A bar in Merchant City, Glasgow
The Bellman is a bar and restaurant in Merchant City, Glasgow. We do smashed burgers, pour Drygate from the taps, put live music on at the weekends, and show the football on screens across the venue. The wine list is short on purpose. The food menu isn't.
We're at 99 Hutcheson Street — the building that used to be BrewDog Merchant City. BrewDog Glasgow closed in early 2026. We took over the space and did something different with it: smaller menu, better ingredients, proper beer, live music most weekends, and a room that works whether you're in for a quick pint or settling in for the night.
If you're looking for a BrewDog alternative in Glasgow, this is it. Same address, different bar. We think it's a significant upgrade, but we would say that.
The Bellman sits in the G1 postcode, five minutes from Merchant Square, right in the middle of what's become one of the best strips in the city for eating and drinking. There are plenty of pubs in Glasgow G1. We'd like to think this is the one you'll come back to.
The food
Smashed patties. Mull cheddar. Drygate beer sauce. Loaded fries five ways. Pub plates — fish and chips, scotch pie, mac and cheese — done the way they should be done.
We hear a lot that these are the best burgers in Glasgow. That's for other people to say, not us. What we will say is that everything's made fresh, the Wagyu is worth every penny of its £30 price tag, and nobody's sent one back yet.
If you're after a burger restaurant in Glasgow city centre that gets straight to the point, you're in the right place. Pair it with a Drygate from the tap and you're sorted.
The drinks
Drygate on every tap. Pilsner, Gladeye IPA, Seven Peaks, and whatever seasonal they've got running. If you're looking for craft beer bars in Glasgow, a dedicated Drygate taproom in Merchant City is a decent place to start.
The wine list is short — about a dozen bottles, mostly natural and low-intervention, all ones we'd actually drink ourselves. There's a spirits selection too. We're a beer and wine place first.
Live music
The Bellman is one of Merchant City's live music venues — bands and solo acts most Fridays and Saturdays from around 9 PM. No cover charge, no minimum spend. The room sounds good, the crowd's up for it, and we book acts worth hearing. If you're looking for live music bars in Glasgow, check the lineup and just turn up. Grab a table if it's a big one.
What's On →
Sport
Big screens. Sound on. Premier League, Champions League, Scottish football, rugby, boxing — whatever's worth watching. A Drygate and loaded fries while the match is on. The Bellman is one of the better sports bars in Glasgow for it.
This Week's Fixtures →What people say
“Best burger I've had in Glasgow. The Wagyu is something else.”
— Jamie, Google
“Somewhere in Merchant City that doesn't try too hard. Great music on Saturday.”
— Lauren, Instagram
“Drygate on tap and loaded fries. That's the whole review.”
— Ross, Google
Venue hire
Looking for a venue for your birthday, hen do, work event, or Christmas party? We do venue hire for groups of up to 140. Semi-private areas for up to 60, or exclusive hire of the full venue with sound, screens, and food and drinks packages sorted. No fuss — just tell us what you need.