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Pot Still, Glasgow

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user reviews of the Pot Still, Glasgow

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

5 years on and I return to the same pub, on the way back from Still Game at the Hydro.

An absolute joy. There are signs throughout the city that say "people make Glasgow". Never is that more true that in here - lovely locals, very accommodating to the people that travel all over the world to sample the reputation.

Loved it.
Mappiman - 3 Oct 2019 13:33
The reviews below are still broadly accurate and relevant.

This pub is to single malt bottles what the Meenakshi Temple is to figurines. Incidentally, we were delighted to note that there were a few representatives of the sub-continent in, and they seemed to be feeling quite at home too.

The chef-de-bar is a quite solid gentleman, and he wore an apparently leather kilt when we called. (Those of a genteel disposition will avert their eyes, when he climbs the tall steps to retrieve a malt from among the myriad on display.) He has a ginger forked beard (though more Sven than the late Vivian Stanshall perhaps), and is on the case at once, if any known ne'er-do-well should try to cross the threshold.

There were also four ales on hand pumps from Alchemy. The Summer Pale Ale that I had was fine.

We also spotted that there was an English whisky on offer. Well, on show at least. The two bottles were still in their now-quite-faded boxes, apparently unopened.

It's great. Have nine-out-of-ten.
Hulots_hat - 15 Jun 2018 14:33
Charming old style pub famous for its whisky range. I don't drink spirits as they makes my brain hurt, but my pint of Red Skye (3.25, not seen before or since) was very nice. An amusement for me was watching a group of 20 something chaps tasting a large range of VERY expensive whiskies that a knowledgeable bar fellow fetched acrobatically from the highest shelves. I imagine there was an expensive puddle of vomit on the Hope Street footpath after their session.
Queenslander - 7 Sep 2016 22:43
Sort out, having seen that a) it was recommended and b) is on the way from Queen Street to the Hydro - where we were going for Still Game.

What a Gem of a pub. 666 different whiskies. I tried to work out how much stock that was but gave up confused.

Too early for the water of life, so had a very decent Guinness. Super pub.
Mappiman - 6 Oct 2014 20:55
Brilliant little pub that offers great beers and hospitality. A small but very reasonably priced range of food (I loved the Scotch pies) and more whisky than you could dream of tasting in a dozen visits. I must visit for me when I am next in Glasgow.
Essex_Bear - 18 Aug 2014 13:48
IPA @ £2.50. Lots of whiskies. Characterful pub. Well worth a visit.
ArhurPint - 15 Jun 2014 18:33
As previous posters have said, small two level pub with top quality ale, hundreds of whiskies & excellent service. What more could you want!
Wilson_MacDonald - 23 May 2014 22:01
Lovely little pub just off the city centre but worth finding. Four cask ales available -in good form-and over 600 whiskies according to the barman. Didn't notice any whiff from the loos but I just enjoyed the atmosphere and spent hours looking at the range of bottles behind the bar - most of which I had never heard of and I come from whisky country - somebody must be drinking them!
mcroyal - 20 May 2014 10:36
Great little boozer. I'm not one for whiskey but I know this is a fine place for it. The real ales have always been good on my visits. I once left a flat cap where I'd been sitting and only noticed a couple of hours later, I headed back in to look for it and the barman immediately recognised me and gave me my cap which they had looked after.
vicpark - 28 Mar 2014 13:30
Having read the reviews, I had high hopes of this pub on my first visit to Glasgow. Our hotel was only five minutes walk away, so we found it easily enough, but sadly upon entering the place, my wife was overcome by the smell from the toilets. We had to turn around and walk right out again. Sadly, I will therefore never know if this pub is as good as people say. Fortunately, we found another hostelry called The Merchant just around the corner. Not only did this place have several real ales from Loch Lomond Brewery, but they were on offer, and even cheaper than the local Wetherspoons. Needless to say this pub became the venue of choice during our visit. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an entry yet on BITE to post a review, but details can be found at themerchantglasgow followed by co followed by uk.
millstop - 10 Mar 2014 21:39
A decent traditional pub tucked away only a short distance from Central station. There's a massive selection of whiskeys and decent choice of 4 well kept cask ales. Well worth a visit.
alexw - 23 Jul 2013 14:06
On a sodden Wednesday night In Glasgow the Pot Still provided me with a perfect evening sampling a HUWGE selection if Whiskeys and local beers. The staff were both amazingly knowledgeable and very friendly as were the other drinkers. Well worth a visit If you are in Glasgow and fancy a proper Scottish 'Swally
bigmeuprudeboy - 22 Jul 2013 16:55
fairly samll city centre bar with a small raised area towards the rear. reasonable ale worth a visit.
anonymous - 18 Apr 2013 20:23
This is a cracking pub that has more of a bar feel to it.

Wooden flooring throughout, leather bench seats with stools opposite.

4 beers on the tap, all but 1 were Scottish beers. Mine was a very good pint from Harviestoun.

The range and selection of whiskies on display is mind blowing, there is also a good selection of German beers in the fridge along with other European lagers.

A really decent pub that definitely feels like a local and not a pub in a major city
lezford - 17 Apr 2013 12:19
Glad to see it busy! Never fails to hit the spot when in Glasgow, albeit making a hole in the bank balance...
meurglys_iv - 21 Oct 2012 21:13
Smashing wee pub with a great selection of booze.
Sebo - 20 May 2012 15:54
got to be the best pub in glasgow. 4 real ales, all locally sourced. very friendly staff who are passionate about the pub and the products they sell, only a few minutes walk from central station this has to be the destination bar for lovers of good beer and of course whiskey, where there are more than 300 to choose from.
loiner8 - 18 Apr 2012 15:53
Back in Glasgow yesterday and revisited the Pot Still. The new regime has restored everything that made this place so great - the whisky range is expanding and interesting, and the forthcoming beers list looked good. This has to be one of the greatest pubs in the city.
meurglys_iv - 21 Mar 2012 22:03
Just a wee note to let everyone know that the pub has changed hands on the 28th November 2011, and is now ran by myself and my family. I used to be the manager at the Pot Still until about 5 years ago, and more recently have been the brewer at the Clockwork Beer Company near Hampden Park, while the rest of the family also have a long experience in the trade. While I unfortunately won't be brewing my own beer at the Pot Still, we will be expanding the range of beers, but it will never get to the breadth of our whisky shelves, currently sitting about 300 different bottlings. We're now doing a simple menu for lining the stomach before assaulting the gantry, and we're open til midnight Monday through Sunday. Thanks for your time, hope to see you at the bar. Cheers, Frank Murphy.
FrankMurphy - 16 Feb 2012 14:21
Fantastic - Our visit was on a Sunday night and I found both the regulars near the bar, and the bar staff themselves to be very friendly.
The whiskeys on offer was outstanding, and when I asked for a choice of whiskey from Islay, the lady behind the bar was informative and certainly knew her stuff, allowing me to smell the contents before making my slightly expensive choice.
Real ale was also on offer, with a couple of beers from the locally brewed Kelburn Brewery.
Some of the other locals were a little 'feisty', but this all added to the unique atnosphere. - Good pub, give it a go.
SouthYorkshireman - 21 Sep 2011 21:28
During a very brief drinking session in the city centre we visited the Pot Still and it was by far the best pub of 3 that we found. (really hard to find pubs on spec). A couple of decent real ales that were well kept and a huge selection of malts, which according to my drinking buddy tasted excellent. (can't stand the stuff personally). Staff seemed good and attentive, the girl serving smiled, welcomed me and was polite. maybe the previous comment was acted on?? would go again but I don't tink I will be in Glasgow again for some time.
427scr - 9 Feb 2011 12:31
This a very nice looking pub - both inside and out. The beers are well-kept. There's a massive whisky selection. Loos are pretty good. All-in-all a very good pub.

HOWEVER, the staff are the one thing that really let the place down as they are not particularly welcoming (at least the ones working the afternoon shift 2/10/10). Get off your mobile phones (two members of staff - one texting and one talking on their phone even though there was a queue at the bar), make an effort to welcome the customers upon their arrival with at least a smile and not just stand there looking completely gormless, stop having expletive-strewn conversations amongst yourselves whilst serving and remember that the customers are the ones that you should be focussing your attentions on!!

To the management: 'Ave a word!! You've got a very good pub there. Don't let your staff screw it up for you.
littledrummerboy - 5 Oct 2010 16:13
The whisky is as extensive as ever, and the prices are still on the outrageous side. The beer last night was OK, but not as good as normal. Still, it was a quiet haven in a town otherwise mobbed by football-kit-wearing lads out to watch Scotland play Lichtenstein. A welcome oasis, as ever.
mhanley - 8 Sep 2010 16:20
Excellent city centre pub. Friendly knowledgeable staff, 3 well kept ales and their legendary range of whiskies. Not the cheapest but a really top example of what you want a city pub to be like
reynedd - 24 Aug 2010 00:56
Nice Scottish city pub with interesting interior and good beer - the Deuchar's was very tasty - and overall well worth a quick visit. Next time I will stay to enjoy the atmosphere a bit longer.
Stamfordian - 23 Jul 2010 11:13
Attractive pub, 166 malts (very highly priced!), hard to get the barmaid to stop texting and serve us, visited a few years ago and was impressed- this visit though I was very disappointed. (�4.25 per measure for Ardbeg 10? You are having a laugh)
Pour1Malt - 7 Jun 2010 10:35
lock up the barmaids!. Me and my mate are on a hogmanay invasion starting 28th December. You have been warned in the politest sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chiefknut - 26 Dec 2009 17:53
Have been frequenting the place on and off for the past 27 years - even when it was known as the Cask & Still. Paid a visit late yesterday afternoon for the first time for nearly a year. Two young barmen on duty - served efficiently and politely - they were replaced early evening by two very cheerful female staff who - an added bonus - served me Deuchars with a smile!

Background music played but not at all intrusive. All too often in Glasgow City Centre pubs the music is so loud you have to shout to converse, but not at the Pot Still. Place got busy soon after 17.00 when the offices turned out but still seating available and service did not wane.

Whisky tastings can be arranged upon notification - or so an interior sign says.

Believe food is only available at lunchtime.
aboukir - 17 Dec 2009 15:19
Wonderful pub in the city centre. Fantastic selection of single malt whiskies and also three real ale's on offer. Has retained some great decorative feature inside and is most welcoming. Quality place.
ICTGringo - 25 Oct 2009 21:01
"Branded" as one of the whisky bars of Glasgow ( a leaflet on the bar describes 6 of them ) this is a cracking little boozer. It is unpretentious, with a cozy atmosphere and some nice architectural features in the ceiling work and pillars etc. As befits its whisky bar tag there is an impressive display of the stuff behind the bar. But real ales are also served and I tried Kelburns carte blanche and dark moor:-brewed in Glasgow I believe and very nice.
On my first visit North of the border this place made me feel I had arrived in Scotland and Glasgow. Go there.
tarkatherotter - 28 Sep 2009 16:50
A chilled-out little oasis in the middle of the city. My favourite Glasgow pub.
ian_j_baker - 6 Jul 2009 20:09
Visited on a Wednesday evening in April - not many people in but I think this is a cracking little pub. 2 pumps had Deuchars which was rather silly but a third had Red Squirrel Scottish Ale which was very nice (but English brewed?) Good crack, good ale and a cosy boozer!
JBGatelad - 4 May 2009 15:51
Consistently good pub - even on my last visit where the only ale on offer was IPA! Pleasant atmosphere and friendly service. One of the best experiences in Glasgow.
meurglys_iv - 25 Apr 2009 11:57
Tried to sell us short measures, but after a �quiet word� produced a full � and rather delicious � pint of Phoenix Old Oak. This would be a lovely little pub if the barman was a bit more hospitable.
ETA - 10 Dec 2008 09:17
An excellent little city centre pub with three real ales (usually) and a vast array of malt whiskies. Highly recommended.
fromedrinker - 29 Apr 2008 13:14
this pub seemed to be very female friendly on my visit..if you like malt..youve come to the right place..reminds me of a few pubs in manchester..friendly service and chatter..if your a woman i would definitly reccommend this pub..beer was spot on..well worth the visit!
graybagsinburyonceagain - 9 Apr 2008 13:05
A city centre gem, offering excellent Scottish real ales as well as the main whisky attraction. Quite small, so getting a seat can be a struggle. Glad the glass ban has been averted - well done Glasgow.
mtaylor40 - 30 Aug 2006 22:44
What a jewel (and as ericmarco says, a bit of a hidden one). Fine beer, and more whisky than you can shake a stick at, served in some of the best whisky glasses ever to grace a bar.
shropspy - 1 Jun 2006 11:36
Looks good,beer good, barman friendly.....what more do you want.
Strange thing is i went in here with a local, and although I had been several times(I only visit Glasgow fortnightly)he had never been in. I think the fact he wanted to take me to All Bar One explains more about him than anything else!
ericmarco - 10 Jan 2006 17:12
Now then, now then, now then, where to start, well look up behind the bar. If you can't find a suitable wiskey as a habit you must drink Bushmills or Wild turkey and like it. Simply a stupendous gantry! Good heavy S&N beer as well. Wild life ?Well its Glasgow just resist getting drawn in.
Betty Ford - 10 Nov 2004 15:03
Over 300 malt whiskies to choose from plus real ale!
Steve Bramhill - 10 Oct 2004 22:18

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