The Sparkle Horse

The Sparkle Horse West End is a bar and restaurant situated at the crossroad of Byres and Dumbarton Road. Since its opening in December 2012, the venue has been a huge hit, thanks to its friendly, local atmosphere, affordable drinks and delicious pub food. Once the Dowanhill Pub, the bar is now a quirky, modern-decorated hang-out for all ages (including children and dogs). The black wall and red leather seat combo may sound daunting, but it actually works, and the gold horse statuettes that hold the menus are so popular, a few have been stolen by customers desperate to have a piece of the bar at home.

The menu keeps things simple with a good choice of main meals including Bavette steak, puy lentil and mushroom casserole and halloumi salad. There's a very popular regular £5 lunch time meal-deal. Beers on tap include West Brewery's St. Mungo's and Hefeweizen as well as Krusovice, with plenty more by the bottle in the fridges. They also serve a variety of wines and the genius cocktail Partick Swayze. There's plenty to do besides eating and drinking; Monday is quiz night, with cash prizes, and the bar is known to put on fun things like jewellery sales, discos for kids and DJ events.