please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Good Beer Guide Regular and a perfect introduction to the City.
We were on a city walk and popped in on a Saturday afternoon. Full on orchestra of folk musicians and singers - with many tourists (ourselves included) soaking up the entertainment.
Single room downstairs - garden patio and I believe an upstairs restaurant.
Fyne Ales Jarl in perfect condition.
Worth seeking out. An original.
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Pricy for Glasgow I thought. £3.55 for a pint of Deuchars which was admittedly well kept. Lots of Glasgow pubs are cheaper £2.50 a pint of IPA in the Pot Still for example.
Might be good craic at the right time but I thought it was a bit average
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Good beer, but a bit trendy for me!
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It's Cup Final Saturday lunchtime and the pub is rammed but there is not one iota of hassle - in fact two sets of supporters were here for just one/two things - the beer and the food. The beer, Fyne Ales "Jarl" was indeed excellent and they also had a Harviestoun and a Deuchars beer on. Haggis,neeps and tatties were being downed like there was no tomorrow and the pub must have made a fortune! Despite it being so busy I didn't wait long for my beer as they had enough staff and even one person who just collected and washed glasses. This is a super little pub (with B&B as well) and it should not be missed. They often have ad hoc music sessions (accoustic) which are popular.
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My 2nd visit here and again it’s on a Friday lunchtime.
I loved this place on my 1st visit and I still feel the same after my 2nd.
Choice of 3 ales on tap of which my 2 pints of Jarl were excellent.
I decided to eat this time and ordered the Haggis, neaps and tatties…which was superb.
Good banter with the landlord, great beer, great food, interesting building…what more do you want from a pub.
Another 10/10 from me.
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Superb pub / restaurant in The Merchant City area. Tucked away down a side street this is a proper gem that I am sure real Glasgow drinkers are well aware off.
The Camra beer guide lead me here and I mightly glad it did.
Large house style pub with an courtyard smoking area to the side.
Nice modern feel but definitely not a 'gastro pub'.
3 ales on, all of which were Scottish, I had a pint of Ossian from The Inveralmond Brewery which even though was perfect is not a beer I would have again, no reflection on the pub though just a personal opinion.
Top quality establishment...honestly one of the best I have ever been in.
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Continues to be a fine establishment, with a judicious blend of beer range, food and atmosphere. The outdoor drinking area is welcome on the odd sunny visit, but this is a welcoming place for almost any occasion.
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The special beer on Thursday was Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted Ale, it's a fantastic taste and worth every penny!
The Deuchers was also in good fettle. I know that the prices are high but here we have the classic problem. What do we want? Do we want to see pubs closed down, or do we want to keep them open but pay a bit more? I'm sure that the landlord doesn't drive a Roller on the strength of his higher than average prices. His rates and rent in central Glasgow will not be cheap.
We stayed the night also. The food and accomodation were good. Accomodation elsewhere is much more expensive, so I suppose you gain on the rounabout what you lose on the swings.
We visited Blackfriars where there were 4 real ales available, but the lowest strength was 4.1. I find I can't enjoy a proper sesh on these strengths. Wetherspoons was OK but more like a supermarket than your friendly local store. None of the staff there have a moment to speak to their customers. Meanwhile back at the Babbity Bowster the staff are very friendly and look after most of your needs!
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A first visit for me, and I was greeted with and exchanged a bit of banter with a couple of the locals which made me feel immediately welcome. As GBGatelad mentions below, the ales are dispensed by the traditional Scottish air pressure method which allows the customer to observe the whole pint-pulling process and appears to be becoming very rare indeed - more's the pity. My choice was not cheap but in excellent condition. A clean and tidy pub, friendly staff and the warmth of an open fire meant I was reluctant to leave, but the Blackfriars was calling.....
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The real ales are on Air pressure (which is probably getting rarer these days) and are very well kept. But the pricing seems over the top! Nice touch - the photo memorial to the late George Jackson of Ossian who was a regular here.
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Always like going here. One of the few places with atmosphere even when quiet - best early on Sat. Sounds pricey now though!
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Nice bustling atmos last saturday night. A bunch of fiddlers were fiddling in the corner and we were enjoying them and the ales (which are real, just pumped up to the bar using electric or air). Started to get a bit too tight for space downstairs at about 8ish and so we headed off to the Blackfriar instead. Will try again if in Glasgow.
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Ridiculously over-priced! The beer was reasonably well-kept, but at �8 for two pints (one a lager) I can't recommend the place any more.
As to the "no hand pump" comments, I believe these are electrically-pumped real ale, so not keg.
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I walked in to the Babbity Bowser based on it's good reviews here. The atmosphere was good and reminiscent of a high ceilinged and airy continental bar. Then I got to the bar and saw a couple of local brews....on keg, with not a hand pump in sight. I turned round and walked straight back to Blackfriars.
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I visited a couple of times in April 2010.
Beers are on the pricey side, but this seems to deter the 'Neds' so that is no bad thing!
Service was friendly and efficient. The landlord is a great character and has some good stories.
Well worth a visit.
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a good old pub- nice fire- clean and tidy, 3 real ales. What hurts this pub is the very poor attitude of the barman. We were the only 2 people in the place and he could barely be pulled away from his paper to serve us.
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Enjoyed a return visit to the Babbity Bowster on Fri 23rd April. Was pleased to get a seat at 8pm for some food (fish pie was good) and a couple of well-kept pints from Scottish microbreweries. Whilst food prices were good value for money, be prepared to pay �3.35 a pint for the guest beers (slightly less for Deuchar's IPA) and over �4.50 for German imported lagers. That said, service was friendly and quick, the staff are nice enough and local and passing drinkers friendly.
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A pleasant enough place in the centre of Glasgow. Have always had a good pint here. The food looks good but have never had the time to try it. Beer is usually something local.
anonymous - 12 Jan 2010 16:58 |
Made a special effort to find this put as it was listed in the Good Beer Guide. Very disappointed. Two choices of real ale on the day - Caledonian Deuchars and Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted. Can get Deuchars in my local in Leeds. Went to this pub for something new to try. Can't knock the interior and furnishings.
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Spartanly decorated bar in the Merchant City, plain white walls with some interesting art work, mainly drawings and photos. Laminated floors in a decent refurbishment with a mix of seating that suits its drinking/eating mix. It is ever so slightly pretentious. Three old air pumps serving Deuchars, Kelburn and on my visit a guest from Houston, Peters Well a sweetish golden ale for the Scottish palate. A few students and lecturers the only customers on a quiet Monday night. Scots delicacy Cullen Skink is sold here.
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For me, this place feels more like a restaurant than a pub. Admittedly it was very quiet when I visited and there wasn't any music on. I did have a very decent pint of real ale (there was a choice of two when I visited) but I would have to visit again when it's busier to rate the atmosphere as it was dead when I went (around tea-time on a Saturday).
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Happy house. Good beer.
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Fantastic exterior to the place; a Georgian neo-classical style, with pediment and columned porch entrance. The interior is open plan, like a lot of bars around the area, but there was a nice beer patio outside, which we went to as it was very busy - so cant say much on the interior.
Service was functional, but as i said, the place was very busy. I didn't eat.
The beer was the usual stuff, with Inveralmond Ossian and Kelburn Misty Law - which was nice and the only place i saw it.
Next time i am in Glasgow i would visit here again, happily
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Went in there on Sunday morning for brunch. good selection of wines (way too much Heineken (no choice at Murrayfield) the day before), friendly staff, and good quality VFM food. Was recommeded it by a Blackfriar's regular!
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Usually reliable - three pricey beers, decent food. Added attraction is relatively secluded outdoor drinking area.
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A decent though grey pub that serves well handled but vastly overpriced real ale. Have been in when there is live music and enjoyed it though. Will save up pennies and go back again.
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IMHO, the best pub in Glasgow. The owner's brand of humour adds to the experience, the food is good value (one man's sensible portion is another's oversized gluttenous splodge) and the beer excellent.
I don't agree about the Blackfriars' being better - I prefer BB every time.
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Not a bad pub by any means but very expensive I thought. Paid �6.40 for 4 x 1/2 pts of Real Ale. Needless to say, we didn't stay for any more.
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Been here a couple of times. It's pleasant enough and very clean and tidy but it's not a pub I'd settle down for a few beers and feel comfortable in. The landlord seems a bit officious with his staff and likes his staff, and you, to know who's in charge. The beer was well kept and very good but the vibe wasn't for me.
chick - 26 Sep 2008 16:36 |
Had two good beers ,not sure if served quite conventionally but tasted good.Food portions rather small,and overall much prefer the Blackfriars around the corner.
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Had a choice of 2 real ales. Meals were good and reasonable. Scottish - French menu.
One of the few pubs in glasgow to have a beer garden.
Overall pretty good.
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mr brown your idea of shoddy is just the owners sense of humour
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lovely pub in a nice quiet street,,bit pricey for a beer brewed in glasgow but nice warm atmosphere which what also looked like good food comin fron the kitchen
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I went to the pub over a period of time and have to say this is possibly one of the worst pubs to spend you're time. The services are very shoddy and unprofessional. For instance the staff take ages to serve you of course when the pub is busy then that's justified. Also they are not even friendly.
The quality of the food is not what you might call satisfactory. It simply comes out of the microwave. I've tried out several dishes like haggis neeps and tatties or stovies. The latter is drowned in excess water and a sure one way ticket to the bathroom (that happened to me after eating one of them my first and last). Also it happened I have been served with very flat drinks.
The condition of the bathrooms has been unacceptable.
the people there seem to be a clique and especially on Saturday there is a big crowd of musicians and they take up a lot of space near the fireplace. The music can be very distracting for people who just want to have a quiet sociable drink or a conversation with their friends.
At all, for me this place seems to be run in a very unprofessional manner. There are surely better places to go and spend your day and money.
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Diefontainen-as an Englishman, who was new to the Scottish drink scene when I wrote the review I apologise for my faux pas! I am now completely aware of the reality(although I still stand by my observation that I've had better Peter's Well south of the border)!
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ERICMARCO
THE BEERS ARE REAL JUST SERVED IN THE TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH STYLE OF TALL FONTS USING AIR PRESSURE
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Went in at lunchtime and appeared quite soulless to me.The place looked like a well kept cafe bar..Not what I was expecting -and the beer wasn't great either.
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I take the point about the Babbity not being the most cosy or atmospheric of pubs; its decor does imply smart urban bistro rather than solid boozer, and although clean and tidy it can be somewhat anodine.
That said, their food is worth a punt, and moreover the ale selection is, usually, both varied and well-kept. I have to question the comment from ericmarco below which states that their ales are all keg; granted they are dispensed from fonts rather than handpumps which can be deceptive (especially to drinkers from England & Wales where ale is usually found off a handpump or off cask), but in Scotland real ale is frequently to be found being dispensed from taps either by means air pressure, gravity or more rarely, electric pump. All these methods can easily be mistaken for standard keg taps and drinkers should be careful to ask if in doubt. As far as I'm aware, the Babbity's beers are the real thing and are no worse from not being hand-pulled. The Peter's Well that I've sampled here was extremely sessionable.
Personally I think this is a classic Summer pub: one can get together with a group of mates, pitch up in the very pleasant beer garden (indeed a rarity in Glasgow) and while away the time in suitably mellow fashion. Try it next year and enjoy.
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The Babbity has appeared in pub and tourist guides for years and naturally is highly regarded. Yes, it�s smart , clean and thoroughly modern inside but to me, lacks the character which I expect in a pub and the cask beer range was down to just Deuchars on a recent visit. Fine if you want to eat Cullen Skink or Salmon & Coriander fishcakes. On the plus side, you don�t have to endure intrusive background music. Don�t let me put you off. You may love it and the area is short of decent pubs, apart from nearby Blackfriars (q.v.)
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I agree wholeheartedly with emcg. It is a nice relaxed sort of place, and has a beer garden-a rare thing in city centres and quite a bonus for the smokers given the ban in Scotland.
I went here with high hopes,expecting a decent well kept pint. Not a single real ale on, all keg. Even the excellent Peter's Well from the Houston brewery was on keg-a travesty that made the beer lose all it's flavour .
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dont take the comments of owner too seriously hes a wind up merchant, quality of beer very good
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Very smokey and very crowded - an OK bar but I have to say I am a bit mystified by all the accolades this place has received.
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The accolades this place has been getting appear to be going to their heads! The staff are superior, tetchy and sullen with absolutely no customer serrvice skills whatsoever. I used to frequent this pub regularly as workmates drank there but after a particularly rude encounter last night will not be doing so sgain. The setting and guest beers are however very nice but a smile wouldn't go amiss!!
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Great food and well kept beers together with friendly bar staff make this pub a joy to visit.
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Possibly the friendliest pub in Glasgow. Get there early during the summer months to ensure a prime spot in the beer garden (on of the few in Glasgow).
A - 11 Apr 2004 21:00 |
The Guardian Gastro Pub Guide published last week lists the Babbity Bowster amongst the best 150 pubs in Gt Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
As per my last posting, this is an accolade well deserved.
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A pleasant, friendly pub near the Blackfriars district of Glasgow. Usually at least one Scottish ale available here, and the place gets quite packed on Friday and Saturday nights.
I enjoyed Haggis, neaps and tatties here on Burns night a few years back.
The pub is often recommended by Camra's Good Beer Guide.
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