Dukes Bar with a difference

One year before The Clash’s final demise, Joe Strummer took the group on a frantic busking tour around the UK, starting in Nottingham in May of 1985. 

During that free tour, “venues” played included Nottingham’s Marks and Spencers, Leeds University, an underpass in Newcastle, Edinburgh Princes Street and the famous performance ‘I Fought the Law’ whilst being restrained by police at York Minster. 

However, it was right here in Glasgow that their nomadic month culminated, where the influential punk rockers took in seven separate venues. 

And one of those venues, Dukes Bar, has risen from the ashes of its former glory days to serve once again. 

They are, of course, hugely proud of their little place in musical history, with a bold monochrome plaque celebrating the date of their most famous patrons’ visit on the corner. 

In many ways, the new Dukes is a vast improvement on its former incarnations – as the Booshka vodka bar and Bar Transit, the space was not used particularly well and the site (a pub since 1877) seemed pokey and samey. 

But with a complete redesign, Dukes’ tall bay windows flood the bar with light during the day whilst steaming up round the stone fireplace on cosy winter nights. 

The railway carriage style booths at the back of the bar, complete with luggage racks, are an excellent hideaway for couples or smaller groups – although if you’re not a fan of the in vogue white rectangular tiles you probably won’t feel too comfortable here. 

The usual suspects are all available on tap, though unusually the Asahi Japanese lager is probably the best option. In tall, slim pint tumblers, the beer is super-crisp – nothing like the bold, full bodied lagers of Holland or Germany, but without being dull like American lagers. 

Definitely an interesting brew for the lager connoisseur. 

Dukes also boast a huge range of brandies and rums alongside some slightly more unusual spirits for the adventurous boozer, and the bar staff seem friendly and approachable enough if you need a recommendation. 

The cheery barman, Scott, informed me that Dukes would also begin serving food in the next few days, with one eye on improving trade during the day. 

With upmarket rivals like Brew Dog  – as well as slightly more downmarket options – very close by, Dukes’ food will need to be not only delicious, but also affordable if it wishes to remain competitive in the slow January/February market. 

So far, so good for Dukes, a new bar with huge potential. With a new menu on the way and music events lined up, this could be the kind of young bar to capture the imaginations of west enders in a big way – with or without Mick Jones and Joe Strummer.