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The Arches.

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253 Argyle Street, Glasgow. G2 8LY. Closed.

The Arches. 2008.

The Arches is reputed to be one of Scotland’s largest night clubs, with three floors, the top bar is called the Sky Bar.

The Arches officially opened for business as an arts venue in May 1991. The building had originally been converted as a temporary exhibition centre for European City of Culture celebrations in 1990 and some theatre was performed as part of the exhibition’s events.

The exhibition, Glasgow’s Glasgow, ended in November 1990 and the building was returned to a bare, empty space. In early 1991, theatre director, Andy Arnold, took on the lease in his own name and produced two theatre shows for Mayfest, the now defunct Glasgow arts festival. The shows were Noise and Smoky Breath – a devised piece based on a book of Glasgow poems and songs – and the Scottish premiere of Sexual Perversity in Chicago.

A few months later, Arches Theatre was formally established as a registered company and non profit making charity – Andy has been its Artistic Director ever since.
The building was very damp and cold in those days and there was practically no public funding available to contribute to running costs, let alone sort out any building repairs. The feeling was that the enterprise would last only a few months before a commercial developer, night club impresario, or even car parking company would move in to take on the lease. However, an incredible energy immediately enveloped this new arts venue and all who got involved with it.

A constant stream of events of all types were instigated. Arches Theatre Company produced a stream of work including absurd and irreverent theatre productions like Richard’s Cork Leg and Purple Dust and site specific work like The Crucible, Caligari, and Metropolis: The Theatre Cut, which was staged throughout the whole building with a cast of 100 actors and musicians. A new theatrical night club began, Café Loco with cabaret mayhem, Mischief La Bas, Gods of Glam, Stereo MCs, Scottish Sex Pistols, and the like every Saturday night, together with the forerunner of today’s Pressure – the now legendary Friday Night with Slam. Exhibitions and visitor attractions were set up to occupy the largely derelict top half of the building and included Dinosaurs Alive, The Iron Bru Pop Video Exhibition, and an event which quickly acquired cult status – Alien War.

During the first few years, four full time staff were employed, the bar was run by a local publican and any furniture was begged, stolen or permanently borrowed from the likes of Tramway and other public buildings, where old chairs and tables were unearthed from their basements. We felt like squatters in those days – artists and performers claiming an extraordinary home while always feeling that we were living on borrowed time – waiting for the bailiffs to arrive.

Up To Date News:

18/05/2015.

The Arches have had bad press for over a year now. After the death of a 17 year old Regane MacColl died as a result of taking Mortal Kombat ecstasy. Young people know the dangers of taking drugs in any form. It’s a shame that it takes a death for people to take head of the problem of drug taking in Glasgow’s Night Clubs.

For over 10 years I worked in most of the Night Clubs in the City of Glasgow. On an average night I would be in 6 different clubs. What I noticed very early in my job was that drugs were easily get in all the clubs in town.

The drug dealers in Glasgow had their clubs covered and if another dealer tried to force their way into a club there was war. On many occasions I witnessed many fights and stabbings in and outside clubs where the dealers were protecting their area.

For a drug dealer to have covered a night club meant many thousands of pounds could be made over one weekend.

Different night clubs in different areas in town were covered by different drug dealers. I met a few of them over the years I worked in Glasgow’s nite life. Most of them were very nice and pleasant but if you got on the wrong side of them, well lets say you would be better off not going into town.

Back to the Arches, the police and authorities want to close the night club down. To me I think the authorities want to make an example of the Arches and send a message out to other Clubs in town, if you allow drug dealers into your premises we will shut you down.

Well do you know what a drug dealer looks like, could you spot a dealer in a crowd of a few hundred party goers.” No I didn’t think so.”

When I worked in the clubs I could spot a drug dealer out and I got to know what to look for, but the ordinary clubber couldn’t unless you were an abuser yourself.

For the closure of the Arches will not change anything. The Arches is not just a night club, it is a world-renowned arts centre and vital part of Scotland’s cultural economy.

Sadly closed for good.

Do you have any memories about the Arches? If so please get in touch.

END.

Ye Olde Anchor Tavern

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Ye Olde Anchor Tavern – Argyle Street, Glasgow.

Ye Olde Anchor Tavern, 1888.

Commissioner Whyte was better known as an accountant than a publican. As Convener of the Govanhill Finance Committee, he was always on demand, constant requests for his service, as the taxpayers had to pay up.

At a Ward meeting in 1887 an extraordinary state of affairs came to light in the financing of the burgh accounts. Mr Whyte, who was one of the representatives of the East Ward and convener of the Finance Committee, expressed dissatisfaction with the form of the statement of accounts submitted on his taking office as convener the previous year and resolved to make a thorough investigation and to unravel what appeared to him to be a mysterious disappearance of a valuable asset.

The result was that an alarming and growing deficit was clearly brought out. Thoroughly convinced that his position was unassailable, he laid his statement before his brother Commissioners, a majority of whom, however, described credited their correctness; but after full, and at times heated, discussions he, as a test, demanded that his statement of accounts should be submitted to a qualified chartered accountant, whose decision he was prepared to submit to as final.

Commissioner Whyte, 1887.

Mr Alexander Murray, C. A., the auditor of the burgh accounts, was chosen, and his report fully bore out all that Mr Whyte had asserted, and the Commissioners were brought to face the fact that there was a deficiency in the Police accounts at the end of the financial year in 1886 of £790 18 shillings 9 pence., which had increased to £881 10 shillings and a half penny in 1887. In order to bring out the position more clearly, he showed that a sum of £2,133 3 shillings and 4 pence., borrowed from the Royal Liver Society, was expended by the Commissioners of Police buildings.

By Act of Parliament the Commissioners were bound to provide for the repayment of this sum from revenue in instalments of one-twentieth part yearly, and an arrangement was made with that society in these terms, so that at the end of 20 years the building would become the property of the burgh free of debt.

In order to provide for this an arrangement was entered into with the County Commissioners, whereby that body took a lease of the premises for 20 years, at a rent to cover interest, fen-duties, fire insurance, and one-twentieth of the capital, thus giving a free asset of £106 13 shillings 2 pence, annually to the burgh; but he was surprised to find that this asset was never accounted for. He found that the surplus which should have appeared in their buildings’ account as a free asset had been appropriated, or perhaps borrowed, for the Police accounts, and this had been going on for the last seven years.

It only remains to be said that Provost Hunter was in entire accord with Mr Whyte, and publicly announced at a ward meeting that they were willing to have the accounts placed in the hands of any qualified chartered accountant, and, if their position was not entirely maintained as the only correct one, they would pay £10 to be given to the poor of Govanhill, provided their challengers, if such could be found, would undertake to be the same if the contrary was proved. This is but part of the good work he had accomplished for the burgh, and it is an open secret he is to run for Bailie at the next election, as on the last occasion he was returned by the greatest majority of any Commissioner.

Mr Whyte’s career as a publican was very short. Ye Olde Anchor Tavern was refurbished when he took over the business. The walls were panelled with beaded teak wood, with tiles denoting the seasons running on top, giving the interior a light clean appearance. The snug’s were similarly panelled, with mahogany tables and upholstered leather seating. The “Meridian” room faced Argyle Street and was very popular with the customers, watching the world go by. The history of the tavern goes back to 1788, the tavern was reached through a close, old men in 1893 still recalled seeing Sir Hew Pollok riding on horseback right up to the door.

The cellars had nine different compartments stocked with the best whisky and ale available at the time including wines and brandies of 1869. All the firms bottling was done here. Long John was a great favourite of Mr Whyte’s as was Cameron Bridge and Glen Ochil. Another new feature of the old tavern was electricity and electric bells in the sitting rooms.

Mr Whyte was born in Glasgow in the 1840s, his grandfather was a native of Appin. Mr Whyte studied Philosophy and Chemistry.

Mr Robert Clachan Kerr was manager of Ye Olde Anchor Tavern in 1888,, he gained his experience and management with George McCallum’sEunson’s Cafe Royal, 311 Argyle Street. Mr McCallum also owned the Caley Bar at the corner of Castle Street and Charles Street and the Artisan, Garngad Road better known as the Big Glen.

Manager Robert Kerr went on to become licensee of Ye Olde Anchor Tavern, his wife Marion took over the business after Roberts death in 1900. A few years later the old pub was closed down however Marion took over another pub at 193 Paisley Road which sat at the corner of Crookston Street, until the end of the First World War.

END.

The Waterloo Bar

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306 Argyle Street, Glasgow. G2. Tel: 01412295891.

Waterloo

The Waterloo Bar. 1991.

This was probably the first gay pub in Glasgow.

In 1888 David Ross took over the licence for the Waterloo bar that sat on this corner, the old premises were demolished and a new pub with a tenement of flats and offices was erected in it’s place. Mr Ross kept the name of the old pub the Waterloo.

To read more on David Ross and his public houses click here.

Read More about David Ross’s other premises at the Kelvinhaugh Vaults.

John White, 2 Waterloo Street.

Tap Bar

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518 Argyle Street, Glasgow.

Tap Bar Argyle Street

The Tap Bar. 1960s.

In 1903 this old pub was owned by wine and spirit merchant Malcolm McIntyre. He continued to serve the local until after the First World War.

During the 30s Mr J McGowan ran the pub before Eward Hamilton took over. Mr Hamilton ran a successful business here until the pub was closed and demolished in the 1960s.

Tap Bar Argyle Street2

Tap Bar. 1960s.

Mr & Mrs Edward Hamilton 1957

Dinner dance at the Glasgow Vintners’ Golf Club. 1957. Left to right Mr & Mrs Edward Hamilton, Tap Bar, Argyle Street, Mr & Mrs H McLaughlan, Central Bar, Prestwick, Mr Paul Kearney, Kearney’s Bar, Castle Street, Mr & Mrs John Hamilton, The Tavern, Glebe Street.

The Rob Roy Vaults

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43 Argyle Street, Glasgow.

Mr George Buchanan

Mr George Buchanan. 1887.

George Buchanan took over the Rob Roy Vaults at 43 Argyle Street which was famous for it’s luncheons, hungry Glaswegian’s traveled for miles for his delicious meals. George got his cooking experience during his time catering for the passengers on the steam trains at St. Enoch Station. Mr Buchanan employed Robert Stoddart probably the best known barman of that time he was also a keen actor. A menu hung outside the Rob Roy serving: Soups– Kidney, ox-tail, brown and carrot. Joints with veg, Roast beef, Stewed rabbit, Irish stew, Roast mutton, Steak pie, & Hot snacks
George Buchanan’s cuisine and liquors were one of the best in town.

In 1888 Mr Buchanan sold the Rob Roy to John Ramsay Stevenson for £1000. Mr Stevenson made some alterations, formerly two steps led to the entrance, but these were removed and the flooring lowered some two feet, thus giving a higher ceiling. One entering one was struck with a new mahogany horse shoe bar and spirit rack stocked with casks. The malt liquor was kept in the cellars, directly underneath and raised by a Bruce patent automatic beer raiser.

On the ground floor, large wall mirrors lined the walls, helping to give the bar a well lit appearance. Under the windows which faced the door was cushioned seats. The entrance had double doors, the inner door was of glass while a swinging door was further inwards, this helped to keep out the draughts when the other doors were kept open.

Under the stairs leading to the upper rooms was a tiled lined lavatory. In the main bar all the leading journals such as the Glasgow Herald, Scotsman, and Chronicle were kept. A new shop till was installed, one with five springs and sounds the alarm any time a stranger to the combination attempts to tamper with it.

Upstairs were four well furnished sitting rooms, each with ventilation, one large room was set up for Foresters meetings and other social gatherings. On this floor were three other spaces which were used for lighting the bar beneath but which could easily be converted into sitting rooms as required, lavatory accommodation was also here.

Interior view of the Rob Roy

Interior view of the Rob Roy. 1888.

The well stocked cellars stocked all the usual beverages including Burton Ales, Younger’s, Nicholson’s, Gillespie’s. A large bottling rack was also down here, Mr Stevenson did all his own bottling. The Rob Roy famous old Irish Whiskey and Mr Stevenson’s fifteen year old brandy was very popular with his customers. In the next room was the wines in wood, brandies and other spirits. The cellars had large ceilings and deep under ground which helped to keep it very cool.

Mr Stevenson was assisted by his son William W Stevenson and two assistants. Mr Stevenson came from Shettleston, born in Old Shettleston Road, his father William was born, lived and died at the age of 70 years, in the same house, his mother was still living in 1888, she was 70 years old and spent all her days in the house. The property for hundreds of years belonged to the Lords Douglas.

Like the majority of Shettleston in those days, Mr Stevenson’s father was a weaver. Young John borrowed £40.00 from his father, on starting business he gave him a cheque for the amount, “Na, na,” said the old gentleman, “I will take nae bills.”

When John came to the city at an early age he was employed as cellar boy by Mr Wyper a well known publican in Glasgow but was soon managing one of the firms pubs. He left for a short while and joined the staff at a confectionary shop in the Saltmarket, this job didn’t fulfil his needs therefore saved a little money and borrowed from his father and friends to secure his first public house at 84 Ingram Street, “The Stevenson.”

Eight years later he took over another pub at 125-27 Green Street, Calton. In 1888 he took over the Rob Roy, Argyle Street and Springburn Road pubs followed. Mr Stevenson was born in 1848, he was twice married his first wife died at an early age, his second wife was a Springburn Lass who help in the family business.

The contractors for the alterations on the Rob Roy which totaled upwards of £300, were for Plumber work, Mr Wright, Mr McWhannel & Co., South Albion Street; Joiner work, Mr Breckenridge, Charlotte Street and the painting work was completed by John Burns jun., George Street.

End.