In these hipster end-times, naming your bar Hillhead Book Club would – depending on how you see things - appear pretentious at best and downright detestable at worst. The fixie bike-riding, artisanal bread-eating West End stereotype is now so universally derided that catering so specifically to them is almost asking for a bad-tempered Twitter storm to be unleashed on your business. It would be madness.
Luckily, the Book Club appeared on the scene six years ago, when being a hipster was still relatively cool. Its gramophone cocktail bowls (hi, We Want Plates campaigners) were quirky, its mismatched crockery and teacups cute. And its raucous BYOB launch party quickly became the stuff of legend – so much so that it became a yearly tradition that’s actually enjoyable, unlike all that Christmas stuff.
Four years on from opening, The Book Club is, without doubt, as wildly popular as it was when it appeared. Weekend nights here are rammed and DJs including Chicago deep house legend Felix da Housecat and shimmering, snaky beatmaker Floating Points have played at special bank holiday parties.
For all that the Southside is the “New West End,” there are still some things that Hillhead does better than anywhere else. The Book Club’s Vinicombe Street parties are always a bit wilder than Strathbungo’s annual Bungo in the Back Lanes. And this handsome, elegant building and its impressive interior has no comparison south of the Clyde. The West End might always teeter on the edge of becoming a parody of itself, but bars like the Book Club ensure that it remains the real deal.
Q: What activity is top of your Glasgow bucket list?
1. Lee Johnston, 24, Paisley, “Go to Firewater”
Duncan Logie, 21, California, “A pakora sub crawl”
2. Chloe Gardener, 22. Dumbarton, “Visiting the Science Centre”
Dan Cruickshank, 21, Partick, “A trip to the late-night Gregg’s”
3. Beatrice Infrano, 23, Maryhill, “Sunset from the top of the University”
Arianna Pedrazzoli, 25, West End, “Kayaking down the Clyde”
Daniele Bicelli, 26, West End, “Get sunburned in Scotland”
4. Finlay McFadzean, 23, Kelvindale, “Go on a Maryhill safari”
Martje Rave, 21, Kelvindale, “A swim in the Clyde and the resulting course of antibiotics”
5. Imogen Carmichael-Jack, 21, Milngavie, “Ride a unicorn down Sauchiehall Street”
Hugo Drummond, 22, West End, “Play the clarinet in the Sub Club”
6. Molly D’Aguirlar, 21, Glasgow
Favourite Club? Sub Club
Favourite Bar? Hillhead Book Club
Favourite DJ? Jackmaster
Favourite Band? Sister Sledge
First Club? Viper
What You Drinking? Rum and Coke
Describe Your Dancing? Pretty amazing.
7. James Lind, 19, City Centre, “Be in the Evening Times”
Tom Stephenson, 21, East End, “Play a gig and have my friends actually turn up”
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