23 Hope Street, Glasgow. G2 6AB. Tel: 01412211105.
The Solid Rock Cafe. 1991.
This is an ideal place if you like heavy metal and rock bands.
This pub was also called the Norseman in the 1970s.
Many will still remember this pub as Black Jack’s.
This eye catching front could be mistaken for a fancy dress outlet. 2008.
The Solid Rock Cafe 2008. Next door on the left is the well known Denholm’s Bar.
979 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G3 7TQ. Tel: 01413397163.
The Snaffle Bit. 1991.
In 1960 Francis Robert Campbell obtained a licence to sell wine, beer & spirits at their new premises 979 Sauchiahall Street.
When the Second World War ended Mr Campbell took over the Snaffle Bit, Howard Street, which was formerly owned by John Thomson. Francis left the pub in Howard Street in 1960, the old pub was then taken over by Joseph Dodds.
Mr Campbell then removed to Sauchiehall Street where he traded for many years. When Francis Campbell passed away in 1981 his son Ewan took over the running of the pub.
The Snaffle Bit was named by John Scouller who owned some of the best known pubs in the city of Glasgow, including the Horse Shoe Bar, Drury Street and the Spur Bar, Polmadie. All his pubs had horse themes with horse shoes everywhere, photographs of horses hung on the walls, Scouller was one of the first men in Scotland to have a horse shoe shaped bar.
Left to right Mr J Hilson, Francis Campbell. This photograph was taken at the opening of the new lounge at the Snaffle Bit, Howard Street. Mr Hilson was the oldest drinking customer in the pub, he was a regular patron on the premises since 1910, he was a news vender at the corner of St Enoch Square and used to pop in for a quick one in between serving his customers.
The group of guests at the opening of the new lounge at the Snaffle Bit, Howard Street which included a number of trade personalities.
Licensed trade outing 1957. left to right T Doherty of Joseph Dunn Bottlers, Mrs Doherty, Mrs McCarry, Francis Campbell, Snaffle Bit, J Foy of John Jeffrey & Co Ltd, Mr McCarry, Mrs Francis Campbell, John Kennedy, Morven Bar.
Various photographs of the Snaffle Bit. 2005.
Interior view of the lounge bar.
Mr Ewan Campbell pouring a pint for one of the locals.
When I called at the Snaffle Bit owner Ewan Campbell was very pleasant so was the numerous locals. This is a friendly pub where you can get a good pint or a dram of whisky. If your interested in a social pub in the area of sauchiehall Street and the Mitchell Library this is a must, you have to give this pub a long visit. In short this is a great sociable pub with no bother of drunks or neds.
Cheers to Mr Campbell and the locals.
The Snaffle Bit. 2008.
The Snaffle Bit. 2008.
The Snaffle Bit. 2008.
2011 update…
The Snaffle Bit is now owned by Belhaven Brewery.
1956 Dumbarton Road, Yoker, Glasgow. Tel: 01419594702.
Smugglers Inn. 1990s.
This was the site of the Bassett & Linde Dining Rooms. In 1956 it was opened as the Smuggler’s Inn by Mr R Barton. In 1966 it was under threat of being closed down with 7 other pubs and 3 off sales in the Local Veto battle in the ward. The pubs under threat were the Lovat Arms, Anchorage Bar, Station Bar, Elderslie Bar, The Dry Dock, The Dog Watch and the Forum. The Off-Sales were T & J Geates Ltd, the Wine Merchants, and Cosgrove & Son Ltd.
427 Hamilton Road, Broomhouse, Uddingston, Glasgow. G71 7SG.
Smugglers Inn. 1991.
The Smugglers Inn is now demolished to make way for a new building of Flats.
Group photo at the Lanarshire Trade Conference left to right A Russell, Rowantree, Uddingston, E Barilone, Ashley House Hotel, E Holding, Royal Bar, Uddingston, R Wilson, Smuggler’s Inn, Broomhouse, E Sharvill, Rowantree, Uddingston, J Dobbins, Royal Bar, Uddingston. 1969.
47 West Nile Street, Glasgow. G1 2 PT. Tel: 0141 221 4677.
Smiths. 1991.
Now called Vronis. 2007.
Vronis. 2007.
Vronis Wine Bar opened in June 1995 by Alan Tomkins.
309 Dumbarton Road, Partick, Glasgow. G11 Tel: 01413390668.
The Smiddy. 1991.
The Smiddy has been landmark before the beginning of the 1900s. There used to be an old Smiddy Bar here before the red sandstone tenement building was erected, occupied by Donald Munro who sold the business to William Kirkwood.
A well known and respected Glasgow publican got his first job here when he arrived from Ireland in 1895, Patrick McKay. Mr McKay went on to be barman for Thomas Reid in the Bunch of Grapes, Dumbarton Road at the corner of Church Street. To read the full history of Patrick Mckay click here.
Patrick McKay’s son Robert owned the Snug public house, London Road, Bridgeton in 1957. Robert joined the Corps in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, his sister Margaret was also in the forces as a None-Commissioned Officer in the A.T.S.. Patrick McKay, Roberts young brother joined the Merchant Navy as a Cadet, he underwent the usual quick training and was enlisted for overseas service. The ship he sail was lost through enemy action off the African coast in May 1943, he was listed among those assumed lost, he was then only a few days off his 18th birthday.
The Smiddy. 2006.
