Glasgow may get very little sun – but when the weather is screaming ‘taps aff’, you may as well be equiped to enjoy it.
While the West End may get all the praise for its fancy beer gardens, the southside is the unsung king of the outdoor pint – with even the smallest local pubs managing to cram in a few outdoor seats for punters looking for a pint in the sun.
This list brings together hip craft beer pubs with the classic locals to give you the best possible list for all tastes.
The Laurieston
The fanfare around The Laurieston’s pub garden announcement last August was certainly worth it. The pub was already one of Glasgow’s prized possessions – having remained virtually unchanged for over 60 years, remaining as a preserved model of what many believe is the ‘perfect pub.’
Now punters coming off the Bridge Street section of the city’s infamous Sub Crawl can enjoy an ice cold pint catching the rays in the pubs beer garden, running North to South along Bridge Street it is the perfect spot to enjoy the authentic pub culture of Glasgow while getting a tan.
Armstrong’s
Slightly off the beaten track, Armstrong’s really puts Mount Florida on the map for me – its bear garden is huge, equipped with deck chairs galore and an outdoor TV for sport, it is well worth the venture into a new area for many.
Stag and Thistle
Stag and Thistle has gone through many iterations and names over its existence, but one thing has remained – it has an incredibly cosy and classy beer garden – you’ll have to get there early though because it rapidly fills up on sunny days.
Even when it gets a bit cooler (or wetter), its fitted with a cover and some heaters that keep the vibes going well into the evening.
The Rum Shack
You can’t really go wrong blending a collection of over 100 expertly chosen rums, Caribbean vibes, and of course, a sizeable beer garden tucked out of the hustle and bustle of Pollokshaws Road round the back of The Rum Shack.
Brodies Bar and Kitchen
Situated just outside Queen’s Park, Brodies Bar can be seen with its beer garden jam packed on any day the weather hits 15 degrees. It has a huge range of taps that will be flowing with perfectly chilled beer and cider to quench the thirsts of all park goers, locals and everyone in between.
Its spacious beer garden combined with its location so close to Queen’s Park and right next to the main bus routes into Strathbungo and Shawlands, its an absolute staple of the southside’s beer garden game.
Eala Bhan
Another one away from the high street, Eala Bhan offers up perfect sun-sapping seating at the edge of Pollok Park, making it the perfect post-picnic or walk destination.
It offers great food options as well, meaning it could be the destination for a family day out, or if you prefer a post-walk pitstop it also has a healthy offering of coffees, cakes and brunch offerings (including cocktails for those more boozy brunch inclined).
The James Tassie
In its signature style, The James Tassie doesn’t do anything fancy with its beer garden – it opens the frontage of the pub, sets out some chairs, keeps it simple – and that’s why we love it. The incredible prices of the pints on offer just seal the deal for its beer garden – cheap and cheerful.
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Featured image via DavideAngelini / Shutterstock.
Southside Hidden Gems 