of club nights from 90’s themed ones with bingo to indie stuff to b-​sides to rawk to funk and everything in between.
Um
Did I mention you you get free toast?!
PS. Check out the toilets for years worth of funny graffiti, art and poetry!

The Flying Duck is undoubtably one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets. Situated across from Cineworld, at the top of Renfield Street, it is comfortably out of the way of all the delights (!) of Sauchiehall Street.
The staff are very friendly, the atmosphere is homely and laid back, the music is always fantastic and it hosts a great variety of nights including life drawing, quiz night, movie night as well as their super fun club nights.
It truly feels like a home away from home. I am happy to recommend the Duck to all of my visiting friends and will be a loyal punter for years to come /​forever!