Miller Street, Glasgow. G1.
Ed Debevnic’s. 1991.
Miller Street, Glasgow. G1.
Ed Debevnic’s. 1991.
267-269 Gallowgate, Glasgow. G4.
Eastenders. 1991.
This well established east end local is popular with Karaoke singers. Before this Japanese invention the pub was always known for it’s singalongs. Frank Hassen one of Glasgow’s best known pub musicians played the accordion here for years, he later went on to play the keyboards with his daughters Elaine and Ann singing.
There has been a pub on this sit since at least 1826 run by spirit merchant John Monteith. In 1845 Scotsman Gregor McGregor was trading here for around thirty years. In October 1875 publican John Wilson took over the licence, he also ran a pub in East John Street. Mr Wilson employed a young man called James Battison Fraser, a friendship that would last for many years. Young James worked very hard in this pub and showed great management skills. Mr Wilson promoted James to Chargehand. This was great news for James as his wages were increased, a bar boy was getting 14/- shillings a week, the Friday and Saturday barman was getting 16/- shillings for the two days and James Was taking a £3.00 a week pay packet home.
James B Fraser. Circa 1930. Mr Alexander Fraser standing outside the premises.
James B Fraser worked for John Wilson for seventeen years, in 1925 Mr Wilson decided to retire due to ill health and sold the pub to James. His name then went above the door “James B Fraser”.
James sadly passed away three years later after taking over the pub. His widow Mary Cunningham Fraser then took over the running of the business with the help of her son Alexander, who became the licensee the following year. Alexander had sixteen years experience in the licensed trade.
When Alexander passed away his wife Margaret Rodger Pritchard Fraser became licensee, at this time she was living at 261 Kennedy Street, Townhead. Margaret worked very hard here during the war times and sold the pub to James McCabe after the great war.
The pub name was changed at this time to the Lovat Arms and was run by publican John McMahon in the 1950s and 60s. The pub was sold to Elizabeth Hurrel McPhail in 1962 and became well known as Betty’s Bar.
Other names this pub has had over the years is Winston’s.
Matt Fullerton the present owner enlarged the pub a few years ago taking in Pearson’s shop next door, it is now twice the size it was when it was Betty’s Bar.
Eastenders was up for sale for £625,000 Freehold. September 2005.
Eastenders, August 2005.
Interior view of Betty’s Bar after alterations. 1967.
Left to right Joe McBride, Celtic Football Club opened the renovated Betty’s Bar in 1967, Daniel Hurrel, Mrs Hurrel and J Tresnan of Scottish Brewers. 1967.
Eastenders is now closed down. 2008.
To read more on the pubs on the Gallowgate read up & Doon the Gallowgate by John Gorevan. A copy can be bought for a few pounds at the Hielan Jessie on the Gallowgate or contact me at john@oldglasgowpubs.co.uk
267 Lawmoor Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Edward Smyth took this old pub over in the late 1950s.
Up until the 1930s Lawmoor Street was called South Wellington Street and the pub sat at the corner of Cumberland Street.
In 1890 Irishman Daniel McMenemy owned this pub he sold it on to Louis Flanangan another Irishman. The Gorbals like the Gallowgate had many Irish publican’s, and to pass it on or sell it to another from the same part of Ireland was not unusual.
When the Gorbals was flattened by the bulldozers, some of the publican’s removed to other parts of the city, Eddie took over the Anvil Inn, Smithycroft Road in 1960.
Mr Smyth was president of the Glasgow Vintners and a member of the Vintners Golf Club.
March 1971, Glasgow Vintners honour St. Patrick’s Day. Left to right Mrs. J Flynn, Mr Eddie Smyth, president, Miss Roberta Reid of Aer Lingus with her basket of shamrocks, Canon McGuckin, Administrator, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Mrs. E Smyth and J Flynn, senior vice-president.
Glasgow Vintners 1971, Mr J Flynn, Mrs. Flynn, Mrs. and Bailie W S T Park, Mrs. Smyth and E Smyth.
Group of Glasgow Vintners Golf Club, 1969, with Eddie Smyth 4th on the left. Also included in the photograph is Mr Raymond Strain, A McDonald, J Boyle, J Devlin, J Kennedy, C Sweeney, P McGhee, F Carr, J Murphy, H McLaughlin and Peter Smith.
The Glasgow Vintners Golf Club annual dinner and dance presentation of prizes in the Eagle Lodge, Bishopbriggs. 1970. Left to right Charles Sweeney, Arlington Bar (Captain’s Prize); Jack Devlin, Oxford Tavern(Cantrell & Cochrane Cup); John Boyle, Waverley Bar (Queen Anne Trophy); T Ferry, Alamo Bar, Paisley (Silver Stag and Club Championship); Hugh McLaughlin, Ascot Bar (Dunn & Moore Coronation Cup); Peter Smith, Shedden’s Bar (Skol Cup); Bill Martin, Calypso Bar (Vintners Tankard); Eddie Smyth, Anvil Inn (The Younger Putter); Ian Kennedy, Molls Mire (The Brady Trophy).)
Eddie Smyth with Archbishop Scanlon. 1970.
The Glasgow Vintners marked their golden jubilee dinner dance in the Bellahouston Hotel, Glasgow. The gathering was presided over by Mr. E. Smyth, president. The principal guest was Archbishop James Donald Scanlon. The guests also included Mr. C. M. F. Ewing, president of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.
145 George Street, Glasgow. Demolished.
To read the full history of the Dunrobin Click here.
The Dunrobin Bar opened in 1931. The new owner was John W Fraser served the locals until his death in 1945. His son Ian W Fraser then took over and made some alterations.
Thanks to Gavin L Cutler for the following email…
Hi John, I just found your site and was browsing old haunts from when I was a post grad student in Glasgow.
I was at Strathclyde (Physics Dept) and one of our favourite haunts was the Dunrobin on George Street. My enduring memory is that the draught Tennent’s lager was fantastic, way better than anywhere else (at least to the taste buds of an English bitter drinker who usually stuck to Guinness in Glasgow- sorry if that’s sacrilege.)
Anyway I think the Dunny was demolished in about 1986, but we rescued the 20ft name board from the site and stuck it up in the John Anderson Building of Strathclyde Uni, on Rottenrow (Top Floor Common Room). I have no idea if it’s still there as I left Glasgow in 1989 (sadly.) The Dunny was a great wee bar with snug seating and frequent sing-songs. A proper pub. We got temporarily banned for singing The Wild Rover, which must have upset somebody’s sensibilities! Happy memories. You haven’t enjoyed a Glasgow pub until you’ve been barred from it… Cheers….
Do you remember this old pub? if so please leave a comment.
END.
247 Duke Street, Glasgow. Demolished.
Duke Street with the Dunchattan Arms on the left hand side.
There has been a public house on this site since the 1860s. Spirit merchant Thomas Stewart was proprietor then. In 1875 well known wine and spirit merchant James Dewar was licensee, he also had pubs at 48 Commerce Street, 227 Cowcaddens, 225 New City Road, 1 Port Dundas Road and 27 West Russell Street.
During the early part of the 1890s Donald Cameron wine merchant ran this successful pub. He lived nearby at 233 Duke Street.
On 13th April 1899 Alfred Ernest Howard took over the licence paying an annul rent of £75.00.
The pub closed down for a while during the First World War after Daniel Stewart ran the pub. However the premises were opened up again and was successfully operated by publican Donald MacDonald, he also owned a great pub at 39-41 Scotia Street. Donald ran the two pubs until the 1950s.
Many will still remember Michael Scanlan who ran the pub in the 1960s when the photograph above was taken.
In 1972 Edward John Barnes was running the pub for the brewers, he was also licencee of 115b-115c West Nile Street (Iron Horse) and a pub at 26-30 Cottar Street. Mr Barnes was one of the last licensee’s to run the pub before it was demolished in the 70s.
Some of the principal office-bearers of the Glasgow Licensed Trade Defence Association photographed on the occasion of their annual outing to St Andrews. Included in the group are Mr James Denholm, president, and Mrs Denholm; Mr P B Jackson, vice-president, and Mrs Jackson; Mr Archibald McNiven, vice-president, and Mrs McNiven; Mr Peter Pirie, Mr John Holmes, Mr Kenneth McLean and Mrs McLean, Mr Michael Scanlan, secretary of the Glasgow Vintners Association, and Mrs Scanlan; Mr P at McKay, Mrs McGinlay, Mrs J Young, Mrs Gray, Mrs D Menzies. July 1935.
Do you remember this old pub? if so please leave a comment.
END.
3 Stewart Street, Glasgow.
Situated at the corner of Stewart Street and Ann Street.
To read the full history of the Scottish Vintner’s Co. Check out our book here.
Scottish Vintner’s Co. 1960s.
In 1892 the proprietor was a gentleman called Samuel G Howard.
Mr Samuel G Howard. 1892.
Scottish Vintner’s on the far right 1960s.