BAR OF THE FRTNIGHT
IN ASSOCIATION WITH SAN MIGUEL
STEREO
12-14 Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow,
0141 576 5018. www.stereomono.info Mon-Fri Spm-midnight; Sat/Sun lpm—midnight.
Out on a limb from the West End, Stereo, like its sister bar Mono, combines a platform for local bands with a commitment to vegan pub grub. The smaller and darker of the two, it's utterly unique in Glasgow, packing in an easygoing crowd of punters who just want to hang out and hear tunes. Regular nights include rock’n'roll on the first Saturday of every month and hip hop on the last, with Thursday's Dub & Grub supplying a heady blend of dub reggae and world cuisine, with a main course for the exceptionally reasonable £3.50, and a starter costing just £1.
But Stereo is far from a crust-nest wallowing in vegetables and a sense of its own self-righteousness. A wide selection of bottled beers sits behind the menacingly dark wooden bar and the wisest arrive early and secure one of the coveted, smoky booths for sustained chat and chug sessions. Conversation elsewhere gets pitched at the level of hand gestures when the guitars crank up, but it all makes for a bustling, lively atmosphere, with few pretensions beyond healthy, GM-free sausages, as the daydreaming yet friendly bar staff serve a mix of students, would-be rock gods and mature hipsters. Food is available until 10.30pm every night and the bar’s dedication to live music makes it one of the city's top five venues for upcoming bands. Gigs can be arranged by emailing playinstereo@hotmail.com.
ENJOY YOURSELF AND DRINK RESPONSIBLY
I
CERVEZA DE PASION