Times Square (48 St Enoch Square, G1 4DH. Tel. 0141 221 6579)

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs: 11am-10.45pm; Fri-Sat: 11am- 11.45pm; Sun: 12.30pm- 10.45pm.

Times Square is seen by many as the traditional starting point of the subcrawl for the non GU-student population of Glasgow (GU = Glasgow Yoony, one of three universities in Scotland's first city). Opposite the St Enoch Shopping Mall, it lies in one of the sandstone frontages so common of Glasgow (or 'No Mean City' as a dodgy 1970's writer once dubbed what we prefer to call the 'Dear Green Place'). Standard Glasgow 'safe' pub. Long bar with good selection of beers and spirits. The Calder's 70 shilling is definitely worth a try. They have recently got rid of the morass of posters which used to cover every square inch of the front walls, ceiling and windows. Looks much brighter and airier as a result. However they retain the array of clocks showing the time in the world's major cities: London, New York, Tokyo, Sydney and Coatbridge (we think). "Service with a snarl" we noted on a recent visit (but can't remember exactly why!).

There is an eatery at the back which we have never tried as this is always the first pub. Opens as above or when the bar staff can be bothered unlocking the door. 'Super Sub' (see FAQ page) starts and finishes at this pub, the so call 'closing the ring', but that's enough sexual innuendo!

Down Memory Lane - our correspondent Peter provides the following information on an earlier incarnation of Times Square: The older members of your group (or occasional guests) may recall the Times Square as 'The Square Peg' in the late 60s/early 70s. There was a small 'public' through the right hand entrance with a corridor leading to the expansive lounge bar at the rear. The left hand entrance was the 'cocktail' bar, frequented by, amongst many local heroes, Chick Murray & Kai Johannsen (Rangers player of that era - Ed.) on nights off from his own pub round the corner. It too connected with the rear lounge, so the whole establishment was a horseshoe arrangement with the shop unit between entrances. It was one of the first pubs in Glasgow to instal COLOUR t.v. and when the picture dissolved into multicoloured 'snow' every time an underground train rolled in only metres (yards in my day) away, yours truly was called on to regain normal service.( I was a tall bugger, so could reach the knob at the back of the telly. - No, not Peter Purvis). Ah, memories!

Well Peter, we're old but we're not that old!

Other pubs. Well there is one just across the square called Fat Boab's, but since TS is technically nearer, and we kind of like it, we've never found the need to venture therein. So, if our choice of pub isn't good enough for you, by all means try it. Go on, ya bampot, hop it!

We recently witnessed a protest rally against the deportation of asylum seekers taking place in the square outside the pub. We took a keen interest, principally because we spotted celebrated actor/director Peter Mullan there with a young girl we assume was his daughter. We managed to get a photo - of the back of his head.

For many years, the pub appeared to present two near-adjacent facades (separated by a tiny wee fast food joint), each complete with its own door. But only one of them led to the pub. Those attempting to get into the "wrong" pub became the butt of their companions' mirth, as the door remained resolutely shut. The rooms behind the second facade have finally reopened as Times Square 2, more a restaurant than a bar (in fact we think the back of this place opens directly into the dining area of TS1), but a nice place to grab some chow before you set off on a hard day's quaffing.

Otherwise, nothing really as it is a fairly boring pub. Just drink, stuff and socks.