Cozy Scottish pub. Tasty food, good brew & whisky selection. Live music! Soccer! On a recent roadtrip, we tried out Boyd's Jig & Reel in Knoxville. At midday on a weekday (spring-2026), this warm-feeling comfortable pub was active but not crowded. Of course we had beer-battered fish & chips: tender sweet cod in a not-too-thick crunchy flavorful coating, with fresh greens, onions, and tomatoes. Served with piping-hot thin fries, hand-cut to give a variety of crispier vs. soft bites. You could get that as a small-plate, as a Po'Boy sandwich, or as a main. And we had a bowl of thick rich flavorful creamy chowder. Delicious, satisfying dishes. They had a nice selection of deep crusty savory pies, too. We loved their amazing range of single-malt whiskeys, including some like a smokey softly-fruity Port Askaig that we haven't seen elsewhere. We liked slowly sipping a strongly-peaty young Islay, like 10-year Laphroaig, and Boyd's also had plenty of smoother well-aged pours up and down the price-range. They also had a nice selection of crafts, ales, stouts, ciders, and several Scottish brews. We saw that they have live music almost every evening (not Mondays), with midday music Sat and Sun. Scottish, Irish, bluegrass, old-time, classic country, and more! Next time we have to fit that into our schedule. And fútball (soccer) of course! Boyd's Jig & Reel is a must-visit in the middle of Knoxville! read more

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Scottish pub in old city Knoxville, Tennessee with over 1000 types of scotch whiskey available The staff here are so friendly and knowledgeable. They can answer all of your questions and can make recommendations so no need to feel overwhelmed. The interior is cozy, rustic and looks like a Scottish pub I got the rich and decadent and enjoyed. One thing that really endeared me to this bar was the live music. I felt like I was living in a bridgerton scene. I didn't try the food, but the menu looks yummy read more

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Tried Boyd's Jig and Reel for the first time. It was close to the Smokies ballpark so why not. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was delicious. We definitely will make another visit. read more

My husband says this was the best fish and chips he has had since 1990 Sunset Beaches Irish Mist. Everything was perfect from the drinks to the food to the service to the overall vibe. 100% coming back here again! read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Jacketed potato with steak and ale - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Boyds is a great spot in Knoxville! I've only been a time or two as I'm not in the area often but the location is great, food is good, and the service is friendly. Definitely give it a try, they have live music often! read more

Great drinks, music, and service! Our favorite spot downtown. Great selection of drinks and menu read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Bar area - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Fantaboulous food and service The pub ambiance is well worth the whiskey This is a must to stop, drink, and yes have some delectable food!!!! Yummy Scottish not Irish , love this place! read more

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Brown Betty was their special desert and it was apple pie filling, a dough Buscuit resembling a crescent and a scoop of ice cream. No seasoning just bland and took 25 minutes to be served. read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Brown Betty - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Service was quick. The vibes were good. They have very comfortable chairs sitting by the door that were nice to chat with a date.

We went on a Tuesday evening. I got the corned beef and cabbage and it was delicious. My wife got the steak and ale pie, which she enjoyed. Save room for the Brown Betty cobbler, which is large enough to share. They started playing live music at 730 so I wish we had arrived a little later. By the way, they pour a perfect pint of Guinness. read more

Boyd's Gig & Reel is a fun spot with an excellent scotch selection. I came in today with a very specific mission: to try a scotch from the region where my eighth great-grandfather immigrated from in Scotland. I had just finished some genealogy work, and while there is not a distillery in his little town, there are three only a few miles outside of it. Having the opportunity to drink scotch from the area where my family originated made the experience even more meaningful. Chelsea, our waitress, was outstanding. She recommended two whiskies from that area and described them in depth. I was especially impressed that she pronounced the distillery names correctly, even though they are not spelled phonetically. Joanna was also fantastic. She has helped me in the past and always does a great job explaining the different flights. The geographic flights are a highlight, and my personal favorite is the "Tour of Scotland." Even though I am not a big whiskey drinker, I really enjoyed the chance to explore the flavors with such thoughtful guidance. The food was just as memorable. Will was in the kitchen tonight and served up an incredible roasted cabbage side. On top of that, they had five different pot pie recipes. I tried the steak pot pie, and it was absolutely delicious. Between the knowledgeable staff, the impressive whiskey selection, and the hearty food, Boyd's Gig & Reel is a special place. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone, even those who are not big whiskey drinkers, because the experience here makes it approachable and enjoyable. read more

Great bar we are from out of state friendly bartender great location the ambience was spectacular

Ordered a corned beef sandwich who on earth serves a corn beef sandwich on a hoagie roll with sautéed onions Horrible get some rye bread and make a traditional corn beef sandwich read more

Really cool atmosphere! Had the fish and chips. The beer selection and whiskey selection are really good. The fish was good in some parts and the breading was tasty, but I don't know if it wasn't carved right, or if it was overcooked, but it was really rubbery in parts and was barely chewable and had to be cut with a knife. The fries were cooked well, fresh, and salty. The service was friendly as well. Nice spot in downtown Knoxville. read more

The food here is always unique and delicious. Our server was a sweetheart and recommended lots of great drinks! They often have live music and a fantastic whiskey selection!! Give them a try! read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Bangers and Mash - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

They've taken the Haggis dinner off the menu, but have Lox (Jewish), Tikka Masala (Indian), Corned Beef & Cabbage (Irish) and Bangers and Mash (English). So much for being a "Scottish Pub"... read more

Initial review based on a lunch visit w/ no entertainment, so bear that in mind. I'd give a 5/5 on the drinks and 4/5 on the food. I was expecting a little more on the portion size based on the price, but hey at least I ate it all! :) The venue looks awesome and the menu was a lot of staple dishes you'd expect with the overall theme. I want to come back when the music is going on the other side to enjoy it. Now that I've actually got to go to Ireland & Scotland in my life, I can say the look and feel reminds me of a few different venues we visited (esp. the red like the Temple Bar). So cool to have this in Knoxville. Go and check out their renound selection of drinks! read more

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Giving this a 2 only because (1) the doorman was really friendly and (2) they had a band playing in the back room. It was not at all crowded and we found a table by the band. You seat yourself so you don't have menus with you. Five minutes...no one. Ten minutes...no one. We thought maybe we needed to get the drinks ourselves, so we walked to the bar. The bartender sternly said "There's wait service in the back room". Not "There's wait service in the back. I'll let her know you're waiting". OK bye. The five of us left and went elsewhere where they don't hire rude bartenders. read more

Oh, I love this place! The bar is so cool, and I love the atmosphere! It is such a great old building. Everything is awesome, from the gas lamp over the front door to the awesomely decorated interior dining room and bar room. It feels so comfortable and authentic. The servers are great and the food is good, I highly recommend the pretzels and beer cheese and the corned beef is the best I have ever had. Don't leave without trying one of their amazing desserts! And if you like scotch whiskey, they have over 1,000 to choose from. read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - The fireplace at the entry of the jig & reel. - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Nice place, great for a drink....if you are particular and know about scotch your golden.....if you don't know your scotch they have flights and groups to get you started.....food was average to low. Friend had a burger and he said it was amazing. I had fish and chips and they were a greasy soggy mess on a plate. read more

UPDATED: When I first reviewed Jig & Reel, I had given them 4/5 stars due to some accessibility issues and concerns. I have an update! While I thought there was no way for a wheelchair user to navigate themselves from room to room due to the steps that separate them, Jig & Reel does have a ramp that staff can bring out to make the other rooms accessible. This is amazing! I have suggested that a sign be put up so that other patrons will know this and be able to ask for the accommodation. Additionally, I suggested that signage be placed outside to let patrons know where the accessible entrance is, as it is around the corner from the main entrance. Thank you to Gina from Jig & Reel for reaching out to me to let me know about the ramps and for being open to my feedback! It is very appreciated and it will help create an even more welcoming, safe space for all patrons. Jig & Reel has such a great vibe and energy that we really love. There are three rooms in Jig & Reel. When you first enter, there is a large bar with seating and then nice, spacious booths. Next to that is the music room that features table seating, a raised stage, and instruments all over the walls--the instruments are playable so you are free to join in the musical fun. Past the music room is a third room with games (darts, hook & ring/ringing the bull) and additional tables. We love the traditional pies, especially the Chicken & Vegetable Pie. No matter what you order, you're getting a good amount of food for the price. There is a super wide variety of drink options so everyone can find something they like. The servers never make you feel rushed to get out and the entertainment options are endless: live music, jam nights, open mics, trivia. There's always something going on. The servers can get busy but, in my opinion, that is to be expected at a bustling restaurant in the Old City. We love Jig & Reel and are so excited that we can go back now knowing the whole place is accessible for me! read more

Amazing food, an unrivaled whiskey selection and good atmosphere and service too! A must stop if in the area! read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Fish and chips, First class whiskey flight - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Someone who works here stole my phone. It was found on the sidewalk, and I noticed it was gone. Watched it move (via a friend's phone) from the sidewalk into Jig and Reel because someone found it and turned it in, then for the next week they held it hostage and said there was no phone turned in, even though I could see from Find My that it was there and turned on. Pinged it to listen for it, and it was subsequently turned off. Fuck yall. read more

I love Jig and Reel! It's my go-to when trying to find a place with unfussy, good food and a drink with friends. They can get a little busy on weekend nights, especially first Fridays but I've truly never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table. They've got great hand-cut fries from real potatoes, not bulk frozen fries from a food supplier...or at least they seem that way. They've got a good, solid burger. My go-to is always fish and chips. The fish is never fishy, always cooked well. The tartar sauce is house made and really yummy. It has lots of fresh herbs and capers to change it up a little from the usual. Of course, they're known for having lots of scotch and bourbon if you're into that. Really like it here because it's consistent, good and at a really good price point! read more

I went for lunch and thought it was excellent. I had a corned beef and cabbage sandwich. The corned beef was tender and flavorful. The cabbage added moisture and more flavor. The fries were also very good. Quick service. Highly recommended. read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Poboy sandwich with seasoned fries for lunch. - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Friday night treat. I disagree about the previous reviews about the portion sizes - ours were more than ample. Drinks: We tried a tiki-hatten and one whiskey flight. Great new tests - then a pretty good draft IPA (not hazy). Appetizer: We had the Toad in a Hole - 5 good size pieces! Dinner: The bangers and mash were good, with a small side salad. The corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage - good flavors! And we took a Sticky Toffee Pudding home Good service too! ! read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Toad in the Hole appetizer! - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Thursday/5pm- not even peak-- Service- hire Better staff immediately Been in the biz for 20+ years... but damn. Sat down with no greeting (seat yourself sign) nearly 20. So I walked to the bar. Blonde, glasses, blank expression and zero cares about who's there eventually on her 4th pass by me as I stood with menu in hand and my ID asked if I "needed something"... Well yeah I guess... to order? Took an additional 5-7min for them to pour a glass of wine between the staffs conversations....legit gave a $20 for my for my $7 wine and my fiends $9 and the confusion was painful, I didn't have to wait another 30 to tab out, literally. I use to love this place and recommend it... but after this confirmation of what my other friends have expressed as the worst customer service in knox decline... I'm on board with moving on. read more

Late night date night dinner - Saturday, 9pm. This was our second time here, but first time coming for food (previous time to try a Scotch flight from the "Largest Scotch Selection in the World"). We loved it. Being a Saturday on the heels of at home UT football game/win, downtown Knoxville was hoppin. To avoid the party crowds, we parked near the Depot and walked a few blocks. The front door was manned by a hefty bouncer checking IDs. Loving the college vibe. Once inside, the feel of an authentic Scottish Pub overtook the chaos on the streets outside. The grand bar with countless bottles on display; the glossy wooden booths, the waitresses with Scottish plaid skirts and t-shirts reminding everyone, "I'm Scottish Not Irish". We dined in the front room, but live music from the back room filled the air. The ambiance was exactly what we wanted tonight. We ordered Guinness. It wasn't poured correctly for a Guinness, but being a Scottish, not Irish, bar, that common mistake gets a pass. Our server was a delight - all smiles, personable, hard working. Just plain sweet. After much discussion over the menu, along with some guidance from our server, we settled on the Fish and Chips and the Shepherds Pie. The fish was excellent. You taste good quality fish in each perfectly breaded and seasoned deep-fried bite. A squeeze of lemon, dash of malted vinegar and the homemade dill tartar sauce made it that pub food we were craving. The chips were... well they were chips. And we ate them all. The shepherds pie, served in an individual skillet dish, was delicious. We added Tabasco to ours, but the flavor was on point. Dense and hearty. To round out the night, we shared the Sticky Toffee Pudding. I may or may not have tried licking the dish clean. A day later, I still can't get that dessert out of my head. We loved our experience here and think you will too. Until next time... read more

I can't believe it took me so long to eat here. We got the pub fry's. They were good. They were out of corned beef so they used bacon. They somehow managed to be crispy even when covered in gravy. The real winner was the fish and chips. Hands down the most authentic that I have had in the states! I didn't get a picture because my husband and I devoured it in record time! If your a fan of fish and chips this is a must try! read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

This is way more than just great scotch, but the scotch isn't bad. This is a Bar, locals welcome visitors, and the bar will make you feel just at home; but this place has a surprisingly good kitchen. We had the burger and one of their meat pies. It really exceeds expectations from a spot like this one Both entrees were spot on. The burger came with world class FRESH French fries; the meat pie perfect combination of meat and veggies in a fresh baked shell. Add in a local brew ( they got a lot) and it's the start of a great time read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - More than just a cheeseburger... grab a great local beer and you'll know why you were born - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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Dear Chefs of Jig and Reel, There is an amazing seasoning I don't think you've ever heard of that would really take your food to the next level, it's called salt. The lack of salt and seasoning in general rendered the food completely inedible. The fish and chips were bland and soggy, the "soft" pretzels were hard and stale, and in the words of my daughter "hurts my teeth". The steak and ale pie was all ale, and the cottage pie was flavorless. The only saving grace might be the ice cream that comes along side the desserts, but that's store bought. read more

Hummm, not sure about this place. Now I understand we came in at 11:20 but it was plenty of time for a small meal. We got a beer, our waitress said she would be back and never returned. Had to flag down another server for service. Chips and one beer... Maybe it's us lol. read more

I would truly give 3 and a half stars . The ambiance is unique & cozy, the service was excellent, & the drink menu was impressive. The only thing stopping them from a 4 star review is the under seasoned food. My husband got a whiskey flight & the chicken & veg pie. I ordered the fish bites & a side salad. The salad was delicious. The vinegarette dressing is light & tasty. The fish bites were okay. They were just more chewy than crispy. My husband's dish was just okay too. I'd say overall if you want a cozy environment to hang out, order some drinks, & split some appetizers, this would be a great place. If you are searching for an amazing meal this may not work for you. read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Boyd's Jigsaw & Reel whiskey flight, chicken & veg pie, fish bites, & garden side salad. - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Visited the Smokey's for my folks 50th with our departing flight back to SoFL at 4p we had some time to kill. Me being a HUGE Liverpool fan I would not recommend any other place to visit for matches than Jig and Reel. Outstanding atmosphere, great food, the beer was cold and the best part was the service. Don't remember the bartenders names but the guy wore glasses with a red beard and the you g woman had long black hair and glasses. Off the wall TOP NOTCH service. If and when we visit Knoxville again...we will be returning here...match or not. read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - a display of bottles of liquor - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

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If you love Scotch whisky or even just a great pub with authentic atmosphere, you owe yourself a visit here. The whisky collection was vast, with some common malts and also many things distributors in Tennessee don't get. The prices are reasonable when compared to my native Nashville, though I probably went overboard sampling rare old single malts. The young server at our table the first night worried me by telling me all their whiskies were served in half-ounce pours, but that proved to be incorrect, thank goodness. The bartender on Saturday was much more knowledgeable, and she really made an effort to make our stop memorable. She knew her whisky, and I wish I could remember her name to give her a proper thank you. We didn't sample that much food, but what we had was good. The Toad in a Hole was good enough for us to order seconds. Tennessee is very fortunate to have a pub of this caliber. read more

Outstanding food with super friendly and cute staff.. when you enter in big surprise - nice Scottish bar and nice live band read more

Boyd's Jig and Reel - Brown Betty - Scottish Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Food is always good, drinks always cold, and bartenders/servers always helpful and good natured.

15 minutes to get a canned beer at a nearly empty bar. Bar maid didnt even offer to pour it! She spent more effort serving the glass of water. One and run...no need to return. read more

I agree with others that the portions are small. Ridiculously small, in the case of the side salad that comes with some dishes (more like a garnish, tbh). But everything tastes great. The fish and chips have a single, nice size piece of lightly battered cod. Delicious. Small amount of deliciously seasoned fries that need no salt, ketchup or anything else. Shepards Pie also good, but a little heavy on the potatoes, I though. The tikka Marsala didn't have a lot of meat, but also tasted great. It's a smaller portion also, but came with a larger side salad (I guess to make up for the pathetic portion of the main dish.). We didn't try any alcoholic beverages. I might come back, I might not. Not really enough to draw diners away from other eateries, imo. Looks like a fun place to get drunk, though. read more

We love this Scottish pub! Great food and atmosphere plus an excellent selection of UK brews. read more

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