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You are here: Home / Address R / Ruthven Lane / The Back Alley.

The Back Alley.

November 9, 2016 by John Gorevan 8 Comments

8 Ruthven Lane, Glasgow. G12 9BG. Tel: 0141 334 7165.

The Back Alley. 1980s.

The Back Alley was popular with students and folk from the west end back in the 80s. It still a very popular drinking place in Ashton Lane but under a different name. “Stravaigin.”

Stravaigin is an old Scots word meaning to wander in an idly manner.

Back Alley advert 1978.

Back Alley: For the cheapest and best Hamburger in town. We’ve got a brand new menu with steaks, chilli and all things American. So if you want a good meal at a reasonable price come into Back Alley and bring your own wine we don’t charge corkage.

Stravaigin 2. 2006.

The original Stravaigin.

Update 2019…

Now called The Hanoi Bike Shop, Vietnamese restaurant.

Do you know anything about this popular establishment? If so please get in touch.

END.

More pubs on this street:

  1. The Bothy.

Filed Under: B, Ruthven Lane, RuthvenLane Tagged With: Back Alley, Hanoi Bike Shop, Ruthven Lane, Stravaigin

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stuart, Thom says

    March 5, 2020 at 8:36 pm

    I was the Head Chef off this establishment around,,,

    1990-1991..
    300_400 covers (DAILY)
    My first management role, I was 21..
    Very popular with Students…

    Reply
    • Anna says

      July 9, 2021 at 9:53 pm

      I loved the restaurant when I was wee! I miss it. I will always remember the Death by chocolate cake. Nothing will ever compare

      Reply
  2. Maureen says

    August 8, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    Remember going to Back Alley in late 80’s. Was it owned by Grant Forest, advertising guru?

    Reply
    • Jade Carrera says

      July 3, 2024 at 1:22 pm

      Hi Maureen,
      Yes ! you are correct it was owned by Grant Forrest from Grant Forrest & partners back in the day….. he often wishes he had kept it !!!!

      Reply
  3. David says

    May 20, 2023 at 9:38 pm

    Paul Joseph was the manager

    Reply
  4. Hugh says

    July 5, 2023 at 10:02 pm

    God I loved this place. Best burgers in my life bar none. Best of all was the hot fudge Sunday in 1984. Wish I could climb in a Time Machine.

    Reply
  5. Linda says

    August 7, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    I loved this place back in the 80s. The chicken Kiev was legendary

    Reply
  6. George Dickson says

    May 15, 2025 at 1:37 pm

    I used to come here with my late sister. I always had the double burger with chilli (an excellent chilli it was) and my abiding memory is The Eagle’s “Hotel California” playing all the time. Always left when the track that was playing when I came in was back on. Happy, happy days. Oh, and for some reason I always brought in a bottle of Frascati to go with it.

    Reply

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