Bank Street Bar & Kitchen

 

For the purpose of this blog, I will be visiting pubs and bars across Glasgow, specifically bars aimed at students like myself. The city has no shortage of student drinking hotspots, all with unique selling points and factors that differentiate themselves from their peers. The intention of this blog is to sample a number of these bars and give a review based on numerous variables that are important to an enjoyable drinking experience. These include the atmosphere, quality/choice of drinks, the aesthetic and importantly the price.

The first visit I made was at Bank Street Kitchen, located on the street of the same name in the West end of Glasgow, near Woodlands and just minutes from Great Western Road. The two floor bar has fairly basic décor yet has an interesting mural on its feature wall, displaying the highlights of Glasgow’s west end. Having visited many times, I already had a good idea of the Bank Street Experience.

One of the most noticeable things upon arrival is the demographic the service is being aimed at. The pub is dominated heavily by students, with almost every table being filled with those aged between 18-25. The reason for this young, student crowd can be accredited to the fairly low prices offered in Bank Street. A pint of Tennents for £4 in years past would not be deemed a bargain, however in the west end of the city- an area where prices do tend to be higher- this is actually a fair price in the current climate. This is where the location works in favour of Bank Street. Being located very near Glasgow University and in a densely populated student area along with providing a lower price point than most other competitors is a large reason that this place always seems to be packed, especially on a weekend, where you may struggle to get a seat.

The atmosphere, in my experience has always been great. A very busy and loud bar however very relaxed at the same time in the sense that most are dressed casually and often Bank Street seems to be used as a stepping stone on a night out rather than a final destination. The bar also provides a solid list of beers, wines, and cocktails (starting from £6.50) with nothing very extravagant however as this is not entirely necessary for the market they are targeting.

Overall, this was a lively and enjoyable experience. This is certainly somewhere I will visit again and somewhere I would recommend to other students in Glasgow. I look forward to comparing Bank Street to other similar bars in the area.