ScottishNews.com

Over the last 12 years, Redmond’s of Dennistoun has earned its reputation as one of Glasgow’s best neighbourhood pubs. From its warm, inviting atmosphere to its extensive craft beer selection, vinyl menu and elevated food offering, the popular Duke Street watering hole - Glasgow’s first vinyl listening bar - is a pub that is proud of its neighbourhood connections. 

Named both Craft Beer Bar of the Year and Best Pub by punters and industry folk alike in the space of a year, and in the running for Best Pub for a second year at Glasgow Bartenders Ball 2026, Redmond’s co-owner Davy Kirkwood says being kept in the conversation is what he’s most proud of.

“It’s very nice to be characterised as one of Glasgow’s best neighbourhood pubs and considered in that bracket, we strive to be a very good neighbourhood pub. Every neighbourhood is different, we just want to be the best pub we possibly can be for Dennistoun. 

“We’re 12 and a half years in, so I’d like to think we’re doing something right. What makes a good pub and what makes a good bar, and the differences between a bar and a pub are questions that lots of folk in the industry ask themselves. It’s not just that you’re a pub that happens to be in a recognisable neighbourhood, if you’re a good neighbourhood pub you’ve got to engage with what the neighbourhood is, because it’s so important to have return customers.”

Davy highlighted that different pubs have different concerns, different customer bases and “go-back-ability” which, he believes, is a big part of what makes a good local. 

“I think why we’ve done pretty well over the years is because we’ve managed to split the focus between having lots of the classic traits of what makes a good old fashioned boozer, while still having some elevated details that you’d associate more with a bar rather than a pub”, added Davy.

“Because that’s quite an exciting combination you therefore become a venue that folk are aware of and are happy to make the visit across town to see you. But you’re also still embracing your locals who are coming back day in day out. I think that’s why we’ve managed to kick about as long as we have and hopefully have done quite a good job, because we’ve never lost sight of the importance of ticking all those boxes.

“Yes some people might come because we’ve got 2,500 vinyl, a vinyl menu and put good DJs on at the weekend, and they’re really into the music element of it or because of our elevated food offering of east Asian food and a Chicago hot dog - all that stuff’s cool.

“We’ve got Augustiner beer on draft, we’ve got Guinness, Beamish and Murphy’s. There’s lots of products and offerings that might make you want to come to Redmond’s, but if none of those things are of particular concern to you, then it is also a very warm, welcoming pub for everyone in Duke Street and the surrounding streets that sells a good pint of Tennent’s. 

“But you don’t need to engage with all those things to come to Redmond’s. We want to make many many reasons why you want to come to Redmond’s - a pub that’s proud of its neighbourhood connections, while also a pub that maybe could slot into any neighbourhood in any part of the country and still have that really appealing offering.”

Highlighting his top three go to old fashioned pubs in the city for a pint and a chilled vibe, Davy listed Heraghty’s Bar in Strathbungo, The Rose Reilly in Govanhill and The Ben Nevis in Finnieston. But on his day off Davy still stops for a pint and some friendly conversation at Redmond’s - an atmosphere he and his bar staff have worked hard to cultivate. 

“I live in Dennistoun and playfully say this quite a lot, if it’s my day off and I’m going for a pint I will drink in Redmond’s”, he said. 

“Myself and our staff have worked very hard to make this a bar that we’re really proud of. If I live in Dennistoun and I didn’t want to drink in this pub, I’d be doing something wrong. You want to be a bar where folk feel welcome as soon as they’re in and get people excited about how many cool things are on offer. 

“We’re really proud of the fact that from one year to the next, there will be a steady churn of customers, because Dennistoun is a pretty vibrant neighbourhood and, we have a high rate of retention. Folk who have a great first time at Redmond’s and they stay. They get talking to the bar staff, they get talking to the folk sitting at the bar, we get them to choose a vinyl, a cocktail or a pint of Guinness, or some craft beer. We generally do have a broad appeal and folk who drink in here want to stay which is something I’m very proud of.”

Davy says he enjoys the fact that Redmond’s is a pub that can’t easily be pigeon-holed. A mix of all the great qualities you’d find in a trendy bar and those from traditional boozer, the East End venue is often referred to as a craft beer pub or vinyl listening bar. Davy believes the broad appeal of Redmond’s is the fact it continues to offer something for everyone. 

He explained: “We’re a bit of a bar, we’re a bit of a pub. We very often get referred to as a craft beer bar for obvious reasons - we’ve got 150 in the fridge - but we’ve evolved over the last couple of years. The interest in IPA’s and sours has fallen off a wee bit, our biggest USP at the moment is we’re only one of three bars in Scotland and two bars in Glasgow that has Augustiner Helles from Munich on draft. We have a big focus on German and Belgian beers, three rotational wines and the Holy Trinity: Guinness, Beamish and Murphy’s. And I’m pretty sure we’re the only bar in Scotland that does both those things.

“Folk say we’re a vinyl listening bar, but we want folk to look through the vinyl. It’s on show because we want people to look and line something up. Yes we have Daft Punk and the Beastie Boys back catalogue and a Dub Step and Reggae section, but you want to put on Coldplay, put on Coldplay. Because as soon as we start thinking we’re better than Coldplay we’re just going in the wrong direction. You want folk to feel engaged, not really intimidated by how cool the place is.”

Davy added: “I enjoy the fact that it’s quite hard to pigeon-hole us, it feeds back in to the notion of you can be something for everyone as long as you don’t lean into any one thing too much.

“Drinking culture has changed for various different reasons, there definitely has been a bit of a drift. The younger generation aren’t drinking as much and also the focal point of the evening being consumption of alcohol isn’t as much as it used to be. I think the actual offering that the pub has got; the environment, the context, that all becomes a bit more pertinent.

“I also think there’s been a drift towards neighbourhoods. You start factoring in taxis to get up the road and folk like the idea they can have a few pints in a neighbourhood pub that they know and they feel comfy in, and then they can walk home. You’ve got to make it appealing for them to stay in their neighbourhood. And whether that’s choosing a vinyl or getting a really good Negroni or Old Fashioned, or just something a bit more interesting food-wise, just give them more reasons to want to stay in their neighbourhood.

“I think Glasgow is still doing really well and staying vibrant even if we’re all experiencing that same downturn. 

“It’s really nice that in quite a short period of time for entirely different reasons we were recognised as being a really good craft beer bar and a really good pub. You should never change what you do in pursuit of the awards, if you get the recognition great. Whether we win it or not we’re going to do nothing differently tomorrow.

“The most important thing is when they read out our name a lot of folk cheered, that’s what matters. Enough folk in the room have got enough respect and affection for your bar that they cheer. If you’re in the conversation that’s all you ever want to be.”

Redmond’s of Dennistoun, 304 Duke Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow G31 1RZ.