Merchant Pride

Like a tacky set from a school production of Queer As Folk

Venue Review by Philip Savage | 17 Mar 2006
Residing rather incongruously in the self-consciously stylish Merchant City, Merchant Pride is a brash, colourful bar that has to be seen to be believed. In fact, if ever you wanted a perfect example of the old adage 'it's so bad it's good', this is it. It's like a tacky set from a school production of Queer As Folk, with cheap-looking neon lights illuminating what seem to be tables stolen from a dinner hall. Throw in a soundtrack of truly soul-destroying hi-NRG cover versions and you have an atmosphere that can most charitably be described as 'unique'. It does deserve a little bit of credit: it's certainly an unpretentious venue, and with advertised live cabaret and even live jazz it shows a commendable desire to offer something a little different from other gay bars. These are but pebbles in an ocean of awfulness, however, and the fact that the bar was almost empty on a Friday evening suggests that this has a well-deserved reputation as a place to avoid. Go once to marvel at the horror, then never darken its doors again. [Philip Savage]
20 Candleriggs, Glasgow. Sun 12.30-midnight, Mon-Sat noon-midnight.