You’d have to go affair way to find a pub with better food and drink
The Dirty Duchess is a new pub on the scene but has a famous old story to tell.
It is named after Margaret Campbel l , the duchess of Argyll, who was involved in a scandalous divorce action in 1963.
She was accused of having affairs with more than 80 men after her husband, the duke, discovered headless nude photographs of her with a man.
Her list of lovers were said to include two government ministers and three members of the royal family.
Fifty- five years on, there is nothing outrageous going on inside the bar named after her, which perhaps is just as well.
But there is a nice mix of the old and the new at The Dirty Duchess, which opened earlier this year.
With a traditional Victorian oak gantry- style bar, the rest of the pub has a more laid back, modern feel.
One of t he ma i n attractions for Pub Spy is its proximity to the SECC, Armadillo and Hydro concert venues. It makes it an ideal hangout before and after gigs.
There is an excellent selection of 22 bottled, draught and canned beers, including the Catalan lager Moritz, and 14 mainly traditional cocktails, which drop in price to £ 4.50 on weekdays. Decent value. A small glass of the house white is £3.25.
As for the food, l ike the Duchess herself, there is lots to talk about. Mostly just how good it is.
The gin and tonic-battered fish goujons with a cucumber salsa and citrus mayo was billed as a starter but it was more like a main course – and delicious with it.
The pub’s home- made haggis scotch egg was a real treat, with haggis wrapped around a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk. The service was friendly and attentive, with the waitress happy to explain the history behind the pub’s name.
The Duchess of Argyll might have had quite a reputation but The Dirty Duchess certainly seems to be cleaning up with its customers.