Candleriggs, Glasgow.
Khublai Khan’s is a Mongolian restaurant/bar and was certainly a very unique experience. Unfortunately this great gem closed in 2017.
Khublai Khan’s. 2005.
Candleriggs, Glasgow.
Khublai Khan’s is a Mongolian restaurant/bar and was certainly a very unique experience. Unfortunately this great gem closed in 2017.
Khublai Khan’s. 2005.
42 Cowcaddens, Glasgow. Demolished.
The Kiwi Bar. C 1960s.
The Kiwi Bar was originally called The Barnsmore, named after…… to read more on the history of the Barnsmore and one of it’s famous proprietors click here.
There has been licensed premises here since 1852, as this was a very old established pub over the years many licence holders have taken over this notorious Glasgow howff. Including Peter McCrudden.
James Murrin or better known by his locals as Jimmy, took over the Barnsmore in 1960 with partner Willie McFadyen, they both were buddies and barmen in the merchant navy in the 50s. Jimmy joined the merchant navy as a pantry boy in 1929 and became barman,an in 1936. Jimmy was head barman on the Captain Cook, he was in charge of five bars and two shops, catering for 1100 passengers and 350 crew. The Captain Cook carted thousands of Scots emigrants to Australia and New Zealand after the war.
Exterior view of the Kiwi Bar with Willie McFadyen and Jimmy Murrin.
When he came ashore he bought the pub on Cowcaddens in partnership with colleague Willie McFadyen and renamed the pub to The Kiwi because of their association with New Zealand. Jimmy Murrin was a teetotal and a none-smoker, he only tasted alcohol once, when he was in the merchant navy, his ship was wrecked off the Nova Scotia, he had to stand on deck for an hour and a half in freezing blizzards waiting to be picked up. On the relief ship he knocked back a tot of rum in one, then he drank his mates, it hit him after a few minutes and slept on deck for seven hours in a furious storm.
The Kiwi Bar was mainly a whisky shop and sold quarter gills, one gentleman a local businessman used to come into the bar three or four times a week, from 11 until 2pm, in that short space of time he would go through a bottle of whisky and walk out the door without a stagger. Another customer suffered from an ulcer, but still liked his hauf, he used to buy a whisky and half a pint of milk, this weird mixture caught on and for months a dozen regulars were drinking this Kiwi Special.
Some of the locals in the Kiwi Bar.
Kiwi Bar Closes Down 1976.
The Kiwi Bar was closed down by the City Council in 1976, it was another Cowcaddens Local to bite the dust as Cowcaddens saw the bulldozers clear away the old tenements and many old city landmarks, many of them public houses.
More locals posing for the camera.
The thirsty customers crowd the bar for last drink of the night.
Four of the many barmen in the Kiwi Bar. Left to right Willie McFadyen, Jimmy Murrin, Andy Fulton and Willie Twigg.
Seven barmen were needed to serve the locals of this popular Cowcaddens pub.
Who are these people on the left of the picture?
Willie McFadyen and Jimmy Murrin posing behind the bar.
A typical night in the Kiwi.
In the NEWS 1976…
Last toast to the Kiwi Bar from owners Jimmy Murrin and Willie McFadyen. 1976.
Good-bye to the Kiwi.
The year 1976 has seen the end of many things, but one of the most unfortunate was the closure of that popular quarter-gill pub the Kiwi Bar in Cowcaddens.
Owners Jimmy Murrin and Willie McFadyen shouted “time gentlemen” for the last time this week as the District Council nailed a demolition order to the Kiwi’s Coffin.
More than 125 faithful regulars, who came from all over Glasgow crowded into the tiny free house to pay their last respects to a pub that for 15 years provided lubrication for the nearby offices of STV, Sunday Post, British Rail, and Scottish and Newcastle.
Jimmy Murrin.
The owners, who were barmen in the merchant navy together in the 50s were presented with pewter mugs and a few wet hankies to mark the Kiwi’s passing. So now yet another good pub with good service and atmosphere has gone to the wall.
Jimmy Murrin with some of the locals. Do you recognise anyone.
I hear Tennent Caledonian are planning to build a brand spanking new restaurant and bar on the site of the Kiwi. It will have a hard job living up to the standards set by its predecessor.
Reversal
Heard at a city bus stop – “I never use that pub now. The barmaid kept telling me all her troubles.”
Antique
Heard in a staff restaurant – “I’d like to ask Arthur the age of this rock cake.”
Do you remember this old pub? If so please leave a comment.
Do you recognise anyone in the images above? If so Please leave a comment.
END.
5 Clyde Place, Glasgow.
Clyde Place was the first street you reach when you cross the bridge at Bridge Street on the right hand side. The Kintyre Bar was situated just before you went under the bridge, you can just see the start of the bridge on the right of the photograph which was taken in 1930s. The pub was demolished shortly afterwards.
This old pub started life as a licensed restaurant run by Alexander Munro in 1844, the name above the door was then the South Western Restaurant. A successful business was carried out by the family for over fifty years. John Munro trained as a pastry baker in his fathers restaurant and ultimately became licensee after his father’s death.
The Murray family also ran the business for many years which closed down in the 1930s.
Clyde Place was a thriving street at one time, the Bridge Street railway station was just around the corner, the Clyde Place, Windmillcroft and Springfield Quays were here along with Kingston Docks. Clyde place also had it’s fair share of public houses, in the short distance from West Street to Bridge Street you had the choice of going into one of eight pubs and a licensed grocers shop. In 1899 the Kingston Ward had a massive 103 pubs.
Other well known pubs on Clyde Place was The Gael Vaults formerly called Sydney Arms, McWilliam’s Vaults, Matthew Robin & Son, David Ross’s, Ireland’s Bar and the Neptune.
191 Castle Street, Glasgow.
Kearney’s Bar. 1960s.
This old pub sat between Parliamentary Road and Kennedy Street.
In the 1870s landlord David Broadfoot traded here successfully for many years. Alexander Reid took over in 1891, he went on to own another pub at 37 Hill Street, Anderston. The family continued to run the Castle Street business until after World War 2.
In 1950 Paul Alphonsus Kearney acquired the licence, he changed the name of the pub to Kearney’s bar, Mr Kearney continued as licensee until the pub was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the new M8 motorway.
This enormous pile of pennies, almost five feet high was collected by the customers of Kearney’s bar. Manager of Celtic Football Club, Jimmy McGrory was invited to demolish the tower of coin’s, he was assisted by Mother Superior Raphael, who accepted the money on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor. 1965.
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.
281-83 Crown Street corner of 226 Cumberland Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
John W Souter also known as the Victoria Bar, corner of 281-83 Crown Street and 226 Cumberland Street. also in the this frame is the Cumberland Bar on the opposite corner. 1960s.
In 1861 William McDonald acquired a licence to sell porter, beer, wine, and spirits. Mr McDonald lived nearby at 193 Crown Street. He continued to serve the locals here until 1864.
The next licensee was wine and spirit merchant John Gardiner. Mr Gardiner also had a pubs 247 High Street and Gibson Street, Hillhead and lived at 185 Crown Street.
In 1880 John was a tea and wine merchant at 18 Gibson Street, Hillhead, 281-83 Crown Street and 120 Buchanan Street. Sixteen years later he was living in better accommodation at 530 Great Western Road.
This image taken in the 1960s on Crown Street on the right is John W Souter’s Victoria Bar and the Cumberland Bar on the opposite corner.
John Gardiner continued as licensee until 1896. Robert Reid the acquired the licence. The name of the pub was then Robert Reid, Victoria Bar. Robert was living with his family at 103 Fotheringay Street. He was also a wine and spirit merchant and traded here until 1921. Like many Glasgow publicans he struggled through the WW1.
In 1922 John Wallace Souter acquired the licence and kept the pub going until it was finally demolished in the late 1960s. John W Souter kept the pub name “the Victoria Bar” and later put his name above the door.
St. Rollox Tavern. 184 Castle Street, Glasgow.
John Rae’s St Rollox Tavern has a great history, to read more Click here to buy our book.