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Babbity Bowster – reviews, photos

16-18 Blackfriars Street, Glasgow G1 1PE, Scotland
Hotel amenities
Babbity Bowster
Ranked #63 of 112 hotels in Glasgow
4.0 of 5 stars 29 Reviews
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29 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    10
    14
    1
    1
    3
Date Rating
Glasgow
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“give it a miss”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 May 2010

A few olde guys playing second fiddle to each other , not in tune with each other and a flautist/penny whistler making a racket too is not my idea of music indeed it was complete cr**. The food selection is basic too and if you just want a coffee thats fine but don't expect a cake or biscuit.
I went to the toilet .... it was stinking , sorry.
If you like a nice rteal ale you're in luck there are some to choose from.
Oh and don't be surprised if some cravat wearing cretin eyes you up and down and miraculously looking down his nose at you at the same time . if you have a cravat wear it , you'll fit right in !

  • Stayed May 2010, travelled with friends
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Canada
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
“Good Basic Digs”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 September 2008
1
person found this review helpful

The rooms are basic and a good price for Glasgow. The staff were friendly and helpful, but be warned, some North Americans experience problems with their credit cards so have cash handy to pay.

The location is excellent, as long as you don't mind being above a bar at night. The food was good and we loved Fraser (the guy with the eye patch), he completely made our day and even offerred to loan us an umbrella while it was raining.

OK, the shower could use new curtains and some mildew remover, but you could tell they had been cleaned. All in all, we enjoyed our stay and it was exactlyw hat we were looking for.

  • Liked — Fraser
  • Disliked — Grungy shower
  • Stayed August 2008, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask WillowCanada about Babbity Bowster
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
scotland
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
78 helpful votes 78 helpful votes
“Hidden Gem in heart of Glasgow”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 June 2008
3
people found this review helpful

This real-ale pub is not usually listed as a hotel but it has several rooms on the top floor.
excellent location in the heart of glasgow and it even has limited free parking if you can negotiate around the tables in the beer garden!
there is a narrow staircase - no lift - to the small rooms.
We had to climb across the bed as there wasn't enough room to walk around it! However there was an en-suite bathroom, adequate enough.
Yes, the rooms are pokey, but not overpriced considering the great location and atmosphere.
this is a cosmopolitan, busy, but safe area, a short walk to many trendy bars and bistros that have mushroomed in the revitalised merchant city quarter.
Babbity's itself is a friendly bar serving good ales. Atmospheric and quirky.
The owners are a bit smug but not as bad as some. The bar closes around 11pm and guests are treated the same as other punters - drink up please, no lock-ins. However there is a night porter for those who return late.
Food is served but we ate elsewhere.
recommended for those who want a quick introduction to Glasgow cafe culture.
Safe for single ladies, but awkward stairs for disabled like me.

  • Liked — location and atmosphere
  • Disliked — cramped rooms, tired furnishings
  • Stayed May 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask scouser99 about Babbity Bowster
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Calgary
1 review
“We're your sense of adventure!”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 April 2008

My husband and I, hardy Canadians we are, stayed at the BB in August 2007 before we set out for the West Highland Way walk. We read about the BB in The Lonely Planet and couldn't resist the opportunity to stay in a place with such a curious name.
To our pleasant surprise, its architecture and exterior street appeal were extremely impressive and highly admired by locals. The interior dining room/pub was unique and well-worth the visit. The location, couldn't be better. The staff were young, informal, chatting and more than willing to help. Rooms were small, modest and clean. No frills. No CNN. Heh, if you want to be pampered, stay at the Hilton. If you have a sense of humour, and want a cozy spot to sleep, drink a pint and meet the locals, this is the spot.

  • Liked — The location. The architure.
  • Disliked — Rooms were simple, modest and very small.
  • Stayed August 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
    • 2 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
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SHIPLEY, ENGLAND
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Disappointing”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 June 2007

We stayed at Babbity Bowster for three nights, and chose it for the location and the fact that it serves real ale! However, we found the staff to be unwelcoming and unfriendly (totally unlike anywhere else we went in Glasgow).

We returned from a night out (before last orders has been called at the bar) and asked if we could order a coffee each - the bar person said we could not as the machine had just been cleaned out! She was also aware that we were residents - I feel this is just not good enough.

Great location, beautiful bar, great beer, average room, and well below average customer service. Would I stay here again? Maybe, simply because of the location and little else.

Stayed July 2006
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Additional Information about Babbity Bowster

  • Babbity Bowster Hotel Glasgow
  • Babbity Bowster Glasgow
Address: 16-18 Blackfriars Street, Glasgow G1 1PE, Scotland
Price range (per night):* INR3,957 - 6,966

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