55 Farmloan Road, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 1DN. Tel: 01416132401.
Victoria Bar. 1991.
In the early part of the 19th century Harry Thomson was licensee for these premises.
55 Farmloan Road, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 1DN. Tel: 01416132401.
Victoria Bar. 1991.
In the early part of the 19th century Harry Thomson was licensee for these premises.
967 Govan Road, Glasgow.
The Victoria Bar was formerly Halliday’s Butcher shop and opened in 1938 by publican John William MacFarlane.
Mr MacFarlane was no new comer to the trade as he formerly held a licence for premises at 941 Govan Road, it was largely to meet the requirements of his customers that he decided to shift his business. In the old pub he had only a porter and ale licence, his customers were in need of spirits so he gave up the licence at the April Court and obtained a full licence for his new public house which opened on September 12th.
The bright frontage up to the window constructed of black tiled dado, and above were three windows with separating panels of blue tiles. A recessed panel held the letters for the sign, concealed lighting in the recess throw the lettering out in relief.
The swing door as you entered was of teak wood. The walls in the small vestibule were black tiles and the floor contained a trap door for lowering supplies from the street to the cellar.
The main bar had a silver grey brick front with a cream tiled kerb at the front with a red tiled roof canopy to give an outside look to the bar, the walls were panelled in walnut plywood with a recessed cream joint which gave a horizontal effect. The seats were finished with rexine upholstery in a green shade.
Mr MacFarlane was born and bred to the trade and carried on his own behalf since 1920. He carried on the family tradition, as he learned the trade in the Victoria Bar, Springburn Road, which his father was proprietor. His two brothers Walter and Alec were in partnership together having licensed premises in Bishopbriggs and Springburn. Walter held the licence for The Crow Tavern, 118 Kirkintilloch Road while Alec took over his fathers pub, a third brother Andrew was a representative for W H Chaplin & Co Scotland Ltd.
Interior view of the Victoria Bar, Govan Road. 1938.
After working with his father for a number of years he joined the staff of Mrs Clark, Petershill Road, Springburn for several years. When the First World War came he joined up in 1915 with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and saw service in France, he was demobilized in 1919 and went back to his father pub, he then started on his own in Govan Road in 1920.
John became president of the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association, 1950-1956, he joined the board of the Glasgow Association in 1940 as Convener and Representative of the Fairfield Ward, he was a delegate from 1945-1960 to the Managing Committee of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and served two years as Senior Vice-President before succeeding Mr McKay in the chair. From 1955 to 1961 he served as a director of the Scottish Wine & Spirit Merchants Benevolent Institution.
Mr MacFarlane was a member of the Royalty Burns Club and a former Captain of the St. Mungo Golf Club also in his spare time he worked on behalf of the old folk of Fairfield and was well known locally, his interest in their welfare being practical and sincere.
Royalty Burns Club 1948, included in this photograph are James Denholm, J W MacFarlane, William McCaskill, T B Noble, David Moffat, John L Sloan, Bailie J M Inglis, Andrew Pearson.
Mr MacFarlane’s son James Crawford MacFarlane took over the licence for the Victoria Bar, Govan in 1964, he was married Mosspark Parish Church, March 28th 1950 to Miss Margaret Prentice Walker, daughter of Mr & Mrs Walker, Corkerhill Road, the reception was held at the Rhul, Sauchiehall Street.
Mr John W MacFarlane died in 1964 he was survived by one son and two daughters, the funeral was held at Craigton Crematorium.
Left to right John W MacFarlane, Miss Walker, Mrs Walker and James C MacFarlane. The wedding of James and Margaret MacFarlane 1950.
Group of friends at the annul dinner dance of the licensed trade Association. 1958. left to right J Scott, sales manager of Bell’s, Mrs Scott, Mr J Archibald, Glasgow manager of Fowler’s, Miss H Robertson, Mrs MacFarlane, J W MacFarlane, Mrs and Mr R Allan.
The Royalty Burns Club members. 1946. left to right J F Connell, A C Dickson, William Cosgrove, J W MacFarlane, T B Noble, A Preston, J Burns, William McCaskill.
Various photographs of Mr MacFarlane over the years.
Glasgow Bowlers win trophies at the Victoria Bar Bowling Club at the presentation at Linthouse B.C. 1968. left to right back J C MacFarlane, D Lowley, H Bradford, J Rafferty, W Greig and J Thorne, front W McSkinning, D Wilson, C Ellis, R Rennie, J Ogilvie and J Granger.
Govan Ward 1950. Included in this photo are Richard Welsh, J W MacFarlane, John Miller, W J McDowall, William Coggans.
John W MacFarlane. 1950.
John W MacFarlane. 1960’s.
Mr & Mrs MacFarlane.
336 Dumbarton Road, Partick, Glasgow. G11 6TG. Tel: 01413391000.
Victoria Bar. 1991.
In 1881 Neil Jackson was licensee here and for the next seven years continued to do so, he was living with his wife Elizabeth at 1 Anderson Street, Partick. Mr Jackson was born in Lochgilphead in 1839 and came to Glasgow as a young man to learn the trade.
The Victoria Bar during the 1930s.
From 1888 to 1890 Andrew Fleck occupied the premises. James Templeton Ward a well known and respected member of the Scottish Licensed Trade took over in 1891, the pub stayed in the Ward family until 1930. To find out more on the Ward family and their public houses click here.
William Grant then took over the pub, again the Grant family ran this very prosperous business for many years well into the 1970s.
The pub is now run by Belhaven Brewery and is still as popular as it was when the Jackson family owned it.
400 Victoria Road, Queens Park, Glasgow. G42 8YS. Tel: 0141332 2404.
Victoria Bar. 1991.
There has been a pub on this site since at least 1887. An old pub sat on this corner occupied by landlord James Bain Whyte, the old premises were demolished and a new pub with a tenement of flats above was erected on the site of the old pub, Mr Whyte continued to sell liquor here after the First World War.
In the 1930s John Robertson was licensee, he continued in this pub for the next thirty years.
Victoria Bar, dated 1903.
Mr Jim Brogan Celtic Football fame now owns this pub.
The Findlay Brother once owned these premises, click here to read more.
159 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. G1 2JX.
Victoria & Albert. 1991.
Victoria & Albert Logo. 1980s.
The Victoria & Albert was situated beneath Glasgow’s SDtock Exchange. The pub provided traditional food and attentive service with charm and elegance, reminiscent of an age when these were taken for granted. The restaurant offered a superb fixed price menu of two or three courses, representing remarkable value for money. Its location, close to the Royal Concert Hall and the Theatre Royal makes it suitable for dining and drinking before or after performances, and being so near to Queen Street Station offers the traveller civilised respite! Its bar was ideal for morning coffee served with home made shortbread and light meals were served throughout the day.
Restaurant 12 noon – 2.30pm, 6.30- 10.30pm.
Bar menu 12 noon- 10.30pm
Morning coffee from 10am.
The Victoria & Albert was part of a chain of pubs owned by Alloa Breweries that became Tetley and owned some of the best establishments in the city including Rogano, Sloans, the Brasserie in West Regent Street.
22 Paisley Road West, Glasgow. G51 1LB. Tel: 0141 429 0665.
The Viceroy. 1991.
This ancient public house has some interesting stained glass door panels by the Knox brother’s. In the 1870s the Knox brothers painted glass for many of our public houses. These works of art are probably the only glass panels left by the Knox brother’s. In all the years I’ve been in and out of pubs I have never seen anything like them. They are a work of art and must be seem before someone snatches them up or even worse get smashed by a drunk.
The Glass Doors at Viceroy Bar.
There has been a public house on this spot since 1856, the first to hold a licence was spirit merchant David Stobo. David continued to serve the locals until 1866. Dugald Paterson was the next publican to run the pub. Mr Paterson also had a public house at 64 East Howard Street, he was living at Clifford Street, Paisley Road. Dugald Paterson continued as licensee until 1885.
Robert Gall was next on the list of wine and spirit merchants to run this old pub. Robert was also a licensed grocer (Off Sales) having premises at 117 Lambhill Street. Robert didn’t last long in the Paisley Road West pub and sold up to Thomas Vallance in 1890.
Mr Thomas Vallance was a famous Glasgow Rangers Footballer and manager. To read more on Vallance click here.
The Viceroy Interior. 2007.
After Thomas Vallance the pub was sold to Mr Edmund McDonald. Edmund also had premises at Rue End Street, Greenock. Mr McDonald was a soldier and served his country and his Queen faithfully. Mr Edmund McDonald was born in Aberdeen and went to school in the Granite City, where he did well. He entered the army as a boy, joining the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, with which he remained for eleven years. On duty in Gibraltar and most of the garrison towns in England, Ireland and Scotland. He was also a drill instructor to the 1st Battalion Renfrew Volunteers. The first army man who had ever taken the regiment in hand, he soon showed the metal he was made of, and by his ability and tact transformed the Battalion into one of the best sense of the term, he won the confidence and respect of all he came in contact with.
Edmund took a great interest in drill and gymnastics, and acted as instructor in many private colleges and public schools. He was appointed an instructor under the School Board of Glasgow, where he taught in some of their best schools, principally of the higher grade. He trained in St Andrew’s and City Hall’s in every instance most successfully.
Retiring from military life in 1894, Mr McDonald entered the Trade and acquired the Eagle Tavern, Rue End Street, Greenock. Making a success of this public house he obtained the transfer of the license at “The Club” 22 Paisley Road West. He was an old member of the Greenock Burns Club, in his spare time he played bowls with the Ardgowan and golfs with the Golf Club of the same town. He was an amateur photographer, fond of music and played the piano and violin and many more musical instruments. He also sung for the choir of the Old West Parish Church, in the graveyard of which, Burns’ Highland Mary is buried.
Mr McDonald was a director of the Greenock Branch of the Wine, Beer and Spirit Trade Defence Association, in the interests of which he spared neither time nor trouble. In 1881 he married Miss Burns, daughter of Mr James Burns, M.R.V.C.S., of Dublin. His was an expert cyclist too. Edmund McDonald sold up in 1905.
In 1905 the premises was taken over by wine & spirit merchant James Kerr and changed the name to “The Clarence.” Mr Kerr thoroughly remodelled and fitted all new appliances. There was a large room suitable for holding functions and smaller rooms for smaller parties. James got his training in the famous Horse Shoe Bar, Drury Street. The Clarence celebrated Welsh Rarebit which was becoming very popular with his patrons.
James Kerr was very successful in the Clarence and sold up to James Watt in 1907. Wine and spirit merchant James Watt served the locals until 1924.
John Kennedy then took over. John continued until 1937 and sold to well-known southside wine and spirit merchant James Clelland. Mr Clelland will still be remembered by some as the owner of the Cleland Bar, Hospital Street, Gorbals.
Over the years many publicans have come and gone including: John McKinlay 1940s – 1963, Denis Gerald McKinlay 1963 – 1970s, and present licensee Mr Peter Derrick.
Do you have any memories of this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.
END.