1,131 reviews
From
$30016-18 Blackfriars Street, Glasgow, G1 1PE, United Kingdom
1,131 reviews
1/16
Skiing
Free parking
Restaurant
Free wifi
Bar
Parking On Site
Mini golf
Terrace
Babbity Bowsters is a 3-star hotel in Glasgow, United Kingdom, located about 0.7mi from the city center. The address is 16-18 Blackfriars Street, placing guests in easy reach of downtown attractions while keeping a welcoming, homely feel. Breakfast is offered to start each day with a smile.
Featured amenities add a mix of comfort and fun: skiing, free parking, an on-site restaurant and bar, complimentary wifi, and on-site parking. A terrace, 24-hour front desk, non-smoking rooms, and free kids' meals contribute to convenience for families, while mini golf brings playful downtime.
With 1131 reviews, travelers have shared a wide range of impressions about the stay.
Dining and leisure are easy to mix, thanks to an on-site restaurant (Restaurant #1) and a welcoming bar. A terrace provides fresh-air moments, while families can take advantage of free kids’ meals. The 24-hour front desk is handy for late plans, and a round of mini golf adds a playful touch; non-smoking rooms help keep things comfortable for every guest.
Room options span a range from a Double Room with Private Bathroom for two to more spacious configurations. The Standard Twin accommodates up to 4 adults and 3 children, and the Standard Room offers the same generous capacity. Other choices include Modern and Modern Ensuite, Single rooms, plus various Twin and Double layouts.
Payment is simple: cash is accepted, along with Mastercard, Visa, and JCB. With about 1,100 reviews, travelers have shared a wide range of impressions, reflecting a lively mix of experiences.
Closest airports
Glasgow Airport
7.4miPrestwick Airport
27.6miEdinburgh Airport
34.3miSkiing
Free parking
Restaurant
Free wifi
Bar
Parking On Site
Mini golf
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Non-smoking rooms
Kids' meals
Double Room, Single Use, Private Bathroom
1 Double Bed
160 sqft
Private Bathroom
Flat-screen TV
Tea/Coffee maker
More details
Room - 2 Twin, Single Use
2 Twin Beds
160 sqft
Private Bathroom
Flat-screen TV
Tea/Coffee maker
More details
Show 4 photos
Room - 2 Bed
Free wifi
Flat-screen TV
Tea/Coffee maker
+
More details
Show 3 photos
Modern
Free wifi
Flat-screen TV
Tea/Coffee maker
+
More details
Single Room
1 Twin Bed
140 sqft
Private Bathroom
Flat-screen TV
Tea/Coffee maker
More details
Standard, Twin
1 Twin Bed
x4
+
x3
More details
Ensuite, Twin
1 Twin Bed
More details
Twin Room
1 Twin Bed
More details
Double Room, Private Bathroom
Private Bathroom
More details
Room Selected at Check in
More details
Modern Ensuite, Single
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Ensuite Double Room
More details
9
1,131 reviewsCategories of assessments
Cleanliness
Comfort
Location
Facilities
Staff
Value for money
WiFi quality
Breakfast
Featured reviews:
Andrea
9.1
June 2025
The staff were wonderful, very congenial, helpful and a pleasure to talk to! One of them lugged our heavy bags up 3 flights of stairs!! Loved the pub atmosphere, sitting there in the evening only to walk upstairs after a cocktail two was perfect. The large deck is a plus! The breakfast was a nice continental with fabulous fresh fruit and pastries. There was bottled water (in glass not plastic, thank you) and coffee in the room which was very convenient. The location was ideal for walking to the center of market square. The windows open, so opportunity for fresh air at night! Even though this is a pub it was very quiet.
The room was a small with little room to navigate around the bed and therefore had minimal space (a few small drawers) to put away our luggage and clothes. However, we were traveling for a month and had 3 cases. Not unusual and not a problem for us, but there is no lift, so you will have to carry your luggage up/down stairs. Although, as previously mentioned the staff were eager to help with this. If you like firm beds you should sleep comfortably, I prefer them a bit softer, so a negative for me but maybe not you?
Margaux
10
March 2025
Absolutely loved my stay. Room was extra cozy and comfortable, with a smart TV and modern bathroom. While there’s a pub downstairs that can get quite busy, there was absolutely no noise in the room. Continental breakfast is simple but has all the necessities (cereals, coffee/tea, fruits, yogurts, toasts, pastries, juices...). The food is also fantastic! Highly recommend the steak pie. The staff is also very nice and engaging, even brought an infusion to my room when I asked them if they had any! Location is also great, minutes away from the center, and easily walkable while being on a quiet street. The only con would be that there are three flights of stairs so not accessible, but it wasn't a problem for me.
Silvia
9.1
November 2024
We spent a long weekend at Babbity Bowster. The rooms are clean, silent, lovely and well equipped. Even if they are a bit small, there is everything you need. The staff is kind and always available for a chat, a beer and a snack also late in the night coming back from a concert. Breakfast is good with fresh fruit and yogurt as well while if you desire, you could taste the "cooked" one, however we were not so brave but it seemed appetizing. We had also a dinner, very good, delicious main courses and appealing starters. It is not so rare having the chance to listen to good music either violinists or a jazz orchestra. So if you are looking for a place which might take your heart, this place, the atmosphere, the music and the kindness and friendliness of staff it's for you. .
Mark
8.2
December 2024
Both our rooms, rooms 1&3 had clearly been renovated quite recently, the bathrooms were particularly spotless and modern. There is a small car park on site which hotel guests can use and the bar is lively at night with a wide selection of drinks on offer. The staff were very helpful, pleasant and polite and the location is perfect for anyone visiting the barrowlands ballroom for a gig as we were.
One of our rooms, room 1, had a noticeable musty smell upon entering and despite leaving the window open for a few hours the smell did not improve over the course of our stay. This was a real shame as otherwise we would have given our stay a 10/10 rating for value for money and overall experience. Given it's location in the city centre there can be some noise from traffic or the street below but keeping the window closed made a difference. A fan is provided to help keep the room cool if you are keeping the window closed.
Julie
8.2
December 2024
The breakfast was good, we had continental rather than cooked, tea and coffee freely available. All breakfast items were fresh. The shower room was small but perfectly adequate and really clean, no stray hairs. There was a tea and coffee tray which had biscuits too. I got the impression that some people may have had difficulty with the room temperature but it was really warm and there were extra blankets if needed. I had actually booked this hotel by mistake as it was quite a long way from the OVO arena where we wanted to be, however we received a warm welcome and the room was great.
If I had to pick anything it would be that the mattresses in the twin room that my daughter and I had weren’t so supportive.
Karen
8.2
August 2025
Breakfast included and was continental. I enjoyed the fresh croissants berries and yogurt. Coffee was tasty. The room was small but OK for a single. Shower was good. I liked the decoration. On the top floor but a staff member carried my case upstairs.
There was a fan in the bathroom which ran all the while. Room was above the outside drinking area but luckily it went quiet after 10pm. I had a problem finding the hairdryer which was apparently in a drawer that I was unable to open.
John
8.2
May 2025
The staff were pleasant, friendly, and helpful. The room was clean, and the fan in the room and ability have a fully opened window was much appreciated on such a hot evening. The continental breakfast looked lovely, I just didn’t have time to have any unfortunately. The beer I bought when I arrived was great too. This hotel was perfect for my needs.
The stairs were a nightmare but that’s more to do with me being unfit and the size of a gable end and not the hotels fault by any means.
Jordan
9.1
June 2024
The room was excellent - perfect size for 1 person and nice modern bathroom which was exquisitely clean. The bar downstairs seems quite popular but the staff try to fit you in. I personally found the vibe at the sister bar Rab Ha’s was a bit warmer and more inviting. I think Scotland played Germany in the soccer during one of my nights here and the bar was going off but the noise barely carried up to my room. Close to train stations making Glasgow very easily travelling during your stay.
There are a LOT of stairs up to the accommodation about the bar/restaurant. The staff help you with your luggage up the stairs but it’s still a lot to climb up/down during the stay. Only one bin in the room - probably needs a second sanitary bin in the bathroom and the shower screen isn’t big enough to stop water from spraying onto the bathroom floor.
Valeska&arno
10
October 2024
It was definitely the right choice for us to book this hotel. The car was parked in the parking lot of the hotel (you should know that you will have to leave your keys of the car in the pub so the can rearrange the cars if needed). The walking distance to the Barrowland Ballroom is approximately 10 min - so the hotel is a perfect stay for concerts. The staff was extremely nice and welcoming. The continental breakfast had everything you might need - even a wide range of fresh fruits.
There's nothing I could write here.
Heather
10
June 2024
Although right in the city centre, it’s on a quite side street with parking nearby (if the pub car park is full). Jasmine was so friendly when I booked in and didn’t tell me my room number across the pub, but showed me personally to my room which shows real care for sole (women) guests and made me feel very safe. The room (single) was at the back and although there was noise from the kitchen extractor (didn’t bother me especially as I was going to eat there) if looked out onto a private parking area which was so quite you easily forgot how city centre you were. The room and shower en-suite, whilst both small were beautifully clean, very cosy and had everything I needed : plenty of towels, tea/coffee, hairdryer, tv & no less than 6 double sockets all with usb chargers. The pub is clearly well loved by the regulars and I can see why: great beer, super friendly staff and good pub food ! Breakfast was a good continental style with toast, fruit and cereals along with a choice of tea or coffee.
Nothing - I loved it
Attractions
Merchant City
0.1miGeorge Square
0.3miProvand's Lordship
0.3miSt. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
0.4miGlasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
0.4miBuchanan Street
0.5miThe Lighthouse
0.5miPeople's Palace & Winter Gardens
0.5miGlasgow Science Centre
2miKelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
2miGlengoyne Distillery
11.7miNational Wallace Monument
23.1miDeanston Distillery
23.8miCulross
27.3miBlackness Castle
29.9miAttractions
Merchant City
0.1miGeorge Square
0.3miProvand's Lordship
0.3miSt. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
0.4miGlasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
0.4miBuchanan Street
0.5miThe Lighthouse
0.5miPeople's Palace & Winter Gardens
0.5miGlasgow Science Centre
2miKelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
2miGlengoyne Distillery
11.7miNational Wallace Monument
23.1miDeanston Distillery
23.8miCulross
27.3miBlackness Castle
29.9miAirports
Glasgow Airport
7.4miPrestwick Airport
27.6miEdinburgh Airport
34.3miSkiing
Free parking
Restaurant
Free wifi
Bar
Parking On Site
Mini golf
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Non-smoking rooms
Kids' meals
Accessibility
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Activities
Bar crawls
Cycling
Fishing
Hiking
Karaoke
Mini golf
Skiing
Bathroom
Hairdryer
Private Bathroom
Shared toilet
Toilet
Toilet paper
Towels
Bedroom
Linens
Wardrobe or closet
Cleaning Services
Daily housekeeping
Dry cleaning
Laundry
Entertainment & Family Services
Evening entertainment
Food & Drink
Bar
Kids' meals
Restaurant
Tea/Coffee maker
Front Desk Services
24-hour front desk
Baggage storage
Concierge
Express check-in/out
General
Heating
Non-smoking rooms
Smoke-free property
Internet
Free wifi
Kitchen
Electric kettle
Living Area
Desk
Media & Technology
Cable channels
Flat-screen TV
Satellite channels
TV
Outdoors
Terrace
Parking
Free parking
Parking On Site
Physical distancing
Cashless payment available
Room Amenities
Fan
Safety & security
24-hour security
Carbon monoxide detector
CCTV in common areas
CCTV outside property
Pets are not allowed.
WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.
The minimum age for check-in is 21
Come and go whenever you want
Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not possible).
Child policies
Children of all ages are welcome.
To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.
Crib and extra bed policies
No capacity for extra beds or cribs.
Cash
Mastercard,
Visa,
JCB,
Cash only
This property accepts cash.
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