Blackfriars of Bell Street image

Blackfriars of Bell Street

Bar Pub Bar and grill Gastropub Live music venue

Spacious and uncluttered bar serving imaginative European grub, with basement for comedy and jazz. People often mention good, beers, Great, great, staff, atmosphere, Good, friendly, selection, drinks,


Address

36 Bell St, Glasgow G1 1LG, United Kingdom

Website

www.blackfriarsglasgow.co.uk

Contact

+44 141 212 3320

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (1.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Thursday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Friday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Saturday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Sunday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Monday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Tuesday: 12 pm to 12 am

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (32) beers (18) Great (15) great (15) staff (15) atmosphere (15) Good (14) friendly (14) selection (12) drinks (11)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 John P. 5 years ago on Google
    Great pub. It was recommended by my workmate who is Scottish & lived in Glasgow. Good selection of real ales,nice food & really friendly vibe. I understand they have live entertainment & comedians in the evening. Shame they don't offer the discount on cask beers for Camra members! I will definitely be returning if I visit Glasgow again.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 thefirstcut 1 year ago on Google
    Traditional Scottish pub. Slightly more expensive than it’s neighbours and not as warm and inviting as it could be. Outside seating area a bonus and step free access for those less able. Pub quiz Tuesdays and pizzas provided by the well known locale Nonna Said
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Shaun G. 1 year ago on Google
    Good to see this place open again, and the beers are good. But the food… ordered a burger costing £13 and got cheap meat, those square cheese in plastic over the meat and cheap buns from Tesco. The food here used to be good, but this is really, really poor. Rotten. Stick to the beer.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Barry P. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice bar, busy without being crowded. Nice range of beers on tap. Particularly impressed they had a nice Wiessbier from Germany. Staff friendly and efficient.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ben B. 1 year ago on Google
    Had a 'few' drinks after work with colleagues. First time I've ever been here, even since it was previously open before COVID. Really good selection of draft drinks, including a great selection of Beavertown beers. Nice little seating area outside in a nice area of the city. Staff very helpful & friendly, decent enough toilets for a pub. Will definitely be back again, hopefully sooner rather than later!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Martin J. 1 year ago on Google
    The return of this merchant city ale House is welcome and it's good to see. Three ales on tap and a good selection of other lagers and ciders on tap too. Service was polite and prompt and the place was sparkling clean. Would like more ales on tap but understand why they may limit at this time
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrew D. 1 year ago on Google
    Great selection of beers with a few casks. Enormous burger, homemade and really tasty with great chips! Friendly and helpful staff. Well with a visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Anna 1 year ago on Google
    Was in yesterday for a drink with friends. Not the same place it used to be. Ladies toilets were pretty rank! No toilet paper and quite grubby. Won’t be back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Thomas A. 1 year ago on Google
    One room pub.5 hand pulls all on. beer good. friendly staff
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zadene S. 1 year ago on Google
    Stopped in for food while having a walk round Glasgow. Wow the bacon cheeseburger was to die for. Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Thank you 😊
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Vlad S. 10 months ago on Google
    We dropped by as a group after work here for drinks. The beers were fairly expensive at £7 for a Gamma Ray (normally less than £6 in most places). The pizzas however were the worst I've ever had in Glasgow. Bad ingredients, tasteless, expensive for what was being offered and served out of a cardboard box. Overall a totally unimpressive experience for a high cost so we won't be back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christopher B. 5 months ago on Google
    Great atmosphere, one of the better spots in the merchant city. Nice beers and some very nice gin. Staff were lovely. Good choice of vegan food
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 tony s. 1 year ago on Google
    It was a good place. Very busy but service was quick. It is a little bit cramped for space but when you have had a few drinks already it doesn't really matter to be fair. All in all still as good as it was back in the days.

  • 4/5 Bernie R. 4 years ago on Google
    Great time

  • 5/5 Brian P. 4 years ago on Google
    Great pub very efficient staff, a bit noisy for conversation, but it was the week before Xmas.

  • 4/5 Dave H. 4 years ago on Google
    Decent selection of beers - only popped in for one. Food I saw looked good.

  • 4/5 Ian G. 4 years ago on Google
    Alert bar staff and friendly

  • 5/5 Rotem S. 4 years ago on Google
    I came here with my dad and brother on the recommendation of our Tennents Brewery Tour Guide, and we loved it! We arrived just before the kitchen closed at 8:30pm, and my dad got nachos, my brother got haggis, and I got vegan chilli! We also got some fried pickles. Delicious! Our waitress was fantastic, service was great, food was yummy, nice atmosphere -- definitely recommended!

  • 2/5 Jessica W. 1 year ago on Google
    Really disappointing .. only a few draft beers were actually available. Ordered an apérol spritz which was terrible- 90% soda water.

  • 3/5 Sam N. 4 years ago on Google
    It's a decent enough bar in the merchant city with plenty of selection for beer etc. It's a standard pub and clean and tidy enough and tables for sitting. Good for a few beers and a chat.

  • 5/5 Kayla H. 4 years ago on Google
    Awesome atmosphere

  • 3/5 John M. 4 years ago on Google
    Pricey. GREAT band playing that night. Very poor view of stage in basement, couldnt even estimate the size of the band! Between 6 and 8 players....

  • 4/5 Erik van der M. 1 year ago on Google
    Good Pub! Food is not too good. A small “pie“ is just stewed meat with a dry puff pastry on top. Go here for beers! And the music is great!

  • 5/5 Lynsey F. 1 year ago on Google
    Hadn't been in here since it reopened and glad to say it's kept the essence of the old place but with a wee refresh 🐅👌 Participated in a Sunday roast - beef - which was delicious and very reasonably priced at £12.50pp. Generous portion of perfectly cooked beef, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, roasties and yorkie, gravy. Will be back soon to try out something else from the menu 😋 🙌

  • 4/5 Finlay M. 4 years ago on Google
    Good range of draft beers and some well handled cask ales

  • 5/5 Stephen P. 1 year ago on Google
    An old Glasgow pub in Renaissance. Recently reopened. The interior is an engaging admixture of modern and ancient. An agreeable choice of beers. The Chef is First Class.

  • 3/5 Dennis Smalley (King B. 1 year ago on Google
    Recently reopened. We had lentil soup served with toasted bread, which was excellent. My friend and i then shared pate & oatcakes and some brie and potato croquettes which had a strange flavour and not to our taste at all. The venue has retained its former dark interior " Mans Pub" ambiance. Our table had really badly mismatched chairs from one leather armless to a much lower school type wooden seat. Not the best refurb by far.

  • 4/5 david f. 1 year ago on Google
    Event we attended in the club was superb. Great bunch of people. Drinks a bit expensive but otherwise good

  • 5/5 Beaver S. 1 year ago on Google
    I had my son's 21st in the downstairs function suite last night. What a brilliant wee venue with an amazing atmosphere we had a fantastic night. The staff are all sooooo nice and friendly and Leon who coordinated everything is an absolute legend! The food was delicious as well, pizzas from Nonna Said and the most amazing wee chicken dippers and croquettes etc sooooo good. Thanks again will definitely be using this venue again x

  • 4/5 Beverley M. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice friendly welcoming knowledgeable bar staff. Good bustling atmosphere. Good selection of beers & rye whisky. Tried a new favourite Whistlepig. I'll definitely return & would recommend 👌

  • 5/5 Sharon J. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent night in a private party downstairs. Bar person was great, drinks ok prices, toilets clean, all good.

  • 2/5 Stephanie W. 10 months ago on Google
    Sadly despite being saved it has quickly gone down hill again. Nice selection of gins which is to be expected in here, but the food seems to be cooked off premises and the portion of spicy chips we got in a soggy cardboard box was also pretty pitiful in size. Won't be back which I am sad to say as I used to love it in here.

  • 5/5 Donna M. 10 months ago on Google
    Went this pub as we had tickets for an event in the basement. As we were there early, we had a couple of drinks in the bar and played some dominoes and connect 4. There is a great selection of games to play with and the staff were absolutely lovely. Will definitely be back

  • 4/5 Brian C. 8 months ago on Google
    Staff working hard on a Saturday . Very busy . Music could have been a bit lower as everyone was having to shout ., but it's a good pub with plenty of quiz nights and music and something on most nights . Did not try food

  • 4/5 Gary p. 5 months ago on Google
    At the Comedy Cabaret in the basement, a bit crushed in... Sardines basically... and the bar service was really slow, they needed an extra pair of hands, though if people took their glasses back to the bar that would help. Show was good, we'll still go back. Didn't eat there so can't rate the food.

  • 1/5 Anders M. 4 months ago on Google
    Staff is horrible (barman and "bouncer"). We got a couple of G&Ts that had sparkling water instead of tonic, we didn't even have time to complain about it, since they started to kick everybody out with the bouncer standing annoyingly close and with a*s face. Total scam, I'll never visit again.

  • 5/5 Zhan M. 7 months ago on Google
    We visited on a Saturday afternoon and ended up staying till closing time. We could sit outside which was lovely to enjoy the September sunshine. The reason we stayed was the great jazz band. They were super.

  • 5/5 Alan B. 7 months ago on Google
    Shared some afternoon drinks in a Cody corner. Busy enough to give you atmosphere but quiet enough to make conversation. Good service, value for money drinks.

  • 5/5 Nicholas R. 4 years ago on Google
    Staff are very friendly and welcoming, even though I only stopped for a quick one while waiting for the bus.

  • 5/5 Alexis M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great staff and great atmosphere

  • 5/5 Alexzander G. 4 years ago on Google
    Good food

  • 3/5 Stewart M. 4 years ago on Google
    Overpriced

  • 5/5 Andy M. 4 years ago on Google
    Marshmallow beer.... awesome

  • 5/5 Paul D. 4 years ago on Google
    Downstairs is a cracking wee venue.

  • 5/5 Brendan C. 4 years ago on Google
    Brilliant boozer

  • 4/5 caroline c. 4 years ago on Google
    Very busy and good atmosphere

  • 1/5 thomas m. 4 years ago on Google
    Staff not very friendly or not to many smiles from them

  • 5/5 Paul O. 3 years ago on Google
    What an amazing steak for a great price!

  • 4/5 joe d. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice friendly staff and no TV's or loud music

  • 4/5 Paul H. 5 years ago on Google
    Ace place for ales. Well kept beer and friendly staff makes this traditional pub a gem on the merchant city meander. Friendly, affordable and with decent pub grub and occasional live music it's thoroughly recommended.

  • 2/5 Andrew C. 4 years ago on Google
    One barman totally lacking any charm. Made it feel like their lack of staff was our fault. There are plenty of similar places nearby with nice welcoming staff.

  • 5/5 Marie R. 5 years ago on Google
    A wonderfully friendly pub in the centre of Glasgow. Good choice of drinks and a cosy atmosphere.

  • 5/5 Gordon W. 4 years ago on Google
    Friendly staff, great service and good selection of drinks. Recommended

  • 5/5 imouse1 5 years ago on Google
    Great food and great service. They also have gluten free bread and soup =) Thanks again!

  • 4/5 Angie 6 years ago on Google
    Delicious food and great service, highly recommend the food here. I would love to visit in the evening for the jazz music

  • 4/5 Xavier A. 4 years ago on Google
    Great food and decent drinks, a meal for 3 for under 45£, great value for money, also intending on going in for one of the 15£ for 2 burgers deals and will update my review with my verdict, but over all good atmosphere and a good evening out

  • 5/5 Doro W. 4 years ago on Google
    Great Scottish pub with excellent live music! On Monday nights you can learn to Lindy Hop dance too. Check out Glasgow Lindyhoppers on Facebook for more info!

  • 5/5 Allan B. 4 years ago on Google
    Great pub good selection of beers... friendly staff and customers...good mix of folk from 18 to 80.

  • 5/5 Jason W. 4 years ago on Google
    Cracking place.

  • 4/5 just m. 4 years ago on Google
    Food was good. Service was also good.

  • 5/5 guillaume a. 4 years ago on Google
    5 real ales on tap and decent pub food

  • 5/5 Tony D. 4 years ago on Google
    Good old-school pub in Merchant City. Always has a down-to-earth welcoming feel and has cask ales.

  • 5/5 Aaron P. 4 years ago on Google
    Great pub with good beer.

  • 4/5 Barry D. 4 years ago on Google
    Very friendly nice atmosphere ??

  • 5/5 Martin C. 4 years ago on Google
    Great bar. Great beer. Friendly staff and excellent food and drink. Love it.

  • 5/5 carad2008 4 years ago on Google
    Quality pub grub and excellent beers

  • 4/5 Stuart C. 4 years ago on Google
    It was a good bar, nice atmosphere, service was good despite being Hella busy. Had nice chats and laughs ??

  • 5/5 David P. 4 years ago on Google
    Real Ales, Craft beers, Continental Lager Beers, Scrumpy, good food cooked well. If your doing dry January, go somewhere else.

  • 4/5 Amanda S. 4 years ago on Google
    Traditional City Centre pub. Go, even if only for the experience.

  • 5/5 ELIZABETH F. 4 years ago on Google
    Good atmosphere and very good food

  • 4/5 S M. 4 years ago on Google
    My husband and i used to frequent this pub a long time ago, even at Xmas time when we knew that it would be absolutely packed. This time we only popped in for a quick drink to kill time before a meal reservation. It's not changed much apart from a fresh lick paint indoors, but why change a good thing... The real ale brigade drink here but that's not for us. Still, it's still a good pub with a great atmosphere (when busy). It was pretty quiet tonight (6/2/2020) but it was only 5pm. The service is good but the prices are a wee bit steep. £9 for a small white wine/pint of extra cold Guinness, but still we will return.

  • 5/5 Bill M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great value food and drink and great range of beers.

  • 5/5 phill h. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice pies

  • 4/5 M 4 years ago on Google
    Good old fashioned pub & no TVs to be seen just good real ale & pub grub. Will be one of our go to places when we're back in Glasgee?

  • 5/5 Danny F. 4 years ago on Google
    The best in Town


Call +44 141 212 3320 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Dancing
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Food at bar
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✗ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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