The Hengler's Circus Visited

Photos

Local Area

First time in this one, which is a bit embarrassing given how local it is from Partick. The Hengler's Circus sits on Sauchiehall Street at Holland Street, the west end of the old shopping and entertainment stretch that runs up from town towards Charing Cross. Sauchiehall has been a mecca for a night out since the nineteenth century — theatres, skating, the Empire further down the road, the old ABC / Regal site that started life as a panorama and later hosted Hengler's Circus itself. The pub takes its name from that circus: Charles Hengler built a family empire of equestrian shows, and his son Albert's Sauchiehall home opened in December 1904 at what became 320–330, just along from here. It was one of the city's best-loved entertainment spots until cinema killed the trade and the circus shut in the mid-1920s. You're still slap in the middle of Glasgow's entertainment belt — King's Theatre round the corner on Bath Street, CCA and the art-school end of town a short walk — so the street mixes students, shoppers and office folk.

The Pub

Impressed. Proper city-centre Spoons on the ground floor of a big sandstone tenement, corner frontage onto Sauchiehall and Holland Street, outdoor seats behind the black canvas barriers. Inside there's a good strong selection of real ales and, according to the app menu, they were all on. Doom Bar was £2.65. Staff seemed really nice — Tuesday afternoon though, so quiet enough; I can imagine it gets quite busy at the weekend. Toilets are just round the side of the bar towards the back of the pub, no stairs, which is a result. Menu card had the usual Lavazza at £1.89, breakfast deals £4.39 and small plates 3 for £14.99.

Football Team

Nearest senior club that matters to me is Partick Thistle up at Firhill — Maryhill way, not far north of this end of Sauchiehall once you're over Charing Cross and up. Celtic Park and Ibrox are the other big Glasgow grounds, further out east and south. No football today, just an afternoon pint in town.

Travel

Out: jumped on the first First Bus number 2 into town from Partick. Home: plenty of choice of buses back out west — same corridor, no drama.

Beers

Isle of Skye IPA (Limited Batch), £2.49 a pint on the Monday–Wednesday real ale deal (the pump tag; offer doesn't apply on Scottish bank-holiday weeks). Really great pint — definite 5 out of 5 — just edging on the strong side. The Wetherspoon app had it at £2.69 and 5%, but the pump clip on the bar said 4.5% and the Mon–Wed tag was £2.49, so that's what I'm going with. Isle of Skye Brewing Co. (Leann An Eilein) has been brewing at the pier in Uig on Skye since 1995. Their first beer was Red Cuillin, still going as Skye Red. I've been up there myself — stayed a night at the campsite in Uig before getting the ferry over to the Isle of Harris, and drank some Skye Red right where it's brewed. The Isle of Skye bus leaves just down the road from here at Buchanan Street bus station. Isle of Skye IPA (Limited Batch) is a clean golden IPA hopped with rare Japanese Sorachi Ace — zesty citrus and lemongrass over biscuit and caramel malt, with a crisp finish. Pump clip said 4.5%. £2.49 a pint on the Mon–Wed real ale deal.