Oneills Merchant Sq Glasgow — Restaurant in Scotland

On Saturday just gone (11/2/2023) my friends and I went to O’Neils Merchant City to watch the 6 Nations as we commonly do, however, on this occasion we were royally let down by a pub we used to rely on for the best sporting atmosphere. We were told just moments before the Scotland-Wales game was to start that it was not to be played on the main screens as the manager dictated that the Celtic match was to be on instead (This complaint is nothing against Celtic or its fans and I believe they had a nice match), which was a gross misjudgement of the clientele in O’Neil’s. Anyone would have noticed the sea of red Welsh red jerseys and Blue Scottish rugby tops in the main room, with a few green stripes of Celtic in the small room and courtyard.

Dozens of rugby fans had to vacate tables they had been sitting at for many hours waiting for the Scotland-Wales match and had to cram into the back room, blocking access to the toilet and fire exits causing great discomfort and potential danger to all O’Neil’s patrons. At half-time, the projector in the small room was also switched to the football leaving only a medium TV showing the Six Nations. My group and I left after this and continued to watch the game in a friend's flat.

I was embarrassed on two fronts, one as I talked to a Welsh fan who had travelled with his friends from Wales to enjoy the usual welcoming atmosphere of Glasgow only to be cast into a small room, and my dad who had taken his afternoon out to join me and my friends after I greatly emphasised how good O’Neil’s is for the rugby. For the pub itself, I am confused, you brand yourself as a Six Nations pub, there is a giant inflatable rugby post at the door with official Guinness marketing around the establishment, and flags/bunting of the six nations coating the ceiling. I understand that conflicting sporting events can be a challenging choice to appease as many customers as possible, however, any other pub/bar would have noticed the sheer majority of patrons at that moment were there for the Scotland-Wales game because you market yourselves as a Six Nations Pub. Therefore, sadly, I can no longer recommend O’Neil’s Merchant City as it has misplaced my trust and made our city of Glasgow look...

Me and my partner have just left o'neills very disappointed.

Whilst at the bar my partner over heard a conversation with a woman and a bar staff member. She informed the member of bar staff that she had children and asked if they were OK to come into the pub. The reply from the barman was that yes they had permission- however, only if all adults purchased an adult meal from the menu. The lady walked out with her children and you lost custom. Apparently- according to your barstaff, this is company policy. If this is correct, that policy is ridiculous. It is also, correct me if I'm wrong- against the law. You don't ask every customer coming into the pub to buy a meal with their pint of Guiness do you? So why on earth should a mother have to buy an adult meal just to allow her children inside? To set the scene- this was 1 o'clock in the afternoon and the pub was quiet. I'd also like to point out that we are in a cost of living crisis, and to force anybody into buying something they don't need to is out of order.

I look forward to hearing...

Very dissapointed! I arranged to meet friends for celtic v Aberdeen cup final on saturday 28th may.My friend was already in Oneils when i arrived. There was a fairly long queue outside which I stood in for 30 mins.the door staff made an anouncement to about 40 people who were queued that no one else would be getting in until after the football! My friend was already inside and phoned me to say it wasnt full inside! Apparently the management had taken a booking for 100 people for 3 oclock! WHY make us wait 30 mins when you knew you had a booking for 100 people? My friend had spent £20 on a round of beers as he thought we would have been in soon! Bad management ! Cant blame the door staff they were polite and just passing on a message! i WONT be back in Oniels. I am a taxi driver in Glasgow and often point people from ouside the city to good eating and drinking places! I wont be recomending Oneills again ! I wouldnt mind if the place was full but to keep 40 people standing 30 mins in the rain when you knew you had booking for 100 people...