Nicky-Tams pub in Stirling recalled as a place that taught a regular not to be obnoxious

Nicky-Tams Bar & Bothy in Stirling is said to be one of Scotland's most haunted pubs, though for one regular it is haunted chiefly by happy memories and the spectre of their younger self — and, they note, the cantankerous clergyman who is said to stalk its walls from beyond the grave.

Sitting at the foot of Stirling's old town, Nicky-Tams has been a tavern of some sort since 1718. Despite its age and cobbled floors, mullioned windows and an ancient crest above the door, the writer says it never felt like a kitschy, Ye-Olde-Scottish tourist trap. In the late 2000s it had an alternative or, as detractors called it, 'moshery' vibe: heavy metal, punk and emo were often played, the walls were adorned with vintage records, and many bar staff had tattoos and piercings.

The clientele, the writer says, has long been a blend of students, tourists and locals of all ages who often end up chatting to one another. For them, Nicky-Tams was a first pub that taught a more mature way to socialise — that one's right to have a good time did not supersede others' right not to be annoyed — with 'tuts and glares' serving as a civilising influence.

The writer recalls cross-generational moments of raucousness, such as a whole upstairs room singing Fairytale of New York at a first Christmas back from university.

Key Topics

Culture, Nicky-tams Bar, Stirling, Scotland, Pub Culture, Heavy Metal