Finnieston, Partick & the West End

Best time: Friday or Saturday from noon, or Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 2pm, when Grunting Growler opens. Reach Grunting Growler by about 8pm because it closes at 10pm. Avoid Mondays (Grunting Growler is closed). For trad music at the Ben Nevis, go on a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening and swap the order so you're there after 8pm. Opening hours change, so check each venue before you set off.

The stops

1. 

   The Bon Accord

   153 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DA

   Glasgow's original real-ale house, open since 1971, with up to ten cask lines and 400-plus whiskies, and pub food served daily from noon to 9pm. Open noon to midnight daily.

   Open in Google Maps

2. 

   The Ben Nevis

   1147 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB

   Small, fire-lit Finnieston bar with around 300 malt whiskies, a few good draught beers and cask ale, and traditional music sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 8pm. Named best bar in Glasgow at a 2026 city awards. Open noon to midnight (12.30pm Sunday).

   Open in Google Maps

3. 

   Grunting Growler

   51 Old Dumbarton Road, Glasgow G3 8RF

   Independent craft beer bottle shop and tap room with 300-plus beers, natural wines and ciders, six rotating taps (mostly KeyKeg), tasters before you buy, and growler fills to take away. Open 2–10pm Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, noon–10pm Friday and Saturday.

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4. 

   Three Judges

   141 Dumbarton Road, Partick, Glasgow G11 6PR

   Partick Cross corner pub that has served changing real ales from around the UK for more than 30 years: nine handpumps plus real cider, a famous chalkboard beer list, CAMRA awards on the walls and Sunday jazz. Open from 11am daily until 11pm or midnight.

   Open in Google Maps

5. 

   Inn Deep

   445 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 8HH

   Independent craft beer bar in the old railway arches below Great Western Road, right on the River Kelvin, with about 33 rotating taps, a big riverside beer garden, a seasonal Bridge Bar, and pizza from Sub Rosa's kitchen. Open noon to midnight Monday to Saturday, noon to 11pm Sunday.

   Open in Google Maps

Getting there: The Bon Accord is about 5 minutes' walk from Charing Cross station. Inn Deep is less than a minute from Kelvinbridge Subway, so getting home is easy.

Three Judges to Inn Deep (about 2 km, 25 minutes) is the long leg, via Byres Road and Gibson Street or along the Kelvin Walkway. Or take the Subway two stops from Kelvinhall (about 3 minutes from Three Judges) to Kelvinbridge.

Optional halfway stop on that leg: Brel (37–43 Ashton Lane), a Belgian beer bar with a big beer garden and firepits, is about 10 minutes from Three Judges.

The Subway closes early on Sundays, so check SPT's times if you plan to ride it home.

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