A popular YouTuber just declared Dundee as one of the best pub cities in the UK
- Andrew Batchelor
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
A popular YouTuber has declared Dundee one of the best pub cities in the UK after completing an enormous 25-pub crawl during his first visit to the city.
Dale Harvey, who runs The Great British Pub Crawl channel, spent a full day exploring Dundee’s pubs as part of his eight day tour of Scotland, later telling followers he had “not enjoyed a place as a whole quite as much in a long time”.
Dale, who is based in Nottingham, has built a large online following with his detailed pub tours across the UK.
His channel has more than 25,000 YouTube subscribers and over 179,000 followers on Facebook, where he posts daily updates documenting each new pub he visits.
Dundee marked day four of his Scottish trip and quickly became the unexpected highlight.
Arriving early in the morning, his first stop was Frews, where he was welcomed in before opening hours by owner Jim. Dale described the pub as “a beautiful gem” with charm, character and a long family history.
That set the tone for the day, with each pub offering something unique, from the historic Speedwell Bar with intricate original features to the Tay Bridge Bar with views of its namesake.
Throughout his tour, Dale shared glowing reviews of Dundee’s long loved pubs including The Phoenix, The Star & Garter, Tickety Boo’s, and the Trades House, which left him particularly impressed thanks to its stained glass and mosaic tiling.
The list also featured music bars like Groucho’s, Irish favourites such as The Dubliner, and modern venues including Bird & Bear. Even hidden gems made the cut, including speakeasy-style bar Draffens, tucked down a city centre lane.
He highlighted Dundee’s mix of historic, traditional pubs, student hangouts, music venues, cocktail bars and cosy locals, praising not only the buildings but also the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff.
Several pubs he visited are among Dundee’s best known, but he also discovered smaller venues slightly off the main routes, rounding off the night at Caws Bar with what he called a “relaxing pint”.
At the end of the mammoth 25 stop journey, Dale summed up his first visit with a simple message: “Dundee… you have captured my heart.”
He encouraged his followers to consider the city for a top quality pub crawl, adding that Dundee offers an affordable alternative to Glasgow and Edinburgh while delivering character, history and brilliant hospitality.
Dale has already announced that he plans to return to Dundee for “round two”, aiming to explore even more of the city’s pubs. For a first visit that covered 25 venues in one day, his Dundee debut has certainly left a lasting impression.
