The biggest west coast town for hundreds of miles, Fort William’s nightlife spans historic pubs, whisky saloons, cocktail joints and even a nightclub or two. We’ve got the lowdown on all the best bars, pubs and clubs in town.
Nightlife in Fort William
Bars
One of the closest bars to our Fort William hotel, Cobbs Bar is located underneath the large Nevisports shop and is a bustling old-fashioned pub that serves up a good range of pub grub. The decor and styling might be rooted in the 70s, but with a large drinks selection spanning Highland breweries, local whiskies, wines and craft gins and regular live music sessions, it’s well worth a visit.
Further downtown on High Street, The Crofter is a great all-rounder of a bar. The food is excellent, the drinks are well-priced and varied,the Maryburgh Inn, a cellar bar with a pool table and jukebox that’s also the oldest watering hole in Fort William. If you’re looking to work your way through Scottish whisky, this is the place for you.
Located in Cameron Square, Garrison West is a lively bar and restaurant that opened in 2017. Cosy and welcoming, it’s handily located just up from the West Highland Museum and less than five minutes from our hotel.
Lastly, if you want to dance the night away, Roobarb on the High Street is your best bet. Open until 3am at the weekends, it’s a fun and lively late night bar/nightclub where the drinks are cheap, the music is loud and you’re guaranteed a fun night (and probably a sore head the next morning).
Fort William Pubs
Bars in Fort William
Pubs
Located at the foot of the mountain, the Ben Nevis Inn is the perfect place to celebrate your climbing exploits and refuel. Housed in a converted barn with amazing views over the valley, the Ben Nevis Inn serves food from midday to 9pm daily, and there’s a wide range of real ales, craft beers, wine, gin and – naturally – whisky to sample, with live music every Tuesday night.
Back in Fort William itself, Grog and Gruel lives up to its olden days name in ample style. With over a dozen beers, ales and ciders on tap and excellent pub grub (think burgers, pies, steaks and curly fries), the High Street pub is a firm favourite. Just around the corner from there is Garrison West, probably the best gastro-pub in town. They have an excellent range of single malts and well-sourced Scottish bottles of beer and a menu made up of sharing plates, upmarket mains (mushroom and truffle pasta, for example) and some of the best desserts in town, notably the sea-salt brownie with clotted cream!
You know what you’re getting at a Wetherspoons – cheap food and drink and a lively atmosphere, but the Great Glen Wetherspoons in Fort William is a step above. There are several arty installations making use of the region’s mountain biking and skiing history, while the food and above-average drinks menu make it a good place for those on a tighter budget.
Known locally as the Volley, the Volunteer Arms comes alive at the weekends thanks to their mix of traditional ceilidh music and more pop-friendly DJ sets. The drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming and, open until 3am at the weekend, it’s the perfect late-night drinking den.