1257 London Road, Glasgow. G40. Tel: 01415543311.
Sidelines. 1991.
Sidelines like many of the pubs in the east end of Glasgow which depend on the Celtic fans to survive only open when the football season starts. The pub is now called Turnstiles.
There used to be a Sidelines Bar further down London Road that Bertie Auld and Joe McBride owned.
Turnstiles. 2005. Note how close it is to Celtic Football Park.
621 London Road, Bridgeton, Glasgow. G G40 1NE.
The Seven Ways. 1991.
There has been a pub on this site since at least 1862. Parts of London Road then were called Canning Street, Great Hamilton Street and London Street. This part of London Road were the pub sat was then called Canning Street, heading towards Glasgow Cross you hit Great Hamiton Street then London Street.
Landlord William Cook was born in Cambuslang in 1831. At an early age he entered into the licensed trade, he lived in New Dalmarnock Road before moving back to Cambuslang with his wife Jane. Business at Cook’s public houses prospered and in the 1880s William employed 15 men in his establishments which consisted of Clyde Street now Abercromby Street, South Albion Street and Great Hamilton Street, with business so good the Cook’s were fortunate enough to have two domestic servants in their home. William continued to hold the certificate for this pub until 1882, the licence was then transferred to William Johnston. Mr Johnston also ran a pub on St. George’s Road and a licensed grocers business on Preston Street. The Johnston family ran the pub until 1920, John Kellegher then took over, he ran the Royal Bar, Gallowgate, the Douglas Arms, Gallowgate, premises on Caledonia Road, Gorbals and Albert Road.
Many locals of this pub will remember Douglas Gibb and his wife Irene who ran the pub during the 1960s and 70s.
Mr Douglas Gibb and his wife Irene with Scottish Television personality Bill Tennent, knocking down a pile of coins left by the locals of the Seven Ways, a total of £20 was raised for the handicapped children. 1969.
Left to right W Mort, manager of William Younger & Co., Mrs Robert McKay, Miss G Grant, John Grant Wine and Food Ltd, Robert McKay, the Snug Bar, Bridgeton. 1957.
The last time I walked passed this pub it had a To Let sign above the door and was closed. The name of the pub had also changed to Whitelaw’s, the same landlord also had Whitelaw’s, Tollcross Road, Parkhead.
Whitelaw’s 2005.
67 London Road, Glasgow.
The Tron Tavern was situated on London Street now London Road near Glasgow Cross. In the 1870s spirit merchant James Duthie owned a smaller public house here, over the years the pub had been extended taking in vacant property, as you can see by the photograph above the pub extends over the different tenement buildings.
From 1887 to the beginning of the 1900s the pub was known as The Pacific owned by wine & spirit merchant Colin Cummings. Mr Cummings had other Pacific bars in the city, one on Parliamentary Road and one on Castle Street. Colin rented the premises on London Street from Gray Edmiston a well known publican and property owner in the licensed trade, Mr Edmiston left the licensing trade to concentrate of renting property out to other publicans and other businesses in the city. He owned pubs on Commercial Street, London Street, Cowcaddens, Trongate, Garscube Road, West Nile Street and two pubs on the Gallowgate.
Another publican to own the pub was Patrick Griffin, he paid an annul rent of £110 to Mr Edimiston from 1912 to after the First World War, he also owned the Mermaid Bar, Cowcaddens. The pub stayed in the same family until after the Second World War, after the war a lady was licensee Mrs M D Henderson.
The Pacific Bar during the Coronation 1953.
During the 50s Mr R T Blevins was running this popular bar, he also ran the Railway Bar, London Road at the junction of Charlotte Lane a pub on Shamrock Street and the Tron Bar, Bedford Street south side.
Interior view of the Tron Tavern. 1966.
Scottish Brewers took over the pub during the 60s and appointed a manager Willy Milroy.
John Lynch of the famous Old Barns on London Road also owned the pub during the 1970s, this old pub was demolished as the building was now very old and in great need of renovation.
In the NEWS 1977…
Court Closes the Pub with no WATER…
Publican John Lynch was frothing yesterday over a water bill for one of his three bars in London Road, Glasgow.
The claim by Strathclyde water department for 18 months’ supply to the Tron Bar at 67 London Road was said to be £900, covering five million gallons of the wholesome stuff.
Mr Lynch refused to pay, his supply was eventually cut off, and yesterday the dispute came to a head at Glasgow District Licensing Court when his licence for the Tron was revoked.
The court was told that since October Mr Lynch has been carting beer kegs filled with water from one of his other bars, the Old Barns, more than 200 yards up the road.
The water has been poured into a basement tank at the Tron and channelled by way of an electric pump to the bar fittings. But the system brought swift disapproval from the police and environmental health officials, who raised their objections at yesterdays half-yearly sitting of the Court.
It was said there had been serious concern since November about the pub being operated without an adequate water supply. And it was claimed that on March 7 there was so little water in the tank that neither bar fittings nor sanitary convieniences were being served.
An agent for Mr Lynch argued that the dispute over the 5,000,000 gallons might lead one to wonder just how much beer was being sold in the pub.
Mr Lynch, aged 38, said later he would be lodging an immediate appeal and accused the water department of bureaucracy.
He claimed: “My normal bill for 18 months would be something between £50 and £100. Despite my protests the water board has notified the health people, who have put the pressure on me.”
However, a spokesman for the Strathclyde water department stated last night that a bill was for £829 covering some 4,000,000 gallons dating back to 1974.
Willy Milroy manager of the Tron pulling a pint. 1966.
496 London Road, Glasgow.
The Oasis Bar 1960s.
This part of London Road was formerly called 40 Canning Street. The pub sat near Arcadia Street Intersects and near the Arcadia Picture Hall.
There has been licensed premises here since at least the 1870s, owned by John Burns a prominent wine and spirit merchant in the east end of the city, he also traded at 517 Gallowgate, 111 George Street and 209 Main Street, Bridgeton.
In the 1890s wine & spirit merchant Duncan Campbell was licensee, he also owned pubs at 24 Brown Street, Anderston and 10 Douglas Street at the corner of Holm Street. He took over the Anderston premises in 1885, two years later he took over the Douglas Street premises.
Another view of the pub same date.
Another well-known wine and spirit merchant to hold the licence was Thomas Nicholson, he took over the premises at the end of the 1890s. His son Alexander became licensee in April 1900 and continued a successful business until the mid 1930s.
Afterwards Francis Patrick McAvoy took over the Oasis. During the First World War Mr McAvoy traded at premises at 196 Rose Street at the corner of Cumberland Street in the south side of the city in the 1910s he also had a pub at 59 Thistle Street, Gorbals, (Horn Bar) in the 20s he was running a public house at 332 Scotland Street at the corner of Watt Street and during the mid 30s had premises at 52 Park Road and 650 Gallowgate (Barr’s old Pub). During the 1930s Francis was living at 15 Partickhill Road.
One of the last publicans to hold the certificate was James G Wilson who ran the pub in the 1960s, the pub was pulled down shortly after in a massive clearance in the east end of the city that saw many old businesses, shops and pubs disappear over night.
The Oasis on the far right. 1960s.
The Greenhead Brewery, Canning Street now London Road.
Parts of London Road was formerly known as London Street, Great Hamilton Street, Canning Street and London Road.
Ascot Bar, 440 London Road. (Hugh Mclaughlin.)
John McLaren’s Bar at 78-80 Canning Street sold a splendid eight penny blend of old Scotch Whisky.
Barnums. 18-30 London Road.
Graham’s Bar. 18-30 London Road.
Kerr’s Bar. 150 London Road.
International Bar. 415 London Road.
The Mecca. 18-24 London Road.
Canning Street in 1787…
55 Canning Street, Calton. British Lion Tavern, W R Marney.
166 London Road. Queen Mary’s Tavern, Nathan Muir.
In 1875 London Street had 6 Pubs.
18 London Street. William Abbot jun.
55 London Street. Andrew Nevas.
80 London Street. John Douglas.
107 London Street. Joseph Neeson.
118 London Street. William Abbot jun.
145-47 London Street at 46 Charlotte Street. Archibald McLaren.
149 London Road,Calton, Glasgow.
The Oxford Tavern. 1991.
This very old east end pub has an interesting history to read more, check back soon for our second book.
Oxford Tavern on the right and the Nags head on the left. 1960.
Interior view of the Oxford Tavern, an interesting gantry. 1990.
Waxies Dargle as it was called just before it closed it’s door for good. Photograph taken August 2005.
In 1892 the proprietor of the Volunteer Arms as it was called then, was wine and spirit merchant James Crawford, he stated that his premises had a large room or hall that could hold about sixty people, there was also several small rooms or snug’s for private parties and ample lavatory accommodation, fitted up with the latest sanitary appliances. The cellar was kept delightfully cool by natural springs that trinkles down the sides, he either had a very sophisticated cooling system many a publican would be envy of or the water he had running down the walls was actually an over-flow of the Molandinar burn. His whisky and ales were forced up by air-pressure, the stock casks were fitted up in such a way that the contents can be seen at a glance. Mr Eben Wren the able manager of the pub worked in the bar for many years.
John (Jack) Devin was proprietor for many years, he was a well known member of the Scottish Licensed Trade.
Golfing Vintners’ Big Night Out.
The Glasgow Vintners Golf Club’s annual dinner and dance and presentation of prizes in the Eagle Lodge, Bishopbriggs, was a tremendous Success.
Pictured shows a group of prizewinners. from left Charles Sweeney, Arlington Bar (Captain’s Prize); Jack Devlin, Oxford Bar (Cantrell & Cochrane Cup); John Boyle, Waverley Bar (Queen Anne Trophy); Tony Ferry, Alamo Bar, Paisley (Silver Stag and Club Championship); Hugh McLaughlin, Ascot Bar (Dunn & Moore Coronation Cup); Peter Smith Shedden’s Bar (Skol Cup); Bill Martin, Calypso Bar (Vintner’s Tankard); Eddie Smythe, Anvil Bar (The Younger Putter); Ian Kennedy Molls Mire (The Brady Trophy).
179 London Road, Calton, Glasgow.
The Old Barns. 1991.
This is the oldest established pub in the city of Glasgow dating back to the 1600s. However the original Old Burnt Barns was demolished and this pub stands in it’s place.
To read the full history of the Old Barns check out our book here.
Exterior view of the Old Barns, August 2005.
Interior View of the main bar with the late John Lynch the proprietor. This photograph was take just two weeks before he died. Many will remember him as a generous man. He was like Dellboy from the East End, I met him many a time in various auctions in and around Glasgow, he always went away with something. He told me “You should come along and see the treasure’s I’ve picked up over the years.” He must have had an Alladin’s cave somewhere. I will miss John as we always had a good chat about the old days in the Calton the Gallowgate and the Barras. R I P.
Various view of the interior of the Old Barns. 2006.
Mr Patrick McVey, manager of the Old Barns at the turn of the 1900s.
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In the NEWS 1979…
15 HELD in DAWN RAIDS AFTER PUB BLASTS…
Fifteen men were being held in custody by Strathclyde Police last night following two bomb blasts in public houses in Glasgow on Saturday night.
They were arrested by armed members of the Special Branch and Strathclyde serious crime squad yesterday in dawn swoops in various parts of Glasgow.
The men can be held for 48 hours under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and police can then apply to the Secretary of State for Scotland to hold them without charge for a further five days.
Police confirmed yesterday that explosive devices were used in the blasts, and they believed they were related and were the work of an extremist group.
WARNING
The incidents brought a warning to the public from Chief Constable Patrick Hamill of Strathclyde Police to “display the utmost vigilance in licensed premises for any suspicious package, parcels, hold-all or the like which is unattended.”
In this statement, Mr Hamill said: “Management and staff of Licensed premises, and in all instances where suspicious objects or articles are observed the police should be noticed immediately.”
Police inquiries into the blasts, at the Old Barns public house in London Road, Calton and the Clelland Bar, Hospital Street, Gorbals, were continuing last night, and a special mobile police station was set up outside the Clelland Bar.
The bomb in the Old Barns public house went off in a lounge bar, which is being redecorated. No one was injured. In the Clelland Bar, however, five people were treated in hospital for cuts caused by glass from the juke box, fruit machine, and windows, and a hole was blown in the floor.
APPEAL
The licensed trade last night backed up the chief constable’s appeal to the public. A spokesman said: “We want people to co-operate fully with the police. Anyone who sees anything remotely suspicious should tell the bar staff to contact the police, even if it does turn out to be innocent.”
Neither of the bars involved in the blast is sectarian, but those arrested are believed to have connections with the Ulster Defence Association.
Two week ago at Paisley 24 men, believed to be associated with the UDA, were charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Police are believed to have taken possession of weapons and explosives during raids on houses in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.
Also see John Lynch didn’t pay the water bill…
