• Added: 4th of March 2008
• Area: Dumbarton
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Dumbarton G82 1LF

colinji said
Cutty Sark
Bit of nostalgia here. I haven’t been in Dumbarton for over 20 years. I went to Keil School and when I left I swore I wouldn’t come back, wettest place in God’s creation. Anyway I used to board in Keil so when I travelled back from home, I’d either have a couple of pints here or at the Waverly Bar.
Anyway the old place looks at though it has had more than a few licks of paint since I was last there, but it’s still a wee bit shabby and oddly smaller than I remember. However that wasn’t what it was about in years gone by, it used to have great bands. In fact the last time I was there, Peter goes to Partick were playing, fantastic band, and I sloped off with a local lass. Got belted 6 on each hand for turning up at assembly, still gassed and covered in grass stains.
Oh happy days indeed.
Anyway the pub brought back loads of memories, the beer was good (real ale too), the chat lively and if I’m back there again soon, I’ll spend more time and get the train home.

• Added: 28th of October 2007
• Area: Motherwell
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Motherwell ML1 1TT

colinji said
Jack Daniel's Lounge
I had a giggle at Layclerk's review, it's not quite that bad. What I will say is that's it's a bit rough & ready, Layclerk may have a point about some of the punters.
I've went a few times as they have quite large poker nights. As the pot tend to be worth the effort you get quite a few travelling 40/50 miles to attend. The downside of this night is that I seem to be one of only a few who drink whilst playing, it's a bit too serious, where as I enjoy some crack during games. If you like poker then it's worth a visit but be aware, I've been 5 times and made it to the final table 3 times, on these 3 occasions I have found myself playing against 4/5 others and once I've been put out the rest have split the pot. It's not supposed to be a team game. If you go and get put out, don't be tempted to play £1/chip game, there are silly bets made here that are just inviting trouble.
All in all though if pokers your thing then you'll enjoy your night. It's not a pub I would attend socially.

• Added: 7th of August 2007
• Area: Dunkeld
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Dunkeld PH8 0HX
01350 727771

colinji said
A fine time
Dunkeld
If your ever in the Perth area and you want to spend a wee bit extra cash on a nice place to stay, this is the place. This is a superb hotel set in beautiful grounds with the Tay perhaps 100 meters from the hotel.
The fishing is good but even if it's a bit slow you can get service right down to the water. Fill yer boots! If your like me, you may take it a bit far and have one too many and fill yer waders as well.
If you like golf, there's a wee 9 hole course a couple of miles away.
There's a pool, sauna, steam room, massage, archery, shooting, quads and a tremendously well stocked bar. I even enjoy the walks there, which makes the excellent food all the better.
My wife and I got married in Dunkeld Cathedral, which is set at the entrance to the estate. Perhaps because of this I'm a wee bit bias.
The only downside is that it's no longer Stakis and is now a Hilton. This in itself shouldn't have caused problems, it's just made it a bit more expensive and the booking service cannot be called anything other than crap. I've cancelled plans to visit twice because I had to book through an international call service that didn't seem able to book the rooms I wanted at the time I wanted. Terrible service, hopefully they've scrapped it by now. Phone the hotel direct and hope they don't redirect you to the service.
If you want to spend a wee bit more, try the Duke & Duchess suites things that make you go mmmmm!

• Added: 6th of August 2007
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Aberdeen AB51 5NT
01467 621643

colinji said
Thainstone House Hotel
Nice looking old country house set in large grounds, about 10mins north of Aberdeen Airport.
The company I work for hold workshops here sometimes. Some of the rooms are superb but other are barely adequate, just be sure which one you get before going. Rates are slightly above average for the area but they do a lot of discounted stays. The food is really good, especially the breakfasts. The bar is a comfortable place for a few beers but quiet. The have a sauna, solarium, Jacuzzi, Turkish steam bath, pool, loads of places to cycle & a golf course nearby if that's your thing.
All in all I can think of a lot worse places to spend company time.
Recommended!

• Added: 15th of July 2007
• Area: Motherwell
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Motherwell ML1 3SG

colinji said
Moan doon the Eagle
The Eagle Inn
What a place! Not only is it next to the train shunting yard and Motherwell Bridge yard it's also right next to an estate called Forgewood.
Apparently when Forgewood was built, it really was the place to get a council flat, large rooms and large communal grassed play areas for the kids. Somehow over the years this changed from a nice place to live to a dumping ground for undesirables. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are a lot of nice people still there, it's just that the others overshadow them. I know how bad it is there I owned a flat there for about 10 years. Fortunately I've always work away so I've really only spent about a year there in total over the years. This is an area that you don't need a TV, just pull up a chair, open the curtains and there you have something like a scene out a mafia movie with boxes of goods being magicked away.
Anyway, so this is where a lot of the clientele come from. To be fair to the bar, the beer was good and the crack was fantastic, stories you wouldn't believe but were hysterical all the same and there was never any trouble. So if you're in the area, have a pint. It is one of those pubs that was originally a pub, it just has a real feel of being a man's pub'. It even still has the trough around the bar.
I was in by myself one day and I began to listen in a conversation 2 window cleaners, who were the worse for wear, were having. One was telling the other a story but laughing all the way through, an infectious laugh that had me going in no time. Whilst trying to wash the pigeon sh*t off one window he realised something was wrong, the sh*t was on the inside. The tenants had turned one of their rooms into a do dookit (pigeon loft).
Honest, it was funny at the time.
Salt of the earth! At the right time, a great bar for stories.

• Added: 12th of July 2007
• Area: Hamilton
• Category: Restaurants

Hamilton ML3 9AA

colinji said
Great ice cream
Peter Equi's is or was just an ice cream parlour but is now a fish & chip shop that sells ice cream. I'm not a fan of fish and chips but the ice cream is excellent. There are loads of different flavours and I've tried them all! Could have something to do with my weight problem
Apparently during the 2nd World War, Mr Equi would buy ingredients from the locals through their ration books to produce his ice cream. Mr Equi would constantly be fined by the authorities but such was the demand, the fine costs were negated.
If your passing, pop in and have some, even if it's raining and it will be because it's always raining at the Peacock Cross, the wettest place outside Dumbartonshire.
Enjoy, I do.

• Added: 12th of July 2007
• Area: Hamilton
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Hamilton ML3 9AA

colinji said
Harveys
Haven't been in here recently but Layclerk is right, a truly scary bar with 2 other scary bars within 100 meters in either directions. The Silver Tassie is one but it occasionally has bands that do tend to be entertaining.
My sister had a flat about 300 yards along the road from here, in the old Purdy building. The picture sums the Peacock Cross up just right, grubby, dreach & drap. It always seemed to be raining when I went to visit and all to frequently we'd all go for a pint in the Peacock Bar then to become Harveys. Quite a colourful collection of people who thankfully left me along because they new my brother-in-law, to be fair it wasn't that bad.
Drinking in here probably inspired David Livingstone to wander the world! However there always seemed to be a new species in the corner, next to the bandit with a vodka & Iron Brew clutched in claw.
About 30 yards down the road is Equi's, possibly the best ice cream in Scotland. Pass the pub and go for an ice cream.

• Added: 6th of July 2007
• Area: Motherwell
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Motherwell ML1 1JJ

colinji said
The Brandon Works
Haven't been in for a while and only really went in because it's across the road from my wife's work. My wife works for the Social Work department (alarm bell should be ringing).
Yes the carpets are sticky but the Fosters draft is fresh & cold. They have had Spitfire on occasions, great if you like a pint you can chew but it does knock you senseless.
It's actually not a bad place but during the day and early evening it is full of Social Work clients & staff. 2 social groups I'd rather stay clear of, my wife excluded.
Just incase she's reading.
Has she a membership here?
Am I already in trouble?!?
So if your passing and you fancy a pint you could do worse.
The 'To Let' sign is gone as that floor is now full of Social workers, who says they are all mad as hatters!

• Added: 14th of June 2007
• Area: Aberdeen
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Aberdeen AB11 5LY
01224 575972

colinji said
Best pint in the UK
A wee cosy pub near the train station, full of punters that after a full trip of graft want a fine pint or 7 before buying a few tins for the train.
Excellent staff who wear white pinnies as a uniform that does the place proud. Very clean and possibly the best pint I've had anywhere.
Come the trips between Christmas & New Year, the owner always makes a point of coming over to wish the boys well and offer a free dram.

• Added: 14th of June 2007
• Area: Hamilton
• Category: Restaurants

Hamilton ML3 6AS

colinji said
Great food
Great food! What more needs said.
2 things have changed recently here that has changed my opinion from 5 to 4 stars.
The happiest waiter I have ever encountered, has apparently ditched his wife & kids and run off with another woman back to Greece.
The 2nd, and this'll seem trivial to most people but every time I've been in lately they've had no buttered asparagus! Not normally a big fan but on top of the beef mignons, fantastic.
Not the cheapest place to eat but well worth the money.