John Gorevan

The Peel

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Old Drumchapel, Glasgow.

In the News 1972…

Another place which is attracting a lot of favourable comment is the Peel, in Old Drumchapel. They have started cabaret nights there on Thursday. Last week singer-comedian Charlie Sim topped the bill in a most entertaining entertaining fun. Incidentally, Charlie will be appearing at the Doublet, in Faifley, on Sunday, April 16 1972.

The Peel and the Doublet are under the same ownership, and plans are in hand to have acts doubling at both lounges on the same night. This is common practice in clubland in the north of England, but is comparatively rare in Scotland.

Peckham’s

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

61-65 Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UB.

Peckham’s. Glassford Street. 2009.

Peckham’s has five establishments in Glasgow, 1 in Kirkintilloch, 1 in Lenzie and 3 in Edinburgh. Peckham’s sits on the corner of Glassford Street and Wilson Street.

Buchanan, John M.

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

216-18 Hope Street, 200-202 New City Road, Glasgow. Demolished.

Mr John M Buchanan. 1893.

John M Buchanan was a native of Dunfermline, when still an infant his parents removed to Carnoustie, in Forfarshire and there under the late Mr Gray (afterwards of Townhead, Glasgow,) a well-known and respected dominie of the old Scottish type, he received a thoroughly sound elementary education. On leaving school young John was apprenticed to the grocery trade with the largest concern in the district, the Co-operative Company’s store, where he served for four years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the directors. Determined to seek a wider field, he came to Glasgow and engaged in the same line of business, the grocery and provision trade, with a firm in Bridgeton.

Ever anxious to better himself and gain experience, he was employed with John Ewing, grocer and wine merchant, Argyle Street, and so faithfully did he perform his duties that in a short time he was promoted to the responsible position of manager. After four years, Mr Buchanan purchased from Mr Miller the licensed premises, hope Street in 1880, and retained as his headquarters, and which he carried on under the style of Buchanan Brothers.

Still ambitious and enterprising he acquired a pub at 200-202 New City Road, which by judicious alterations, he had improved beyond recognition. His manager Mr Alexander Robertson, who has held the reins of government since the opening of the concern by its present proprietor. Fond of art, and a generous patron of its votaries, Mr Buchanan’s premises were decorated by unique, well-selected, and valuable, paintings, giving abundant evidence of his refined taste and appreciation.

The Hope Street business was sold to wine and spirit merchant George Shields Peat in 1901, Mr Peat redecorated the premises and renamed the pub to Peat’s Pavilion Bar.

In 1913 this old pub closed down for good. It was located at the corner of Renfrew Lane next to Molly Malone’s.

Do you remember any of the old pubs in Hope Street? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Park Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

421 Dumbarton Road, Dalmuir. G81 4DU.

In the News 1971…

Day they went fishing in the Park Bar cellar.

The day they found goldfish swimming about in the cellar was just one eventful day among many in the history of the Park Bar in dalmuir.

That was the day the road outside the bar was being dug up and a sewer flooding the cellar deposited 22 goldfish, source unknown, on the premises.

Then there was the day in the Clydebank blitz when a bomb flattened the original bar opened in the twenties, and the move was made to the present address at 421 Dumbarton Road. “It was supposed to be a temporary move,” chargehand Gordon Stewart explained, “but 30 years is scarcely temporary.”

Mr. Gordon Stewart is the Park Bar Chargeman, and Miss Madge Bayne joined as a temporory staff member 30 years ago! 1971.

Modern decor

Among the oldest and most popular free house in the area, the Park Bar is having another event, a complete change of image from traditional to ultra-modern. With the acquisition of the next door premises, a complete refurbishment and extension of the bar is being carried out. Gleaming white paint and Scandinavian type pine panelling have already transformed most of the interior. The lounge has doubled in size, and there’s now a new cocktail bar.

“The next step,” says licensee Mr. Samuel Weir, “is the alteration and redecoration of the public bar and off-sales shop to bring our bar up to high standard that Clydebank burgh likes to see on its licensed premises. “It will be a far cry from the days when the original licensee something of an outdoor man, had the wall behind the public bar covered with glass cases full of stuffed birds and fish.”

That was George McTurk, goalkeeper for Clyde and a famous footballer in his day. His niece, Miss Madge Bayne, carries on the family tradition as a staff member for 30 years. “I came here in 1941, just to let my cousin go on holiday.” Miss Bayne told me. “Ive been here ever since, and it’s a standard joke to say we don’t know if she’s back yet.”

Theatre bell

Miss Bayne showed me round, pointing out such changes as the new and extremely comfortable seating, the crisp decor of white, mustard, and olive green in the lounge, and rich patterned wallpaper of the small and cosy cocktail bar.

Another innovation is the internal bell set up for the convenience of patrons of the nearby Clydebank Repertory Theatre. “We’ve always had close associations with the Rep. Company,” explained Miss Bayne. “Both the audience and the actors are regulars so are the local football supporters.”

Whatever happened to those goldfish?

“Well,” said Mr Stewart, “I just went out and bought a fish tank, put it on top of the bar counter, poured the gwhich read “Fishing to-night.”