Eglinton Street

13-15 Eglinton Street, Glasgow.

The Moffat Arms started life as a licensed grocers owned by wine & spirit merchant David Speirs Fraser.

Mr Fraser was born in 1858 in Millerhill, Midlothian, he came to Glasgow as a child and was educated at Glasgow Academy at Elmbank Street and later on to Glasgow University to study as a Physician, but entered into the licensed trade in his early 20s.

David lived with his mother Christina sister’s Agnes and Christina, brother’s William, Thomas and James at Laureston Place, Govan Road, his grandfather James Speirs a retired farmer also lived in the house with brother-in-law Edwin Cameron, he was born in Brazil. The family were well off to have a domestic servant called Annie Bell.

David had retail premises at 129 Govan Road at the corner of Plantation Street facing the River Clyde, the locals used to watch the Allan and State Liner’s dropping off emigrant’s as they first stepped on Scottish soil, the pub was a meeting place for Pole’s, German’s, Scandinavian’s and French, from here they found work in various parts of the city.

Mr Fraser’s other retail establishment was at 156 Crookston Street, he soon opened pubs at 64 Paisley Road West, 93 Govan Road, 333 Paisley Road, 307 Eglinton Street, 278 Cumberland Street and a wholesale business, the Southern Wine & Spirit Store at 13-15 Eglinton Street, the site of the Moffat Bar.

Business was booming and when he left his mother’s house, he moved to better accommodation at Sherbrooke Ave, Pollokshields. He had his own blend of whisky called The Canteen which proved popular with the locals in all his pubs.

David died in 1909 at which time trustee George Brownhill took over the running of the business which included 13 Eglinton Street and 93 Govan Road the other premises were sold on. The premises at 13-15 Eglinton Street obtained a full licence around the same time.

David Moffat changed the name of the pub in the 1930s. Lawrence Smith Blanche was licensee after WW2 and continued until the 1960s.

David Speirs Fraser. 1888.

Licence Holders.

1960-1947 Lawrence Smith Blanche.

1937 David Moffat.

1919-1909 George Brownhill.

1909-1899 David Speirs Fraser.

111 Eglinton Street, Glasgow. G5.

Mally Arms. 1991.

The Mally Arms was a famous landmark on the south side of the city for many years.

It was named after Mr Malachy McCann the owner who purchased the premises in 1931. It was formerly an Umbrella, Case and Bag manufacturers owned by G H Tomkins and before that in the 1920s was a Funeral Office run by John Blair.

John McCann was a well known figure in the Scottish Licensed Trade, for many years he collected vast amounts of money for various charities. The Mally Arms was full of curios infact it was like a stall at the Barras.

It was a shame the place was pulled down a few years ago.

Left to right Roy Grier, senior vice-president of the Glasgow Licensed Trade Association, Mrs Grier, Mr William Wishart, Mr Michael Heraghty, Mrs Heraghty, Mr John McCann, secretary of the Glasgow Licensed Trade Association and Mrs McCann. 1974.

Some of the Tennents Bowling Trophy competitors. left to right D Clugston, Bulloch & Co., H Gallagher, Tikconnail Bar; D Harkness, Bulloch & Co; James Murray, Ye Land Bar, Gallowgate; John Murray, Murray’s Bar, Dalmarnock Road; J Boyle, The Waverley; J Thom, Eglinton Street, J McCann, Mally Arms. 1968.

Interior of the Mally Arms with John McCann. Miss Ann Cumming knocks over a massive pile of coins raised by the customers of the Mally Arms, the money was given to the Hansel Village for the handicapped children in Ayrshire. This was the third time the Mally Arms helped raise money for this charity. 1971.

Licence Holders.

1991-1962 John McCann.

1937-1931 Malachy O’Bey McCann.