Basement Bar

Although it is a relatively small place it was comfortable even for the 10 person group we had. Beer and cider prices are really good, not the cheapest I’ve seen but still really acceptable. The burger with drink deal is just excellent, the burger was neatly cooked with a nice side of chips and for £1 more (if I remember correctly) you can get a nice pint of cider and beer to go with the burger. At 9 pm on Friday there was a DJ, there was good music, not what I expected, but still good music. Staff are really nice and friendly, they helped us change seat several times (to fit everyone) and were very attentive when we approached the bar. I will definitely go back and could easily become a regular!

Went here once years ago but it still sticks in my head (or my heed as they say).
From what I remember, it’s a teeny dark place with little nooks to hang out, and it was packed. I tried to order a vodka+Coke and apparently my Chicago accent was a little too much for them as «vodka» did not come across clearly and took me over 4 times to say it. My friend ended up having to order for me, and I got a vodka+lemonade instead which is still a fabulous drink.
Good times, good memories. Thank you Basement Bar!

Cheap beer, but we felt a little lonely. The whole time we were there (about two hours) only one single other group came in. It is very dark and really does feel like you are in a basement, which could be a pro or a con depending on your opinion.

As Paul said, the Basement Bar is a total contrast to the style and attitude of Tennants. While the latter caters to a quieter crowd who fancy a sit down over a few ales, The Basement often plays host to local DJ’s and some studenty types.
As you descend the staircase into its dingy but cosy interior, you’ll see the walls are littered with gig posters. It’s an indication that the Basement is the kind of buzzing pub that makes a great start to a raucous night out. Once inside you can find large booths, a brooding atmosphere and cheap booze on the menu. The bar staff are really friendly, double Sailor Jerry’s are dangerously cheap (hooray!) and the tunes are always good. Sometimes an Ipod shuffle will be playing out universally appealing indie and hip hop anthems such as M.I.A and Santogold. On other nights, you might get house music and a banging DJ set.
Whatever the evening, I’ve always had a good time here. It’s thriving with students who are’nt merely looking for cheap thrills — they’re looking for a good pub playing good, diverse music. The Basement fits the bill nicely. It’s best experienced in the bleak midwinter, so you can disappear underground to escape the nippy temperatures. Awesome.

There’s not much more to add about this little trendy hidden venue. Paul has really nailed it. Honest pints, regular DJs and a long way off from the crowd upstairs in Tennents. Although the quiz master on a Monday at half8 is worth a see, his banter is mental.

The Basement Bar seems to be very popular with young people in the West End but I can’t really warm to it. I don’t like its low ceilings and dark lighting. A hurricane could be going on outside and you would be none the wiser hatched down in The Basement. I much prefer Tennents upstairs, as it is more roomy.
However, you can’t argue with the prices in what has to be one of the cheapest bars in Glasgow. A selection of drinks are available for under £2.
Local well regarded DJs often spin the decks in The Basement.

It’s hard to believe that a bar like the Basement exists underneath a bar like Tennent’s. While the latter attracts the polar opposite of a cool, youthful crowd most of the time, you will see skinny jeans, NHS-​prescription glasses and multi-​coloured hair in its dingier, more inconspicuous guise.
Of course that means it’s prone to the odd crowd of tossers, but generally speaking the Basement is a good option for a cheap night out in the West End and also offers the same menu and shares the same staff as upstairs.
Peppered with gig posters and hosting DJs most nights of the week, it’s definitely now geared towards a young student crowd (it was once the most well known gay bar in the West End), although the fact it opens at 7pm means it’s not an option for inbetween lecture sessions. Instead the Basement really comes alive on Friday and Saturday nights when it is generally rammed.
With low ceilings and not much space to start with, it can be a little unbearable at these times, which is a shame given it once exuded a real word of mouth feel ensuring it was always a good option for a seat and a quiet pint .
Nevertheless, while word spreading may mean it’s now not quite the place it was, it easily remains one of the better, more down-​to-​earth bars in this part of the city.

The Basement Bar on byres road is an ideal place to go for a pint. Next door to the traditional Tennent’s pub it’s a little more up to do date, cool lighting and music and not so crowded with the likes of the regulars upstairs.
Depending on your preferences or what kind of night you feel like having this little bar will accommodate it. A real breath of fresh air amongst some of the other watering holes along Byres Road, it fills the gap nicely between Ashton lane trendy and a regular pub.

An evening spent in the basement bar is always good. Whether they’ve got an acoustic performer, a dj or just the quiz, it’s a fun, friendly atmosphere.
It’s right underneath the Tennents bar on Byres road, so blink, and you might miss the steps leading down to it. Definitley for a younger crowd (compared to that of Tennents) it’s cosy and chilled.