Argyle Street

His Lordships Larder

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

187 Argyle Street, 4 Adam’s Courtb Lane, Glasgow.

His Lordships larder, 4 Adam’s Court Lane, another address was 187 Argyle Street, 4 St. Enoch Square Place.

On the site of His Lordships Larder, started out as confectioners dating back to around 1859. The owner then as a gentleman called John Campbell a Wholesale & Retail and export confectioner and maker of the celebrated “Cough Water”. He had premises at 46, 183 Argyle Street, 120 Trongate and resided at 40 St. Vincent Crescent.

The following year he was selling the above plus a liquor licence, so he became a wine and spirit and malt liquor merchant too.

A few years later he was making his products at 117 Stockwell Street a sort of warehouse. Business as very successful until 1865 when Alexander McPherson took over the premises at Adam’s Court Lane as a spirit merchant, this is the first time it was classified as a public house.

In 1869 well-known wine and spirit merchant Alexander Fraser took over, he also had premises at 8 Queen Street and 242 Argyle Street. Alexander Fraser was to become one of the renowned and well respected spirit merchants in the Scottish Licensed Trade. Alexander continued to hold the licence until his death around 1876. His son Melville Fraser then took control of the thriving business. In 1899 Melville was paying an annul rent of £460 for the premises in Adam’s Court Lane. The business became known as St. Mungo Vintners, having premises at 100-101 Great Clyde Street (Clyde Street,) 22 Dumbarton Road, 91 Norfolk Street and a licensed grocer business at 31-37 St. Vincent Place.

During the First World War Alexander Moore was a trustee of the late Melville Fraser.

Alexander Fraser one of the owners died in 1956.

His Lordship Larder closed down in 1959 after a fire and to make way for the ever expanding Arnott Simpson store.

Read more on Glasgow’s Old Restaurants.

The Hebridean Vaults

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

377 Argyle Street,Glasgow.

The Hebridean Vaults. 1888.

The Hebridean Vaults sat at the corner of Argyle Street and James Watt Street. Before Anderston became part of Glasgow this was just a country road known as Anderston Walk. An old howff was situated on this site called “Peace and Plenty.” In 1844 landlord David Limont ran this old howff along with a popular public house on Bridge Street, Stevenson Taylor later took over this pub and is now familiarly known as the Glaswegian.

John Fisher was running the pub in 1875, he had several pubs in Glasgow and was very successful in his time. In 1888 partners Mr W C Bunten and Mr A A McCallum was running this pub and renames it the Hebridean Vaults. Mr Bunten gave his personal attention to the business, he sent his early days at sea. After filling the various pasts as cabin boy to steward he found himself ashore and in possession of a certificate to run a pub. Mr Bunten’s business partner Mr McCallum had very little to do with the running of the pub, he stayed on board the “Hebridean” Steamer which left the Broomielaw to St. Kilda, he only ventured into the pub when when he came to port.

The pub was frequented by many sailors from all over the world, a good stock of whisky was always available at the Hebridean Vaults including Talisker, Islay, Campbeltown, Long John, good quality ale was also kept in the cool cellars.

In 1890 Charles Marchant took over the pub paying an annul rent of £197, his son also Charles had a pub at 218 Broomielaw, young Charles served in the First World War at which time his wife took over the running of the pub. Charles Marchant sen. ran the Hebridean Vaults until the 1920s. In the 30s the pub was run by wine & spirit Merchant William Brown.

Many will remember Edward Foley, he owned the pub in the 1950s – 60s, and the known as the Stag Bar, he also ran the Station Bar, Port Dundas Road, Glasgow. The pub was demolished shortly afterwards due to the City Council’s redevelopment scheme.

Tropic’s

January 17, 2017 by John Gorevan 9 Comments

253 Argyle Street, Glasgow. G2 8DL. Tel: 0141 565 1000.

The Gallery. 1991.

Situated under the Hielanman’s Umbrella in Argyle Street this was once a favourite haunt with many Glaswegian known as the Tropic’s. I passed this pub a few months ago and it was closed down.

Now Called Archie’s. Tel: as above.

Windjammer’s

January 17, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

1321 Argyle Street, Yorkhill, Glasgow. G3 Tel: 01413340594.

Windjammer’s. 1991.

Built in 1877 and known as the Wheat Sheaf, it takes it’s name from the fact that this part of the city was once covered by fields and wheat sheaf’s.

The first licensee for the newly built property was wine & spirit merchant James Meiklem Coubrough, who formerly owned an old tavern at the corner of Anderston Quay and Washington Street. Mr Coubrough took advantage of the great Exhibition which was across the road, all the best catering and beverages were stoked at the Wheat Sheaf which was one of the cleanest public houses in the area, the large mirrors and tables were spotless, the brass was polished like gold, nothing was out of place here and only the best of everything was stocked. Mr Coubrough prided himself in a first class establishment a rule he adhered to on starting the business. An old show-card hung on one of the walls in the back saloon “James Steel’s Mild Ales, Craigend Brewery, Edinburgh,” a reminder of a long and forgotten brewery. Mr Counrough’s family, for generations came from Stirlingshire but James was born in Glasgow and was proud of the fact he was a Glaswegian. Mr Coubrough continued as licensee until 1896, the licence was transferred to James Clark a well known and respected member of the Scottish Licensed Trade.

Etch of the Wheat Sheaf 1887.

James Clark ran pubs in Jackson Street, Dunlop Street and the Sheddens, Busby. The Jackson Street premises were demolished when the railway company took over the ground. Mr Clark also ran a good public house, he stocked a vast range of rare Old Scotch Whiskies. In his spare time he was regularly seen shooting, golfing and bowling. A free mason of Lodge 458, he was chosen R. W. M. in the late 1890s. Having resided in Busby for many years he was better known in this district than in the city center. He was a member of the Perthshire Society, the Glasgow Southern Merchants, the Corporation Masons and Anderston Weavers.

Another well known spirit merchant to own the pub was Alexander Duthie, he payed an annul rent of £92 for the property in 1907. Mr Duthie also had licensed premises on Adelphi Street and Wallace Street. Alexander continued to serve the locals until the end of the First World War.

Over the years the pub has been known under different names such as The Wheaf Sheaf, Robert Clark’s Exhibition Bar, Fraser’s, The Frying Pan Bar, Windjammer and is now called Firebird. Jim and wife Margaret Claven managed the Frying Pan Bar before immagrating to Australia in 1968. They also managed the Waldorf Bar in Cambridge Street.

Firebird. 2007.

Robert Clark. 1901.

Licence Holders.

1973 Patricia Kelly McQueen.

1960-1947 W D Anderson.

1940-1937 Joseph T Fraser.

1920-1907 Alexander Duthie.

1903-1899 Robert Clark.

1895-1877. James Meiklem Coubrough.

Foxy Fowler’s

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

311 Argyle Street, Glasgow.

Foxy Fowler’s. 1980.

This was originally the Gordon Arms Bar situated at the corner of Argyle Street and Robertson Street.

It became known as Foxy Fowlers in the 1980s.

There has been a pub on this site since 1852, occupied then by a gentleman called Donald Campbell. Over the years there have been many wine & spirit merchants trading from these premises, including Robert Graham, Alexander Bremner, he also owned the Stonefield Tavern, Blantyre and Henry Kerr.

When George McCallum owned it in 1885 the pub was known as Eunson’s Cafe Royal, Mr McCallum was also an inventor and owned the Caley Bar at the corner of Castle Street and Charles Street and the Artisan, Garngad Road (Big Glen).

Licence Holders.

1973-1965 Malcolm Paterson.

1960 Jane Sinclair.

1919-1908 David McFarlane.

1902-1901 Patrick Filbin.

1899-1898 Alexander Bremner.

1897-1886 Henry Kerr.

1885 George McCallum.

1880-1863 Robert Graham.

1861 James Cook.

1855-1852 Donald Campbell.

The Festival Bar & Lounge

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

358 Argyle Street, Glasgow. G2. Demolished.

The Festival Bar, 1991.

There has been a pub on this site since 1852.

Many names have adorned the doorway such as the Chiltern 100, Alpen Lodge, the Glen Bar, the Glen Leven, Sylvester’s the Edinburgh Bar and the Tyrol. For further reading on the full history of this pub click here.

The Tyrol Bar. 1971.

In the News 1971…

If a holiday on the Tyrol is beyond the budget this year you could do worse than pop into Scottish and Newcastle Breweries newest Glasgow pub to sample their typical Bavarian atmosphere.

The Tyrol is in Argyle Street, it used to be known as the Glen Bar, and just round the corner from the new bus station, so whether you’ve just stepped off a bus after a tiring journey or you’ve a few minutes to wait before you leave the Tyrol is a convenient rendezvous to know about.

Completely renovated, the old bar had been given a strong Alpine influence and now incorporates a lounge called Die Schussel (the food bowl) and a cellar bar known as Das Keller. The lounge bar, which is at ground level has attractive German design carpeting in shades of red and brown. The walls are of white texture and contrast pleasantly with the dark-stained wood which has been used to give the lounge the atmosphere of an Alpine lodge.

Decorative blue tiles have been used in the food service area. The main eye-catching feature in the lounge is a coloured leather mural behind the gantry. It was made by Andrew Barr, of Haddington, and depicts an Alpine folk scene.

Tyrol, thanks to photographer James Green for this wonderful image 1979.

Down in the cellar bar great use has been made of panels of colour against a white plaster wall. The floor is paved with ceramic tiling and there are shaped simulated pillars with white plaster beams. On the wall facing the bar typical Germanic “sayings” have been painted in Gothic style.

Possibly the greatest attraction of all, however, and especially when word gets around, will be the delicious food served both in the lounge and the cellar. In the lounge there are wine decanters on every table and you choose your own steaks or salads from the refrigerated showcase. There’s trout, gammon steaks, smoked ell salad, smoked salmon salad, coleslaw, salad, mouth watering yet? There’s a full grill menu as well as Danish and open sandwiches.

If you’re in a bit of a rush and don’t have time for a full-scale meal there’s a quicker service in the cellar. It’s more on help-your-self lines and there will be a dish of the day and a selection of salads, all priced around the 20-25p mark. Manager of the Tyrol is David Barsanti.

Other Glen Leven Bar’s, 40 Broomielaw and 149-151 Oxford Street.