John Gorevan

The Parade Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Meadowpark Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow.

The Parade Bar. 1991.

This was the famous Parade Cinema situated in Meadow Park Street in the east end of the city. The locals called the cinema the Flee Pitt. The Parade Bar is owned by Frank Marley a well known and respected east end publican who owned the New Monaco Bar. Over his long career in the licensed trade Mr Marley has run some of the best known pubs in this part of the city including the Traders Tavern, Kent Street, The Barrowland Bar, Kent Street, Jacks Bar, London Road and Gordie’s Byre in the Barrowland Ballroom.

Frank Marley sadly died this year 2007. R.I.P

The Palaceum Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Edrom Street, Glasgow. G32 7DN. Tel: 01417787447.

Palaceum Bar. 1991.

Licence Holders.

1973 Gordon Stuart Scott.

The Palace Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

1285 Duke Street, Parkhead, Glasgow.

The Palace Bar, Duke Street was situated at the corner of Salamanca Street, a stones throw from Parkhead Cross. The history of this old pub can be traced back to the very foundation of the Dalrymple family, Jane McAndrew Dalrymple obtained the licence in 1873. The Dalrymple family then had pubs on the Gallowgate, Great Eastern Road and the Trongate.

Palace Bar. 1970s.

George Dalrymple & Co., were probably better known for his Home Brewery, Parkhead. The Home Brewery presents many features of more than ordinary interest, and has for many years occupied a leading position among the great brewing establishment of this city and district. Dating back in its foundation to the year 1860, when it was established originally in Whitevale Street, the business rapidly increased to such an extent that the firm found it necessary to erect a new extensive brewery at Parkhead.

The premises extend over fully three acres of ground, and comprise within their limits a large main building of three flats where the brewing operations are conducted, also extensive warehouse, stores, and workshops, a spacious suite of well appointed offices and counting house, and all the accessories of a large and thoroughly organised establishment. The premises having been specially erected for the trade, they were very compact, and place the firm in a most favourable position to maintain and extend their already large and valuable connection. Messrs. George Dalrymple & Co. brew XXX and XX stout at 50s. and 45s. per barrel; Scotch porter 20s. per barrel net; also India pale ale, from new Artesian well, at 60s. and 54s. per barrel; table beer, &c. They posed the advantage of a well of excellent water, and exercise in the selection of their stocks of malt and hops that great care and sound judgement which were acquired only by long and continued practical experience. In addition to the brewing business, Messrs. George Dalrymple & Co. were extensively engaged in the retail wine and spirit trade, and were well known for their special blends of Scotch whisky, and also imported large quantities of wines and brandies of the best vintages. They held perhaps one of the largest, and certainly one of the best selected, stocks of wines and spirits in the city. The cellars, which were very spacious, contain some very rare and choice ports, sherries, clarets, burgundy, and champagne. The firm’s blends of Scotch whisky were a great favourite with connoisseurs, and in great demand where a sound, mellow, and fine flavoured whisky was valued.

The firm send out energetic travellers, covering the whole of Scotland. Mr George Dalrymple, who was the sole proprietor of the business, was a gentleman possessing the advantage of long and thorough experience, and occupied a very influential position in social and mercantile circles, being an ex-magistrate of Kinning Park, and was the President of the Scottish Wine, Spirit, and Beer Trade Association.

The Home Brewery was eaten up by the larger Tennent Caledonian Brewery, Wellpark, who also took over other smaller breweries in the city.

Facts…

George Dalrymple was born in Kirkintilloch in 1831, he married a Parkhead lass called Mary and had a family of two daughters Margaret and Jane, two sons George and William.

William Dalrymple died in 1902 leaving an estate valued at £23,241, a vast amount of money in those days. He resided at 255 Nithsdale Road.

The licensee during the 1940s and 60s John F Craig also held the licence for pubs Polmadie Street, International Bar, Balmore Road, Parson Street and Westmuir Street, Ward’s Bar (check out War’s bar in our book).

Do you know anything about this pub or any other pub in the city?

If so please contact us and we will review your comments.

Licence Holders.

1976 F McKell

1972 Douglas Robert White McFadyen.

1960-1947 John F Craig.

1919-1903 William Dalrymple.

1899-1873 Mrs Jane McAndrew Dalrymple.

Pacific Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 3 Comments

Renfield Street, Glasgow.

The Pacific Bar was situated at the corner of Renfield Street and Bath Street and was a short lived venture as the tenement building was demolished a few years later.

A self-service restaurant with a bar was another addition to the growing number of licensed eating places in the city. Accommodation was provided for around 130 diners. The decor of the dinning area conveys the atmosphere of a Pacific island. The central piece, a wide circle in the flamingo pink ceiling was lit by fluorescent lamps to create the impression of a blue, velvety sky and edged with a copper band, finished by a border of thick hemp rope.

From the centre comes a column, painted with gay and abstract design. Suspended from the upper parts of the column were half a dozen yard long lanterns in rice paper.

Down the middle of the restaurant was a trough of exotic flowers lined with rush marring. A mottled blue carpet went under each table.

This new venture as well as the adjacent Princes and Cocacabana was being managed by Reo Stakis, Glasgow restaurateur for Scottish Brewers Ltd.

The Tron Tavern

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

67 London Road, Glasgow.

The Tron Tavern was situated on London Street now London Road near Glasgow Cross. In the 1870s spirit merchant James Duthie owned a smaller public house here, over the years the pub had been extended taking in vacant property, as you can see by the photograph above the pub extends over the different tenement buildings.

From 1887 to the beginning of the 1900s the pub was known as The Pacific owned by wine & spirit merchant Colin Cummings. Mr Cummings had other Pacific bars in the city, one on Parliamentary Road and one on Castle Street. Colin rented the premises on London Street from Gray Edmiston a well known publican and property owner in the licensed trade, Mr Edmiston left the licensing trade to concentrate of renting property out to other publicans and other businesses in the city. He owned pubs on Commercial Street, London Street, Cowcaddens, Trongate, Garscube Road, West Nile Street and two pubs on the Gallowgate.

Another publican to own the pub was Patrick Griffin, he paid an annul rent of £110 to Mr Edimiston from 1912 to after the First World War, he also owned the Mermaid Bar, Cowcaddens. The pub stayed in the same family until after the Second World War, after the war a lady was licensee Mrs M D Henderson.

The Pacific Bar during the Coronation 1953.

During the 50s Mr R T Blevins was running this popular bar, he also ran the Railway Bar, London Road at the junction of Charlotte Lane a pub on Shamrock Street and the Tron Bar, Bedford Street south side.

Interior view of the Tron Tavern. 1966.

Scottish Brewers took over the pub during the 60s and appointed a manager Willy Milroy.

John Lynch of the famous Old Barns on London Road also owned the pub during the 1970s, this old pub was demolished as the building was now very old and in great need of renovation.

In the NEWS 1977…

Court Closes the Pub with no WATER…

Publican John Lynch was frothing yesterday over a water bill for one of his three bars in London Road, Glasgow.

The claim by Strathclyde water department for 18 months’ supply to the Tron Bar at 67 London Road was said to be £900, covering five million gallons of the wholesome stuff.

Mr Lynch refused to pay, his supply was eventually cut off, and yesterday the dispute came to a head at Glasgow District Licensing Court when his licence for the Tron was revoked.

The court was told that since October Mr Lynch has been carting beer kegs filled with water from one of his other bars, the Old Barns, more than 200 yards up the road.

The water has been poured into a basement tank at the Tron and channelled by way of an electric pump to the bar fittings. But the system brought swift disapproval from the police and environmental health officials, who raised their objections at yesterdays half-yearly sitting of the Court.

It was said there had been serious concern since November about the pub being operated without an adequate water supply. And it was claimed that on March 7 there was so little water in the tank that neither bar fittings nor sanitary convieniences were being served.

An agent for Mr Lynch argued that the dispute over the 5,000,000 gallons might lead one to wonder just how much beer was being sold in the pub.

Mr Lynch, aged 38, said later he would be lodging an immediate appeal and accused the water department of bureaucracy.

He claimed: “My normal bill for 18 months would be something between £50 and £100. Despite my protests the water board has notified the health people, who have put the pressure on me.”

However, a spokesman for the Strathclyde water department stated last night that a bill was for £829 covering some 4,000,000 gallons dating back to 1974.

Willy Milroy manager of the Tron pulling a pint. 1966.

Licence Holders.

1972 John Anthony Lynch.

1960 J Irving.

1953 R T Blevins.

1947 Mrs M D Henderson.

1937 Peter Griffin.

1919-1912 Patrick Griffin.

1910 Andrew Stel.

1902-1887 Colin Cummings.

1875 James Duthie.

The Virginian

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 4 Comments

53-59 Miller Street, Glasgow. G1.

The Virginian Tavern was opened in the summer of 1974 by Tony Queen and Pat Harkins.

A touch of the New Orleans had been introduced to Glasgow with the opening of the Virginian in Miller Street. The joint enterprise was the brains of Tony Queen, who had sold most of his bookmaking interests and Pat Harkins a master chef and publican who had travelled the world.

It was from the restaurants of New Orleans that the Virginian took its inspiration. Pat Harkins collected a range of recipes from that city so that Glasgow could have a taste of Creole cuisine. Creole cuisine is a combination of the best French/Spanish/Italian cooking traditions and there is also a fair mixture of the native American Indian influence.

The Virginian had two lounges a restaurant and a dance floor.

In the 1990s this once famous pub diner was called Pacers.

Included in this photograph are Tony Queen, Pat Harkins, A McAuley, Pig & Whistle, C Sweeney, Arlington Bar, J Murray, Dunn & Moore, W Martin, Calypso Bar, J Bailie manager of the Virginian, Mr Smyth, the Anvil and T Doherty, Dunn & Moore. 1974.

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Virginian advert 1979.