Before we talk about the Glasgow nightlife, we must say that the legal age for drinking alcohol in Scotland (and the UK) is 18. This may be bad news for some but also good news to others! Also, a smoking ban has just recently been put into place in Scotland, so in all public places (e.g. pubs and clubs) you will not be allowed to smoke unless you go outside, so beware!! Most nightclubs stay open till around 3am.

Having 3 Universities and 11 Colleges, Glasgow MUST have a thriving nightlife in order to cater for the tens of thousands of students who need to spend their student loans on something. Whether it's Rock, Heavy Metal, R&B or "Cheesy Pop" that takes your fancy, you will be sure to find many places catering for your taste every night of the week. Sauchiehall Street (pronounced saw-kee-hall) is the main centre for pubs and clubs and is just as alive at night as it is during the day. Below, you will find a list of all the major nightclubs and pubs as well as reviews on each based on our own personal experience. Firstly, a note to all students. Remember!! If you are a student (from anywhere in the world), you really should take your student ID if planning to go out in Glasgow. It can go a VERY long way! All nightclubs will offer you entry discounts if you show them your card. This can be especially handy at the weekends when Club's entry prices can be quite high. Throughout the week (Monday to Thursday) most nights will be "student" nights, offering cheap deals on drinks and cheap entry.

Even if you are not a student, you could still be in for a discount. If you are sitting in a pub in Sauchiehall Street and you see someone walking around the tables handing out flyers, they will be promoting the club they work for. This means they will be loaded with free passes! They will also probably ask you where you are going so if you say somewhere else, other than the place they are promoting, they may persuade you to come to their place with a few free passes! If they don't, then you can always just ask them - they all get given a set number of passes which they HAVE to give out.

Secondly, we MUST add that when going out in Glasgow you always take a form of ID - a student card, driving license, European Identification Card or even your Passport, although we recommend you try to avoid taking your passport just in case it gets lost and then you're stuck in Scotland, which we wouldn't want, even knowing how much you will like it here! It's very common for "bouncers" to ask to see some form of identification before letting you enter a bar or club. Even if you don't look under 18 they will still ask you so don't be offended if they do - they are only doing their job! Also, seeing as Glasgow, at night, can be extremely busy, especially at the weekend, bouncers have to "limit" the number of people that can let in which means that they have a reputation for being a bit unfriendly and asking a lot of questions about where you have been previously and how much you have had to drink. This can be dealt with by simply saying "a few pints in the library"! - The Library being a pub and not an actual library of course.

Some of the more "expensive" clubs in Glasgow will look for a dress code, for example, a shirt and shoes so beware!

The Garage

Without doubt Glasgow's most popular night club, especially among students. Located towards the end of the shopping area of Sauchiehall Street, it is in the heart of Glasgow's nightlife centre. Being a predominantly student nightclub, though you don't have to be a student to get in, they offer cheap drinks and special promotions pretty much every night of the week. The Garage adopts the standard student discount on entry if you show your student ID when paying. The garage has two main floors - the main and biggest floor has 4 bars and generally plays a mixed list of mainstream music genres (anything from Sheryl Crow to Beyonce) and it is always good to know that requests can be made! The Attic located upstairs on the other hand plays mostly indie/rock music. If dancing isn't your thing on the other hand, there are many "chill-out" seating areas located around and away from the dance floors. If you are confident enough to try karaoke, then your confidence can take a "battering" at the small bar located just up the stairs from the main entrance. If you are lucky, The Garage's sister nightclub G2, joined to the back of The Garage may be opened up also to Garage customers giving host to a whole new set of bars, dance floors and music. Otherwise G2 remains a separate nightclub completely.

We must point out that The Garage has a reputation for having the some of the most "stingiest" or unfair bouncers in Glasgow. They will ask you many questions like where you have been and how much you have had to drink, so it is always a good idea to organise a common speech amongst your party before facing them. For example the aforementioned "library" story works well. If however you wish to boast about your ability to drink pints upon pints and not feel so much as an itch, now is NOT the best time to do it. 2 pints is a fairly safe number to mention, though there is no actual guarantee, 3 pints you are pushing it and 4 pints - "Sorry mate you've had too much to drink, not tonight." We don't recommend arguing either. It won't make any difference whatsoever.

One last point about The Garage, during the week it can be "as cheap as chips" but when the weekend comes around, prices can so much as triple. The Vodka and Coke you were paying £1 for on Tuesday, can now cost upwards of £3 so beware!

The Cathouse

Recently refurbished and still looking and sounding good. The Cathouse (or Cattie known by locals) is the place you want to be if your musical tastes are for the stronger, louder and body bouncing alternative music. Two bars over two floors, each floor playing different music. The Cathouse is quite a popular place for up and coming bands, and tribute bands to play, and at the weekend when there isn’t a gig the 2 floors are heaving. Open 5 nights a week, The Cattie doesn’t disappoint. Depending on the DJ’s mood on floor one you can usually hear a very interesting mix, from AC/DC’s classic If You Want Blood (You Got It) too cheesy classics such as Madonna’s Like A Prayer. Upstairs usually follows the same genre of music with the likes of Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails regulars. The cathouse will leave you with a strong high feeling, and you will feel the bass beat through you for hours to come. Located on Union Street near Central Station.

Polo Lounge

In the merchant city and just round from the Italian centre, sits the Polo Lounge. A well known gay pub/club. There are three parts to the polo lounge. The actual polo lounge which is open all day and at night too is the original building where you can have a drink and sit in an elaborately decorated period bar. Open some nights you can wander through the corridor and into Moda. Moda is a relaxed style cocktail bar where you can have a cosmo by the fire or a martini while looking out into the merchant city. At the weekends you can also go downstairs, where you will find another bar and the well known and always packed dance floor. The polo lounge is a very popular stopping place for the gay community in Glasgow, it’s next to the pub called Delmonica’s and round the corner from Bennets; a well known club. You can wander into Polo lounge on your way to Del’s or Bennets or you can stay in Polo lounge, between the lounge, the dance floor and Moda you will not have trouble finding something you like.

Strathclyde Student Union aka "The Union"

The biggest Student Union in the whole of the UK!! With 8 floors, rightly so... but beware! This establishment is rather exclusive to students. So if you are not one, you have to find someone who is so they can "sign" you in. This can also unfortunately apply to students who study outside of Glasgow, let alone students from outside the UK. Though getting in is still definitely worth a try. Once you are in however, Strathclyde Union will provide a whole night out in one building. The main area is The Barony bar located on the 1st floor. Here you will find a huge bar with dance floor (at night), big screen TV for football matches etc and is also home to many student "events" that take place - for example TFI Friday on Friday afternoons which involves a lot of cheap drink and strange activities - need we say more?

Upstairs from the Barony Bar we have the Dark Room, which is probably more suited to dancing than the Barony bar but a little less busy. Here you will find different music depending on what night of the week it is - e.g. Dance music or Rock/Indie music. The next floor up has to be one of the best in the building... if you like to play pool that is. The Games Room is a huge mix of normal British standard pool tables and American 9 ball tables as well as arcade machines and games consoles. With probably upwards of 30 pool tables in total, the room is packed but demand can be very high for a table so you may have to wait. In which case you can get a drink from the bar located in the middle of the floor and play some arcade games before a table becomes free.

The next floor houses a cafe as well as the Bubble Lounge. This bar is a great place to sit and chat to a backdrop of old 70's disco and RnB classics. Finally, on the top floor we have Vertigo. This floor can either open up as another dance floor or as a music venue where you can see many touring bands going round the Scottish Universities, as well as bands from the local scene.

All together "The Union" promises to be a good night out with a mix of everything all within one building, located on John Street within the Strathclyde University Campus. If in doubt, aim for George Square and walk down Great George Street and you can't miss it on your left.

The QMU (Queen Margaret Union) - Glasgow Student Union

In the heart of the Glasgow University Campus in the West End is where you will find the QMU, one of 2 unions for University of Glasgow. The QMU is most famous as a venue to see live bands. Such acts that have played here include Nirvana and Franz Ferdinand. The main stage area is a club and dance floor when there are no live acts playing and other rooms in the complex include a games room with pool tables and arcade machines, Jim's bar - a small friendly bar for sitting and chatting and a Cafe. Again, seeing as this is a student union, you will have to show your student ID at the door to get in. Non-students will have to find someone to "sign" them in. The QMU are not as limited as other unions so non-local students shouldn't have much problem getting in.

Asylum - Glasgow Caledonian University Student Union

The Student Union of Glasgow Caledonian University. Asylum's main area serves food and drink during the day and opens up at night to a dance floor and DJ with different music depending on what night you go. Asylum also has a "chill out" room which is quieter than the main room with its own bar and "comfy" chairs. Up the stairs is a games room with about 8 or 9 pool tables, big screen Juke-box and games machines. Up here during the day you can feast upon a fine selection of baguettes. Asylum can be fairly exclusive to its University's students, so, you may find yourself being prevented from entering unless you can find a local student to befriend you and sign you in.

Glasgow School of Art

The Glasgow School of Art student union is, as you can probably imagine, very arty. This definitely applies to its music as well. With a diverse range at the many bars here from hip-hop to drum and bass, the Art School is definitely going to surprise you. Cheap drinks, promos and guest DJ's pretty much all the time with student discounts if you show your ID at the door.

Walkabout

Located on Renfield Street near to the Cineworld Cinema and Buchanan Street Bus Station, Walkabout serves pub meals with a difference. Bearing in mind it is a pub with an Australian theme, we are sure you won't need to be told what's on the menu... but we will anyway. Yes, Kangaroo and Crocodile feature heavily amongst other lesser-known Australian delicacies. The traditional "Burger and Pint" is significantly featured at this establishment along with probably about 100 televisions to cover the huge floor. One interesting point about this venue is that they have taken the television theme to a whole new level by putting them in the "dunnies" too! The bar at Walkabout serves many exotic Aussie and Kiwi beers. Student Discount Available.

Solid Rock Café

Originally a regular haunt for the biking, gothic community in Glasgow. Changed slightly over the years to adapt and welcome others with arms wide open. Usually the place to start the night if you are heading to the Cathouse later. It’s just round the corner from the Cattie and most people in the Solid will end up in the cattie later on. Classics played all night, always of the rock variety, Guns n’ Roses and Van Halen perfect examples of the Solid’s playlist. Open during the day too, the solid serves up a pretty good bite to eat and a nice relaxed atmosphere for people to enjoy. You won’t be disappointed, you usually always meet interesting people in the solid, and most are very easy going.

Nice n' Sleazy's

A place that features highly amongst Glasgow live music venues. Downstairs you will see bands of all shapes and sizes most nights of the week where as upstairs you will find a friendly, atmospheric pub complete with pool table and great juke box. This is an indie/rock pub so some might like to hear that no RnB will be played here! Located in the heart of the "going out" district across the road from The Garage.

The Brunswick Cellars

This is definitely a pub with an atmosphere. As the name suggests, you walk down the stairs to a small and fairly cramped pub complete with fish tanks and "atmospheric" music. An ideal venue to chill-out with friends watching the "Extreme Sports" they have on the TV's!

Fury Murry's

A nightclub and live music venue split over two floors. You will normally find them playing indie/rock music which can be a welcome break from the RnB which is becoming so widespread in Glasgow at the moment. This venue also puts on many local bands. Located near St Enoch Square behind the St Enoch Centre near the River Clyde.

Waxy O' Connors

An Irish pub with a difference. Its huge with large fake trees in the middle of it! With many bars split across the bizarre layout of floors, Waxy's definitely has a unique atmosphere. Slightly more expensive than other pubs in Glasgow but an interesting place to have at least a few drinks in. This place falls into the category of requiring a dress code on the more busy nights of the week, e.g. Friday and Saturday, so dress nicely!