Saint Luke's & The Winged Ox

Former church housing a stylish multi-purpose venue in an area whose star is in its ascendency.

The 2019 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

As this 19th century church enters its third year as ‘St Luke’s Music & Arts Venue’, it’s really finding its groove. The bar (the Winged Ox) bristles with energy before gigs at the Barras or games at Celtic Park. And it’s a formidable mid-range venue itself, hosting left-field artists and participating in events like the BBC6 Music Festival. Within the impressively restored building, ‘American dive bar’ is the (sort of) aesthetic – dingy lighting, neon signage, industrial metal flooring. The US of A has a through-line on the menu too – think skillets, pulled meats, burgers and reubens. But there’s more. The Calton kebab is a restaurantified version of the street food, with a delicate finish of mint and shredded cabbage that successfully evokes the takeaway. Across the board, veg is crisp, seasonings are vibrant, portions are big. It’s properly good pub food, in all sorts of guises, from all sorts of places around the world.