Bucks Bar Group has expanded its popular portfolio once again with the launch of Thunderdog Pub + Diner, a bold new addition to Glasgow’s West End dining scene. Located on Byres Road, this is the group’s seventh venue, and a dynamic sister site to the city-centre favourite, Thundercat, on Miller Street.
The space has undergone a dramatic £250,000 transformation and is the group’s largest location to date. Thunderdog boasts over 100 indoor covers and an additional 40 al fresco seats, blending the signature Thundercat high-energy vibes with fresh West End flair.
Open daily until midnight Monday to Wednesday and until 1am from Thursday through Sunday, it looks set to become a late-night staple in the area. Owner Michael Bergson told DRAM, “I always liked the idea of a site on Byres Road, but we already had three Bucks Bars in Glasgow, so the Thundercat brand seemed a good fit for that area. It’s a similar concept to Thundercat with the same cocktail list, a good range of draft beers, deep dish pizzas, smash burgers etc but with a larger range of hotdogs.
“In the concept for Thundercat I had noticed young people weren’t going to nightclubs as much anymore, but they still wanted a high energy fun environment – so we tried to recreate that with a pub and diner. Unfortunately we couldn’t roll out the name Thundercat due to the trademark, but we came up with the name Thunderdog and idea of having about 10 different choices of hotdogs on the menu with different toppings and flavours inspired by the Bucks Bar burgers.
“It’s casual food that everyone enjoys but what we are serving is amplified versions of these classics that are packed with flavour and are a real assault on the tastebuds.
“There’s a lot of students in the West End and I think in the current climate people are just looking for somewhere they can go to really enjoy themselves. The whole idea was to make sure things aren’t too expensive and create a busy atmosphere every night.
“The fact that we have a late-night license is great as you can just come in and have a few drinks and chill. We’ve had a great mix of people so far and Thursday to Sunday we have DJs on until 1am. It feels like something special.”
And it definitely makes an impression! With its bold black, red, and gold frontage, glowing neon signage, and eye-catching Thunderdog branding, the venue lights up Byres Road from the moment you arrive.
The project was led personally by Michael, and it was brought to life in just nine weeks – one of the fastest turnarounds for the group to date. Vertice Joinery took the lead as main contractors, helping deliver the ambitious transformation on time. Inside, the décor draws inspiration from the building’s original architectural features.
The result is a space that feels both fresh and familiar – blending Bucks Bar’s signature attitude with a nod to the site’s historic character. The space is cleverly divided into two distinct rooms, anchored by a striking vintage wooden bar at its centre which serves both sides.
The design captures that elevated New York dive bar aesthetic that fans of Thundercat and Bucks Bar will instantly recognise – gritty, stylish, and full of character. Says Michael, “We just stripped everything back to see what we had to work with, and we found so many cool features we liked.
“I love real brick and one of the things I thought was really funny from a design perspective is that we stripped off brick tiles and other layers of the wall to find real brick behind it. So, we’ve got a nice mix of old and new with the neons, new lighting and disco balls but also the old rare wood bar and the bare brick”
The venue’s original features have been brought to life with bold, expressive touches. The central bar glows under a wash of red downlighting, while the exposed brick walls are now covered in vibrant graffiti, painted symbols, artwork and glowing neon signs that give the space its unmistakable attitude.
Signature elements from Thundercat have been woven in too – from the moody red lighting and mirror balls to the plush red Chesterfield booths and tables, creating a familiar yet fresh aesthetic. In the first room, the original ceiling has been reimagined with dramatic paint effects that draw the eye upward, while the second room features classic tin ceiling tiles – a recurring design theme across Bucks Bar Group venues.
But perhaps the most showstopping detail? A colossal mirror ball suspended from the ceiling which casts a shimmering glow across the space. Michael explains, “I ordered the giant mirror ball and although I read the sizes it wasn’t until I received it we realised how big it actually was! It was going to be impossible to walk past so we’ve actually had to cut a hole into the ceiling to raise it up so people weren’t banging their head on it!
“It’s a real statement piece and everyone has commented on it. It gives good light, feeling and movement and makes the room feel busy and vibrant – I’m a bit of a fan of it.
“The other thing I love about Thunderdog is all the spaces and corners – you can feel private as a group, but still be part of the vibrant atmosphere. We’re already getting group bookings coming in and we’ve got a lot more space to do that here – from 5 to 50.”
As part of the transformation, the team have also installed a brand new kitchen and state-of-the-art extraction system – ready to meet the demands of what’s sure to be a steady stream of hungry guests drawn in by the venue’s striking design and atmosphere.
Next on the horizon for Bucks Bar Group is their newest venture: a Bucks Bar in St Andrews, where refurbishment is already underway. If their track record is anything to go by, it’s set to be another hit, and one well worth a visit when doors open!