14 Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow. G3 8NU. Tel: 0141 576 5018.
Murph’s Barrelhouse. 1991.
Now known as the Barrel House.
This old pub dates back to 1880 when landlord George Bignell traded here. Mr Bignell was an Englishman and came to Scotland where he met an Edinburgh lass called Janet, they moved back down south for a time where they had a family Jemima and Thomas. Returning to Scotland Mr Bignell became a publican and traded in Kelvinhaugh Street, they had another daughter Charlotte who was born not far from the pub.
This old pub has in the past been known as the Anchor Bar.
Also known as Ocean’s, West 13th, McChuill’s way out West and Stereo.
Oceans lounge bar & Diner ad 1984.
In the NEWS 1984…
Oceans apart.
How often have you been caught feeling uncomfortable peckish in Glasgow at an awkward, in-between time when many city eateries are closed?
Well, there’s no need to go hungry or make do with something fried or greasy, go to Linda and Tony Matteo’s superb Oceans Seafood Bar and enjoy a beautiful meal any time from 12 noon until 10.30 at night.
And what’s more, It’s so handy for most parts of the city. It’s in Kelvinhaugh Street, tucked in off Argyle Street, just minutes from the city centre in one direction and the Kelvin Hall in the other.
Tony Matteo points out that they’ll be ideally placed too, for the new giant Exhibition Centre opening next year and, with no parking problems, Oceans Seafood Bar looks set only for still greater things.
The Seafood bar idea was born four years ago when the couple seized on the idea of a casual, but upmarket diner specialising in top quality seafood.
Tony had envisaged simply serving seafood type snacks, but such has been the demand for his marvellous food, the bar has now grown. The dining area has been extended and the whole lounge bar now serves meals at peak times.
Casual
This casual approach to serious eating succeeds in making Oceans a Mecca for executives entertaining clients at lunchtime and for in inexpensive, but special night out.
Atmosphere apart, what the diner is all about is the food: excellent shark, catfish, crayfish, mussels prepared French or Italian style. If it’s available, Tony and Linda will see that you can have it served any way you like.
There’s a vast a la carte menu, which os course runs on from seafood delicacies like lobster, fresh salmon, ect. to duck , steak au poivre and the delightfully named Suft ‘n Turt, steak with creamy seafood!
But even if it’s simply a hamburger, you’re after, Oceans is still your place. But the hamburgers are something rather special, home-made, juicy with a variety of tempting toppings, from cheese to chilli and, naturally, seafood.
The seafood idea is something other people have tried to copy, but few have pulled it off so brilliantly as Tony Matteo, whose experience with the legendary Duke of Touraine at Parkhead Cross, gives him a head start of the rest of the field.
Value
His knowledge of the catering business has taught him always to give the customer what he or she wants. That’s why he’s introduced excellent value table d’hôte menus at the bar at lunchtime.
These vary from day to day, but can feature delicious dishes like chicken cacciatore or steak pie, etc.
Private parties.
One of the big attractions at Oceans is Terry Martin who tickles the keys of his honky-tonk piano, Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, rapidly established himself as a feature of the lounge bar. Another spot finding favour with Oceans’ clientele is the private corner, a small area of the lounge bar-diner which can be curtained off for small private business meetings or parties.
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It was called Stereo before it was refurbished and is now a splendid pub called… Tel: as above. 2007.
Up Date April 2007:
After a refurbishment this bar is now called The 78, Everything in it is just about ORGANIC.
The 78, 2007.
Good luck to the new owners, this pub has never looked so good.
