EAT & DRINK | Student Guide IN ASSOCIATION WITH
BEST BARS & PUBS
Maud Sampson picks the top watering holes in Glasgow and Edinburgh e bank and Edinburgh that aren’t going to break the bank
L-R: Bar Soba, Bar Bloc, Bramble.
GLASGOW EDINBURGH
Sure, student union bars are cheap, but which are the best ones? Glasgow’s university campuses have some great spots for drinking in. The QMUnion Champions’ Bar shows endless live sport, with comfy sofas, pool tables and cheap beer. Jim’s Bar is where most of the union’s events take place, including gigs, comedy nights, quizzes and Friday night karaoke. Next to Glasgow Uni in the heart of the West End is Vodka Wodka which does cut-price cocktails and has a fun beer garden. And The Art School at Glasgow School of Art Students’ Association combines two world-class exhibition spaces with a café / bar that’s got a welcome student-priced menu.
Elsewhere, the newly refurbished Bar Bloc is an independent restaurant, bar and music venue, and a i rm local favourite. Check out its packed gig schedule and keep an eye out for free entry before midnight. At the legendary Nice’n’Sleazy, head upstairs to the bar and pick some tracks from the jukebox, or have a dance downstairs. And when it’s time for shots, Tingle Shooter Bar has an array of everything you can down in one, with prices starting from £1.50. Don’t forget about Flat 0/1 either: it bills itself as a recreation of ‘The Party Flat’ without the threat of noise complaints and police shutdowns. Take advantage of the cheap drinks, video games and food delivered by next door’s Lucky7 canteen. There’s even a double bed, so you can really make yourself feel at home.
110 THE LIST 18 Sep–16 Oct 2014
In the capital, Edinburgh College of Art’s Wee Red Bar is a gem among the city’s student union watering holes. As well as low-priced drinks, look out for upcoming club nights Jackhammer (techno), Mjölk (Swedish indie, see page 115) and longtime indie-kid favourites, The Egg. Edinburgh Uni’s Teviot – the oldest purpose-built student union in the world – is home to several bars. One that stands out is the Library Bar, with its book-lined shelves and snug sofas; plus you can get beer and a burger for £5.
Nearby, you’ll i nd Sandy Bell’s, a renowned folk music venue with live performances every evening (as well as a great whisky selection). On those welcome days when the sun makes an appearance, head to the Pear Tree House’s expansive and leafy beer garden. And on the other side of the Meadows, the Earl of Marchmont is a lively pub that does mean meal deals and delicious ale. For cocktails, the New Town has things sewn up: you might spend more than you’d like at swish 99 Hanover Street and cosy Bramble – both just a short walk from Princes Street – but you’ll be sampling drinks from some of the city’s best mixologists (the Edburgian at 99 Hanover is a particular favourite). Or pop over to Bar Soba, which has venues in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, for a delicious mix of cocktails and pan-Asian street food. As if that wasn’t enough, students get 2-for-1 on all main meals (Mon–Thu, and Fri until 5pm).