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The Cartwheel

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5-7 Byres Road, Glasgow. G11 5RD.

Douglas fell for the Scots and fed them.

Douglas Spencer is an Englishman who likes the Scots. He likes them so much in fact that he gave up what had been a lifetime’s work in the clothing industry and went into the catering trade, in Glasgow.

A native of Teddington, Middlesex, Douglas didn’t quite know what to expect when his firm sent him to this part of the world five years ago. But he came, saw, and fell hook line and sinker for the friendly Scots.

Cartwheel 1971

Olde worlde charm in the new Cartwheel Reasaurant in Byres Road, Glasgow 1971.

“I have so many friends in Scotland, I love people and the Glasgow people are wonderful. I had always wanted to go into the catering business and so I decided one day that I’d take the plunges, ” he explained. “It is a big step to change your whole life like that, but I really felt there was something lacking in the catering trade, cafes and restaurants have lost the personal touch which I think is vitally important. I go around and seak to all my customers and if I’m not here one afternoon I get it next time they come in, “Where were you?”

The venue that so many people are making a beeline for is in Byres Road, numbers 5-9 to be exact. That’s where Douglas and his wife Vicky, son Gordon and his young wife all work in one way or another to keep the public smiling.

Only the best.

“I didn’t worry about money,” Douglas told me. “I buy the best I can find, both in equipment and food, and I buy locally. If you buy quality you don’t get complaints and if no one’s complaining you can take it every-one’s happy, and that’s what I want, satisfied customers. And as long as there are satisfied customers there will be money going into the till… Too many people in this trade are only interested in chasing the money in the first place.”

The Spencer family opened their S & S Snack-bar only last September but already that family attitude, of “be friendly to the customer” is paying off handsomely. It’s not a take-it-or-leave-it quick cafe but more of a warm get-together of people you’d imagine had known one another all their lives. “We pride ourselves on having a snack bar with a difference.” Douglas told me. “We have waitress service and nothing is pre-cooked and we find customers don’t mind waiting those few extra moments if they know the food is going to be good once they get it.”

Going well

Examples of snack-bar prices: bacon roll 7p; egg burger, 15p; scrambled egg on toast, 16p; soup and roll, 7p; scampi salad, 48p; gammon steak 44p; bacon, egg, hamburger, tomato, mushrooms and chips, 32p.

Cartwheel advert 1971

Things were going so well in the snack-bar that Mr. Spencer decided the time was ripe for expansion, and when the shop next door became vacant, he took it over, set the workmen the task of turning it into a restaurant and patiently waited for the day he could set the opening date. A party officially launched the Cartwheel Restaurant on Sunday, but it wasn’t until yesterday that the doors were opened to an eager public.

Manager in charge of the new restaurant is young Alex Nicol while Gordon Spencer keeps an eye on the snack-bar, and overall manageress is attractive Linda Scott. Examples of the restaurant menu : Lobster soup, 30p; turtle soup, 20p; corn on the cob, 30p; melon 20p; salad, 50p; chicken Maryland, 80p; grilled kidneys with bacon, 60p.

The three heads of the world of cuisine are miss Joan Butlor, Harry Dempster and Brian Fulton.

Cartwheel advert 1971

Cartwheel Advert. 1971.

The Cartwheel advert 1977

The Cartwheel advert 1977.

The Cartwheel advert 1979

The Cartwheel advert 1979.

Over the years this well-known restaurant / lounge bar has had a few name changes over the years, including…

Image of Cabbages and Kings 5 Byres Road
Cabbages & Kings. 2008.
Image of the Two Figs 5 Byres Road 2015
The Two Figs. 2015.
Image of Banana Leaf 5 Byres Road
Banana Leaf. 2018.

Do you have any memories of this well-known West End Restaurant? If so please leave a comment.

Do you remember any of the names this restaurant has had? If so please leave a comment.

The Curlers Tavern

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256-260 Byres Road, Glasgow. G12 8SH. Tel: 0141 341 0737. Curlers Tavern website.

Curlers Tavern. 1991.

Believe it or not this very old public house has quite a few name changes over the years, including; “The Curlers”, “The Curlers Tavern”, “Curlers”, “The Curlers Rest” and “Sinclair’s Tavern.”

This is one of around ten pubs in Glasgow that claim to be the oldest in the city. I have never seen any evidence of this as being the oldest however it is one of the oldest in the west end of the city.

In 1858 the owner of the tavern was Mr James Sinclair he was also a coach hirer and manufacturer, when James died his wife took over the business. James Kay took over the licence soon afterwards, Mr Kay was born in Maryhill in 1838, he was married to Margaret and had a large family of seven daughters all living in Ruthven Street.

When John Green took over the pub in 1910 the rent for the premises was £55.00 per year. It stayed in the Green family for 60 years and was sold in 1970 for £160,000. Eric Green was the last of the Green family to own the pub.

Curlers. 1980s.

Curlers was bought by Tennents Caledonian Breweries in the summer of 1970, the interior was refurbished in 1972. The manager Vincent Paterson controlled staff of around 40.

According to local folklore, the Curlers Tavern was opened in the seventeenth century as a coffee house. Later a licensed bar was started. It is said that Charles II called in for a refreshment and, discovered that the licence did not permit Sunday opening, granted a special Royal Charter exempting it from the Scottish licensing laws. However there is no record of this charter or any other evidence of this story.

The public house took it’s name from the fact that a local curling pond which was in use until the end of the 19th century.

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The Curlers. 2007.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe Curlers. 2009.

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The Curlers. No date.THE CURLERS TAVERN BYRES RDThe Curlers. No date.

Opening of the new Log Cabin lounge bar, Curlers Tavern 1952.

Margaret Green was licensee of the Curlers Tavern in 1952.

In the NEWS…1957.

The opening of the new dining-room at the Curlers Tavern. On the ground floor a new cocktail bar is laid out.

New dining area at Curlers Tavern in the 1957

[Read more…] about The Curlers Tavern

The Corner Bar

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51 Blythswood Street, Glasgow. G2. Demolished.

The Corner Bar.  1962. Thank to the Mitchell Library.

The Corner Bar was situated at the corner of Blythswood Street and Waterloo Street.

Blythswood Street was formerly known as Mains Street.

In 1874 Andrew Frost owned this old pub, he also owned the old Victoria Bar, St. Vincent Street which later became known as the Dew Drop.

His wife Rachel took over the following year and continued as licence holder until 1878.

In 1898 Eva Manson Sturrock acquired the licence, the pub was then known as the Waterloo Vaults. Mrs Sturrock was still the holder the the licence in 1919.

In 1926 William Y McCreadie was licence holder, William was a Director of the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association as a representative of the Blythswood Ward, he was also president of the Royalty Burns Club, in his spare time he played bowls. Mr McCreadie died in 1945, his wife Margaret continued as licence holder. The family continued in this pub just before it was demolished in the early 1960s.

This group of Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence members on a days outing to Oban. 1937. Front row left to right, Frank Jeans, W Y McCreadie, John Burns, John Russell, James Denholm, president, Archibald McNiven, Vice-president, William Jamieson, Hon. treasurer, John Holmes, John McKinnon, William Cosgrove and Kenneth McLean. Back row Alexander Graham, W J McDowall, secretary, James Clelland and Patrick McKay.

Mr Kenneth McLean.

Another view of the Corner Bar. 1960. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

This old pub was demolished a few years after this image was taken.

Here are some principal personalities who attended the smoker dinner held at Belmont House, Glasgow, by the Cowcaddens Ward of the Glasgow Association in 1962. Left to right: Mr G Ramster, Glasgow Association Office; Mr H Doherty, Symposium Bar, Cowcaddens Street; Mr N Jones, Cross Keys, St. Peter’s Street; Mr J Dougan, Dougan’s Bar, Springburn Road; Mr R Lemon, Lemon Tree, Parliamentary Road (Ward Convener); Mr W J Bennet, Port Dundas Road; Mr W B Gow, Bristol Bar, Cowcaddens; Mr J Lanagan, Maitland Street; Mr T F Flynn who succeeded Mr Gow as president of the Glasgow Association; Mr D McNiven, Argyle Arms, Kennedy Street; and Mr W J McDowall, Secretary, Glasgow Association.

Another view of the Corner Bar. 1960’s. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

The Corner Bar. 1960. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1960-1945 Margaret Thomson McCreadie.
1945-1926 William Y McCreadie.
1919-1898 Eva Manson Warren Sturrock.
1878 Mrs Rachel Frost.
1874 Andrew Frost.
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.

END.

The Commercial Bar

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320-22 Ballater Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Demolished.

The Commercial bar with owner William Byrne and head barman 1955.

The Commercial Bar was situated at the corner of Ballater Street and 49 Commercial Road hence the name of the pub. This photograph was taken with Mr Byrne the licensee outside the premises shortly before the pub was demolished in 1955.

Ballater Street was originally called Govan Street.

The history of this old bar can be traced back to 1839 when spirit dealer and grocer William Stewart acquired a licence for the premises. William continued to run this pub until 1869.

In 1870 George Robin took over the pub. George had a partner in this business and traded under the title of Robin & Hutcheson. His business partner was Thomas Hutcheson who resided at 1 Houldsworth Street, Dumbarton Road.

The firm comprised of wholesale and retail premises including 49 Commercial Road, 49 Great Eastern Road now the Gallowgate, 15-45 Princes Street and 79 Sandyfaulds Street. The first pub they had was in Main Street, Anderston.

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The Commercial Bar. 1955. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

George also had his own businesses which included 19 Norfolk Street, 21-23 Main Street Anderston, 437 Argyle Street (Ramshorn Bar). George was living with his family at 45 St Vincent Crescent.

In 1875 George was trading at 464 Gallowgate (Royal Bar), 15 Dundas Street, 19 Norfolk Street. His other businesses with partner Thomas Hutcheson included Wholesale & Retail Wine & Spirit and Malt Whisky Merchants, 15-45 Princes Street, 49 Commercial Road, 117 Great Eastern Road (Celtic Bar) and 79 Sandyfaulds Street.

George Robin continued to run this pub until 1887, he probably passed away and his son William Robin then took over the pub, William also inherited 15-45 Princes Street, 69 Norfolk Street (Robin’s Bar) and was living at 30 Corunna Street.

William continued in these premises until his death in 1912. His wife Edith took over the pub until the early 1920s.

Other licensees for this old pub were Samuel Leckie 1925, Peter Murphy 1930, Thomas Scott 1937. Mr Scott was also licensee at 2493 Dumbarton Road, Yoker, and 203 Wallace Street, Glasgow.

The last licensee was William Byrne.

Facts on this pub…

When publican Thomas Scott ran this pub the locals called the pub Tommy Scott’s.

The Robin family took over this popular bar in 1888. The founder of the business was Peter Robin who had pubs on Great Eastern Road now the Gallowgate from as early as the 1840s. His son George Robin occupied premises in Gallowgate, Dundas Street, Princes Street and Norfolk Street.

In 1888 the Govan Street ( Ballater Street ) premises were taken over by William Robin, he also own extensive premises at the corner of Norfolk Street and Warwick Street, known as William Robin’s spirit vaults. When he died in 1912 his wife Edith took control of the business.

Charge-hand Mr P C Masterton was employed with William Robin from 1890.

Mr P C Masterton. 1892.

During the 1930s Thomas Scott was running this pub, he continued to hold the licence until after WW2.

The last licensee was William Byrne, he was forced to leave the premises in 1955 as a result in the City Council’s major redevelopment scheme that saw the Gorbals old businesses and tenements being demolished. The Commercial Bar was one of the first pubs in the area to be flattened by the bulldozer’s.

Do you remember this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Comet

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773 Bilsland Drive, Glasgow. G20 9PA. Demolished.

The Comet. 1991.

This notorious bar has now been closed for years, it now lies derelict while a new housing estate is being developed around it. This pub was opened in 1972 by Gavin Allan.

The Comet Bar. Thanks to Sean Daleer.

Update May 2009…

This eye-sore has now been completely demolished.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1990 Sarah McLaughlan.

Do you remember this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.