Stepping inside The Belle from leafy Great Western Road, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d been transported out of Glasgow entirely. This is one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of a traditional country pub in the middle of the city: the coal fire roars, the floorboards creak, there’s a dog under every other table, and a pair of stag heads keep a watchful eye on proceedings. From the window seat, it’s possible to sit for hours and watch the West End go about its business outside.

It’s all very tasteful and shabbily refined – but there’s not much going on other than wholesome, convivial chatter on the quiet Saturday afternoon we drop in. After a few pints of Anchor Steam Beer – the pub’s choice draught – it becomes clear that our over-exuberant laughter is distracting the writer in the corner tapping on his MacBook.

I feel for my fellow wordsmith and we set off down the street towards Charing Cross, and the noisier, less genteel Hug and Pint where we can blend in better among the crowd – but not before doubling back on ourselves to visit Burger Meats Bun’s new western outpost, which is serving up some of the tastiest burgers around even after the rapid decline of that particular food craze.

The Belle is perhaps not a destination in and of itself – I’m not sure anyone who doesn’t stay locally would go out of their way to visit. But it’s a vital part of the cosy, village-y, community vibe that this area has, and for that we should cherish it.