Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NIGHTLIFE
Glasgow has a thriving
contemporary music
community and hot new bands emerge practically every year. The liveliest
area for nightlife remains the
West End
, with students mixing with locals around Byres Road, as well as in the nearby
Woodlands and Kelvingrove districts. There is a clutch of venues city-wide, from the famous Barrowland ballroom to King
Tut's Wah Wah Hut, where you've got a good chance of catching a live act. Additionally, the city's
clubbing
scene is rated
among the best in the UK, attracting top DJs from around the world and also breeding a good deal of local talent.
Establishments are pretty mixed and an
underground scene
thrives, while some mega-clubs in this designer-label-
conscious city insist on
dress codes
. Opening hours hover between 11pm to 3am, though some stay open until 5am.
Cover charges
are variable: expect to pay around £5 during the week and up to £25 at the weekend. Drinks are usually
about thirty percent more expensive than in the pubs.
5
pounding nightclub underneath that attracts a gay and
gay-friendly crowd.
See website for events.
Sub Club
22 Jamaica St
T
0141 248 4600,
W
subclub
.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Near-legendary venue and base
for the noteworthy Optimo club night as well as Saturday
night's Subculture, this is the home for house and techno
lovers in the west of Scotland.
Tues-Sun 11pm-3am.
The Tunnel
84 Mitchell St
T
0141 204 1000,
W
unnelglasgow.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Contemporary
and progressive house music club with arty decor (dig the
gents' cascading waterfall walls) and fairly strict dress codes.
Daily 11pm-3am.
INFORMATION AND TICKETS
The List
W
list.co.uk.
For detailed listings
on what's on,
check out the comprehensive fortnightly magazine
The List
(£2.50), which also covers Edinburgh, or check out
W
theskinny.co.uk.
Tickets Scotland
239 Argyle St, under Central station's
platforms
T
0141 204 5151,
W
tickets-scotland.com.
Sells tickets for theatre productions and big concerts.
Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat 9am-6pm, Thurs 9am-7pm, Sun
noon-5pm.
CLUBS
The Arches
30 Midland St, off Jamaica St
T
0870/240
7528,
W
thearches.co.uk.
In converted arches under
Central station, the renowned club portion of this arts
venue offers house and techno music.
Daily
10pm-3am.
Buff Club
142 Bath Lane
T
0141 248 1777,
W
thebuffclub.com; map pp.188-189.
The playlist of
vintage disco, funk and northern soul here draws an
eclectic crowd of clubbers.
Daily
11pm-3am.
The Garage
490 Sauchiehall St
T
0141 332 1120,
W
garageglasgow.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Medium-
sized, indie-oriented student club that also hosts gigs
across the rock'n'roll spectrum.
Daily
11pm-3am.
Glasgow School of Art
167 Renfrew St
T
0141 332
0691,
W
heartschool.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Blissfully unadorned space for hipsters, with music that
includes some of the best hip-hop in town.
See website
for events.
O2 ABC
300 Sauchiehall St
T
0141 553 1638,
W
o2abcglasgow.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Also a live
music venue,
ABC
has become one of the hippest and
hottest clubs in the city centre with a focus on indie, classic
soul and even punk.
See website for events.
Oran Mor
Byres Rd, at Great Western Rd
T
0141 357
6200,
W
oran-mor.co.uk; map pp.184-185.
This
converted church offers the West End's classiest and most
enjoyable clubbing experience, as well as a great bar.
Thurs-Sat 11pm-3am.
Polo Lounge
84 Wilson St, off Glassford St
T
0141 553
1221,
T
pologlasgow.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Original
Victorian decor - marble tiles and open fires - and a
gentleman's club atmosphere upstairs, with a dark,
LIVE MUSIC VENUES
O2 ABC
300-330 Sauchiehall St
T
0141 332 2232,
W
02glasgow.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Opened in 2005
and more proof that Glasgow's a gig-hungry town, this
medium-sized hall offers an intimate setting in which to
see bands.
Barrowland
244 Gallowgate
T
0141 552 4601,
W
glasgow-barrowland.com; map pp.184-185.
Legendary East End ballroom that hosts some of the
sweatiest and best gigs you may ever encounter. With room
for a couple of thousand, it mostly books bands securely on
the rise, but still hosts some big-time acts who return to it as
their favourite venue in Scotland.
Carling Academy
121 Eglington St
T
0141 418 3000,
W
glasgow-academy.co.uk; map pp.184-185.
With
capacity for 2500, this is the city's principal mid-sized venue.
The Garage
490 Sauchiehall St
T
0141 332 1120,
W
garageglasgow.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Nightclub
which converts into a medium-sized venue for bands that
are just about to make it big.
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
272a St Vincent St
T
0141
221 5279,
W
kingtuts.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Famous
as the place where Oasis were discovered, and still with one
of the city's best live music programmes. Also has a good
bar with an excellent jukebox.
Nice'n'Sleazy
421 Sauchiehall St
T
0141 333 0900,
W
nicensleazy.com; map pp.188-189.
Alternative and
indie-oriented acts play most nights in the performance
space below this city-centre bar; don't be put off by the
name - this is a great small venue.
