Glasgow’s best venues with literary connections

Novelists James Kelman and William Mcllvaney have frequented what is now the oldest pub in Glasgow, The Scotia. Back in 1792, when it began life, sailors were the most common patrons. These days the bar runs an annual competition for short-story writers and performance poets, with the winner crowned as the Scotia Poet Laureate. It also plays host to regular writers’ meetups and serves hearty pub grub. Music is a big deal here too; Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty performed at The Scotia back in the 1960s.

Chinaski’s is a vibrant venue that straddles the West End and city centre, and can be found at the very end of the Finnieston strip. Superb for summer drinking (there’s a large heated terrace) and year-round partying, it offers great cocktails, bourbons and food late into the night. It’s named after cult hero writer Charles Bukowski, whose work was based around tough urban life in the mid-century USA. The bar features quotes from the short story novelist and poet, in the form of artwork, and a drinks menu, based in part, on his life (try a Cause and Effect, Great Escape or the New York Sour).

While named after the brewery, this drinking and dining spot in the East End joined forces with a top local writer to celebrate World Book Day in 2020. The result? A drink you can read! Drygate worked with author Chris Brookmyre to create the IPA. It features the first chapter of his chilling book Fallen Angel written on the can and was appropriately titled ‘Killer Twist’. The beverage has a 6% ABV, a grapefruit flavour and is hazy amber in colour topped with a creamy head. Inside it contains Cascade hops and toasty rye, while outside it displays some thrilling fiction. The skills of writing and brewing are both widespread across Scotland and with Drygate having a significant influence in the creation of Fallen Angel, this was an apt collaboration.

This unassuming little bar in the heart of Merchant City made an appearance in Denise Mina’s novel and television series, Field of Blood. But it was hosting famous names long before that, with Hollywood glitterati from both sides of the pond gracing its premises. Author and actor Tom Conti has also drunk here and the venue was used as a filming location for the TV programme Lip Service. A traditional Scottish boozer, it’s been family-owned and run for nearly a century now. It was originally named the Express Bar after the Scottish Daily Express whose HQ was in the building next door. Nowadays it’s a popular after-work haunt and place of literary pilgrimage for those in the know.

It may be more sports-oriented these days, but this was said to be named after a character from Walter Scott’s famous poem The Lady of The Lake. This seems a likely story, given the interior features a huge mural of the character, recognisable by his black beard and tache (Dhu means black in Gaelic). Published in the early 19th century, the poem depicts Rhoderick Dhu as the chief of the Clan Alpine, who was chased to the glens by the English.

From one famous poet to Scotland’s most famous bard. Rabbie Burns was said to have frequented what is now one of the city’s oldest pubs, on several occasions while visiting the west. In fact, in days gone by, the venue displayed one of the writer’s original works. William Wordsworth also took a room in the (then) inn, along with many other illustrious figures, as it was renowned to be one of the most elegant and spacious north of the border.