Is this the best pub for a pint in January?
REDMOND’S in Dennistoun wears the clothes of a Glasgow pub from a different era while being welcoming and innovative in its modern approach to hospitality.
“[ In winter], it’s a bar where you turn the lights down low and once people arrive, they want to stay a while,” says general manager David Kirkwood.
Time slows down, vinyl records play in the background, it’s somewhere to congregate, insulated from the outside world. Table service makes things easier, seats at the bar are prized by regulars.
It’s one of the best pubs in Glasgow to linger over a January pint. “The first week of the year is one of our busiest times,” David says.
“Folk are in the mindset where
they don’t want to go out and spend much money, but they will still meet their pals in the local pub.
“It’s dark, the weather is horrible but you can just about manage to walk down the road to sit with us.”
In terms of style of service, you will get what you expect from a pub that’s firmly established in the community.
David says: “There are always ways you can do things differently.
“We have a pub quiz that we are very committed to and open mic nights so there’s the familiar furniture of Glasgow hospitality but we make everyone feel comfortable and we keep updating what we do.
“Music is an important part of the atmosphere here and we have a regular record fair where people can pick up vinyl on Sundays.
We’ve also hosted jazz sessions with local musicians.”
Redmond’s opened eight and a half years ago when Dennistoun was attracting an influx of students, young professionals and creatives that led to new independent neighbourhood food and drink businesses establishing themselves on Duke Street.
What Redmond’s may lose in the summer to nearby bars which have outside seating, it regains in the winter with its established comfy experience based around craft beer, stouts and steamed bao buns.
“Japanese fried chicken is a big one on the menu at the moment,” David says. “We currently have a plant- based ramen, a Beyond Meat banh mi, bulgogi beef nachos and gochujang chicken nachos.
“We’ll keep going down the route of Southeast Asian soul food.”