The Toby Jug — Restaurant in Scotland

Nice wee pub in an ideal location, right next to Central Station, its always busy as you can imagine, and its well known for 98p bottle of beers (usually Tuborg), amongst other drinks promos and also quite popular for its reasonably priced food, although the Girlfriend and I have yet to try the food. We don't frequent this pub as often now, as they changed their on tap Dark Fruit Cider from Strongbow to Magner, which just isn't as nice. However we did go here on Thursday Dec 12th for the football.

Generally have no problems in this pub, was served by a younger brunette bar maid probably around our age (28), ordered a pink gin & lemonade, which was served nicely in balloon glass with all the fruit garnishes and a pint of Heverlee, always a bonus when pub has premium lager on tap.

So when girlfriend and I had finished went back up to order and was served by an older brunette barmaid and I asked for a double pink gin this time and a bottle of Tuborg when she poured the gin she served me it in a pokey champagne style flute, bear in mind this is a double, so I said excuse can you put it in a bigger glass please, she said "Naw", I thought she was joking, so I said can I have it in a bigger glass please, she still said Naw, the big glasses are for the fancy gins, getting quite annoyed and on the verge of telling her stick it, I said that is a double can I have a bigger glass please as my last gin which was only a single and was served in a gin glass, she retorted who served you then put in double hi ball, eventually, but filled it up mixer to less than half way, and then I said could you fill it to the top, I never said please this time, so she had the cheek to retort "Please?" despite getting blunty told "Naw" by her the 3 times I politely requested a bigger glass, I never said please for lemonade I should have but I was starting get very mythed with her stinking attitude to a simple request. I work with customers as well, although in retail and not the food and drink industry, so I know customers can be pretty difficult or down right ignorant.

I was a customer making a reasonable request the only the reason to be told you can't a particular glass, should be if they dont have any left because they are all dirty, never had a problem any where else asking for a particular glass ie, long drink glass, craft beer glass, etc. If I want a double spirit and mixer in a pint glass thats my choice, as long as you aren't cheeky about the request, which I wasn't. Had we not been here to watch the football I would have told her just keep the drinks. If she had been a customer speaking like that to Bar man/woman, I would imagine she would get refused service, if i was the bar man, I'd certainly...

I previously gave The Toby Jug a 5 * review and it was my favourite pub for over 10 years, but after my last 2 visits (last night included), I probably won't be back. Last night, the music was so loud that they could have been reported to the HSE for breach of health & safety standards (for staff and customers).

No-one could hear to have a conversation. I went to the bar to ask them to please turn it down and some guy walked from the customer side of the bar and turned up the volume even higher. The volume was ridiculous.

They eventually turned off the speaker over our heads at the back of the pub, but it was still blaring everywhere else.

The music was far too loud on our last visit a few weeks ago too, so we have been going to Wetherspoons instead, but had decided to give the Toby Jug another chance last night. We were in a big group and it was so difficult to even hear the person next to you. Really ruined the night. I won't be back.

Plus Points

It is less than a minute's walk from Glasgow Central station. In the station pub, a glass of wine costs around £7. In the Toby Jug, a BOTTLE of house wine is just under £8.

You can get a pint of lager for less than £2. Those prices bang in the city centre cannot be beaten!

The Toby Jug has comfy seats, clean toilets, lots of TVs (for football) and lovely staff. There are seats outside for smokers.

As I said, I've changed my previous 5 star rating. Although the Toby Jug was a favourite for more than 10 years, I wouldn't go back now because the music is totally blaring, even on a week night. What's the point of going for a relaxing drink with your partner or friends if you can't even speak to each other...

Budget lunch at The Toby Jug

The Toby Jug is legendary...mainly due to the raucous beer garden and cheap drink deals on offer.  Is this the cheapest place for a pint in Glasgow?

We decided on having some lunch at The Toby Jug as...well ..let's give it a go.  It's near Glasgow Central Railway Station, not far from shopping on Buchanan Street and its right at the Hope Street bus gate so transport there isn't a problem.

We were tempted by the beer garden, however the promise of bus fumes didn't make that an enticing choice! So inside we went.

This is the rear of The Toby Jug which appears to be more of a dining area.  We were greeted by the scent of bleach....at least it was clean!

A couple of very non fizzy and tasteless diet cokes alongside our lunch which was steak pie and chips and macaroni cheese with garlic bread.

The steak pie was ok but bland with Watery gravy, the best bit was the pastry.  The vegetables seemed from frozen with that overcooked mushiness.  Chips were ok.

The pasta was overlooked, a good thick sauce however not cheesy enough.  The cheese was all in the topping.  The garlic bread was freshly cooked however the garlic was still in the field!

Verdict

Below average pub lunch.  If you are absolutely starving it might do.

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