Gallowgate

The Gate

September 16, 2022 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

251 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TP

The Gallowgate pubs are evolving! This fantastic pub is located directly across from the Barrowland Ballroom and we must say that the staff are probably one of the friendliest folk we have ever spoken to in a pub! (that is quite a claim!) The staff were very chatty and bubbly and make you feel like part of the family when you visit.

The interior of the pub transports you to a quirky and very classy world with such a great atmosphere!

The Gate boasts over 160 whiskeys, 30 gins, and a selection of craft beers and wines, this is definitely somewhere that you should visit to experience the new age of the Gallowgate.

If you would like to read about the history of this great pub, click here

To book a table and view the menu, click here

226 Gallowgate

September 16, 2022 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

242-226 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TS

The Gallowgate pubs are evolving! The former Baird’s Bar has a new lease of life, 226 Gallowgate!
When you walk into this establishment, you are greeted with remnants of the old building. Everywhere you look, there is something new and interesting about the building that you discover. Be it the staircase behind the bar, portraits on the wall, or the preserved old washroom on the way down to the toilets.

226 Gallowgate also has a massive outdoor beer garden for those lovely summer nights.

To read about the history of this old establishment, click here

To visit 226 Gallowgate’s official website, click here. From here you can make bookings view the menu and much more!

The Bellgrove Bar.

September 21, 2019 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

479 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G31 4DN. Demolished.

Bellgrove Bar Gallowgate corner of Bellgrove Street — Bellgrove Bar.

The Bellgrove Bar sat at the corner of Gallowgate and Bellgrove Street in the east end of the city.

There has been a public house on this site since 1846. The owner was then a Mr William McNee. In 1856 Alexander Bulloch a spirit merchant was trading from here. The following year John Dickie occupied the premises then followed by Alexander Hamilton a year later.

Alexander Crawford a wine and spirit merchant took over the premises from 1859 until 1860, however he passed away and his wife took over the running of the pub until 1866. Her son James then took control of the business in 1867. The family lived nearby at 475 Gallowgate. James passed away at an early age in 1870. His wife then got full control of the pub, however she could not hold the licence for long as she had a young family to bring up and the pub was closed for good in 1871.

The building was in need of full renovation as the building was quite old. A new tenement was erected on the same site with a public house on the ground floor and was finished around 1875. At that time well-known and respected wine and spirit merchant John Graham took over the brand new public house and called it John Graham and Sons.

Mr Graham was not new to the wine and spirit trade as he was well established, having a pub at 12 Stirling Street now Blackfriar Street off the High Street near Glasgow Cross. The Graham family lived at 202 Bath Street, city centre.

he following year John Graham & Sons had premises at 12 Stirling Street, 1 New Street, 31 Stevenson Street, 18 Canning Street (London Road), 419 Argyle Street and 69 Graeme Street now Bell Street. The firm were also had a wine merchant brokers office at 14 Renfield Street.

John Graham’s sons were Archibald Bulloch Graham and David Runciman Graham, both were left to run the business on their own when father David passed away around 1886. Archibald took over 29-31 Stevenson Street in August 1887, 225-227 Gallowgate in August 1881, 69 Graeme Street now Bell Street in August 1887, 1-3 New Street / 2 Well Street, Calton in August 1887. David took over 204-206 Saracen Street in June 1883, 12 Stirling Street now Blackfriar Street in August 1887, 479 Bellgrove Street in August 1887, 419 Argyle Street / 95 Carrick Street in August 1887.

David R Graham continued in the Gallowgate premises and the other pubs he owned in 1922.

A transfer was granted to Mr David R Graham’s manager of 13 years James Smith in 1922. Mr Smith was 40 years of age, married and had a family of 8 children, living at 564 Gallowgate. The following year James and his family moved house to better accommodation at Crofthill Avenue, Uddingston. The old sign above the pub John Graham & Sons was taken down and a new name was put in it’s place “The Bellgrove Bar.”

The Smith family continued serving the locals at the Bellgrove Bar well into the 1940s. James’s wife Jane took over the licence in 1937 for a few years before the pub was taken over by Robert Robertson McBride in 1972. By this time the pub was owned by Tennent Caledonian Breweries, many will remember William Freeburn Graham one of the last licensees until the pub was demolished just like many other Gallowgate pubs in 1973.

Facts…

Licence Holders

1846 William McNee.

1856 Alexander Bulloch.

1857 John Dickie.

1858 Alexander Hamilton.

1859 Alexander Crawford.

1862 Mrs Alexander Crawford.

1867 James Crawford.

1871 Mrs James Crawford.

1876 John Graham.

1887 David Runciman Graham.

1922 James Smith.

1937 Mrs Jane Smith.

1972 Robert Richardson McBride. for Tennents.

1973 William Freeburn Graham for Tennents.

Do you known anything about this old pub? If so please leave a comment below.

END.

The Oak Bar.

July 9, 2019 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

565-565a Gallowgate, Glasgow.

The Oak Bar was one of the Gallowgates old pubs dating back to 1854 when Archibald Shaw acquired it. The address of the pub was 531 Gallowgate, and Archie lived next door at 533 Gallowgate. In 1861 the address changes to 565 Gallowgate, and Archie lived next close at 567, the addresses were at the same site.

The name of the pub was then called Archibald Shaw family Wine & Spirit Merchant. His licensed premises were close to Sword Street.

Archibald served the locals until 1885, his wife took over the certificate the following year. She had a family to look after and needed the pub for income, she worked very hard to keep the pub running in good condition. Mrs Shaw continued to hold the licence for over a decade and sold up to Mr William McLennan in 1898.

Wine and Spirit merchant William McLennan was a well known publican in the eastend of the city, having premises at 78 Stevenson Street since 1892 and then acquiring another pub at 775 Gallowgate in 1895 from Samuel Payne. Business must have been very good for him to take over another pub the “Oak Bar” in 1898 which was further along the Gallowgate. However business was very good for Mr McLennan who served the locals until 1910.

In 1899 William McLennan was paying an annul rent of £60 for the “The Oak Bar” and lived with his family at 19 Mansionhouse Drive, Springboig, Shettleston before moving to Cluny Cottage, Early Braes, Shettleston before he passed away in 1910.

His wife Jeanie then took control of the business, one of her faithful employees was Alexander Bruce who became manager of the pub as she also had a family to look after. The Stevenson Street pubs were sold off leaving two thriving pubs to live off.

The pub stayed in the same family until 1922 then popular publican Patrick Bradley then took over who already acquired the other pub at 775 Gallowgate, which was called Bradley’s Bar before extensions to the pub was carried out, the pub was then renamed The Treble 7.

Patrick Bradley held the licence through the 1920s and 40s before it was again sold on to Kenneth McKinnon.

Mr Matthew E Taylor.

Matthew E Taylor then took over “The Oak Bar” in 1965 until the 1970s which saw the redevelopment of the Gallowgate that demolished most of the shops, businesses and pubs. Matthew E Taylor came from a long family history of wine and spirit merchants having licensed premises all over the city.

In 1970 Matthew E Taylor was in the news for collecting money for the Shot Police Fund.

Matthew Taylor in Oak Bar Gallowgate 1970

Matthew E Taylor pushes over a pile of coins as Police convener Bailie James Anderson holds a sack for collecting the avalanche of pennies. 1970.

Shot Police: City Fund tops £50,000.

Glasgow people shocked by the shooting of two city police officers showed their feelings when their donations to the Police Departments Trust topped £50,000.

This was said by Glasgow Police Convener Bailie James Anderson after he had collected 4800 pennies a total of £20 from the Oak Bar, Gallowgate.

He said after the Govanhill shooting many police officers lost their faith in humanity. This faith has been amply restored because of the generosity of Glasgow people.

“This brings the P D T up to £50,000. This is a tremendous effort which I think, reflects the feeling of the Glasgow people for their police officers.”

Earlier Bailie Anderson collected a cheque for £10 on behalf of the P D T from the owner of the Oak Bar at 565 Gallowgate, Mr Matthew Taylor.

He also received a cheque for £9 from the bar manager Mr Ian McGinigle (32) who raised the money by selling lager glasses to his customers. Mr McGinigle started off the penny pile a year ago when he put a tray filled with pennies on to his bar. His customers took it from there and gradually a penny pile neatly a foot high accumulated. Mr McGinigle said, “We were trying to think of a worthy charity to present the pennies to and we could think of none better than the P D T.”

To read more on the pubs on the Gallowgate read up & Doon the Gallowgate by John Gorevan. A copy can be bought for a few pounds at the Hielan Jessie on the Gallowgate or contact me at john@oldglasgowpubs.co.uk

End.

Dick’s Bar

April 2, 2018 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

517 Gallowgate, Glasgow.

Former Women’s President Dies.

Mrs Margaret Dick 1970

In August 1970, Mrs Margaret Dick former President of the Glasgow and District Women’s Auxiliary Group (Licensed Trade), died in a Renfreweshire hospital.

Mrs Dick, wife of the late Mr Robert Dick, retired from the trade towards the end of 1966 after holding for 16 years the licence for Dick’s Bar, 517 Gallowgate, Glasgow, with which the Dick family had a long association.

Taking an enthusiastic interest in the activities of the Glasgow and District Women’s Auxiliary Group, she became their president in 1967, serving for two years in this capacity.

Among those attending the fureral service were several of Mrs Dick’s friends in the women’s auxiliary movement. Mrs Dick left a daughter.

Mrs Dick group photo 1972

Left to right Mr. and Mrs. T. Docherty; Mrs. J. Lindsay (Dick’s Bar, Gallowgate); and Mrs. and Mr. A. Gillies (The Clachan.) 1972.

Brechin’s Bar

July 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

174 and 443 Gallowgate, Glasgow.

In 1888 it was reported that William Brechin & Son, Gallowgate had made the headlines, Brechin’s had blended 12.000 proof gallons of the best brands of Scotch Whiskies. Such vast amounts was not heard of in those days. Publicans, Wine and Spirit Merchants hearing of this news, know how serious and busy Brechin’s was and made them a household name.

When Brechins left the 174 Gallowgate premises it became known as Lynch’s, John Lynch’s father owned it for many years. John Lynch is better known in the east end of the city for owning the Old Barns on London Road.