118 London Road, Glasgow.
The Railway Bar. 1930s.
To read the full history of this popular bar check out our book here.
This very onl pub was known as the Nags Head in the 1960s.
The Nage Head on the left and the Oxford Tavern on the right. 1960.
London Road
New Monaco Bar
489 London Road, Glasgow. G40 1NH.
The New Monaco Bar. 1991.
This old pub has now closed down.
To read the full history of this once popular pub, check back soon for our second book.
The New Monaco Bar, August 2005.
In 1893 Hugh Cowan was the popular manager of this old pub, Hugh was born in Kerara, near Oban, one of the most romantic spots in the West of Scotland. Mr Cowan came from a good stock, his father being a well-known farmer in the district and noted for his integrity and worth. Mr Cowan joined the staff at this pub in 1888, he was at once very popular with the customers who patronised the pub. Mr Cowan was a Director of the Employees’ Benevolent Institution, Drury Street, Glasgow.
email from Jim Dillon…
In 1974, I played guitar with our small band the New Monaco in London Road… We played in the pub for quite a while.. We had previously played in the Fireman’s Club, almost opposite the New Monaco.. The Fireman’s Club… had later become “SEQUENCE” before being burnt down..
This image of our wee band playing in the New Monaco.. Our singer (Ian Hollis) came from Green Street and had sung in many pubs/clubs around Bridgeton.. He died in 2000. Also see Jim Dillon playing guitar in the Fairfield Bar, Shettleston Road.
Thanks again Jim Dillon.
New Monaco Bar advert 1978.
Facts…
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.
Forgotten Pubs on 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 Marys’ 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.
Mac’s Place
422 London Road, Glasgow.
Situated at the corner of London Road and Binnie Place. Craig Riddell a wealthy and prosperous east end spirit merchant owned this public house in 1874. He had a well known son in the trade, Craig Douglas Riddell who played an important part in the Glasgow Licensed Trade.The pub stayed in the same family well after the Second World War. The tenement and the old pub was demolished around 1970.
Licence Holders.
1970 J S Findlay.
1960 Alexander MacRae.
1947 Edward Riddell.
1937 Barbara Browning Riddell.
1918 Marion Jack Miller Riddell.
1874-1899 Craig Riddell.
The Londoner
515 London Road, Glasgow. G40 1NQ. Tel: 01415518888.
The Londoner. 1991.
The Londoner Established in 1860
This old established hostelry dates back to the year 1860 when a licence was first granted to a gentleman called William Cook to sell porter and spirits. Mr Cook only had this business for a short time and in 1864 the licence was transferred to a Mr David Rennie. Mr Rennie was born and bred in Bridgeton and resided at 119 New Dalmarnock Road, this old howff then had it’s first name “David Rennie Wine & Spirit Vaults”, Mr Rennie continued a successful business here until 1895 then the licence was transferred to his daughter Margaret Rennie Blackadder, Margaret changed the name above the door to “Blackadders”.
These old premises were demolished at the end of the 19th century and a new red sandstone building was erected on the same site, the address of the new pub was 57 Canning street, sitting on the corner of Clyde street now Abercromby street. The bar was of a horse shoe shape, there were four little snugs each containing a table and six chairs, the cellars were always stocked with the very best of liquor and one could always purchase: Moet & Chandons Champagne, Roussillon & CO’s Epernay, Dubois, Freres & Cagnion’s Cognac of 1858, La Rosa 60 year old, Burgundies of 1863, Kirker Greer & CO’s old Irish, Talisker 10 year old, Guinness, Meux’s, Bass in bottles, Pentland 90s ale on draught, Schweppes mineral water, Ross’s dry ginger, Allsopp’s lager, and speciality “Blackadders” own blend of Scotch whisky.
This old established business stayed in the same family until the early 1920s, a new licence holder then took over called Mr James Wedderburn who renamed the pub “Wedderburns”, in the 1950s the pub was known as “The Snapp Bar”, in 1981 the name was once again changed to “The Londoner”.
In 1990 the year of Culture Mr Vincent O’Hagan took over the licenceand was run successfully with the help of his wife.
The Londoner, August 2005.
Johnny Bonnar was involved in this pub at one time.
In the NEWS 1976…
32 Birds of the feathers.
Cathie Airlie, captain of the girl’s darts team from the Snapp Bar, retrieves her darts during a practice game for tonight’s big match. 1976.
Darts, like football and drinking pints, used to be a male bastion.
But tonight in the plush Grosvenor Hotel, in Glasgow’s West End, an event will be held which proves that those days are well and truly over.
It is the grand final of the Glasgow’s first ever ladies’ darts tournament in which 32 queens of the board will compete.
See the winners… click here.
James Montgomery worked in Blackadder’s for 18 years before taking over Uneeda Bar, Duke Street now the Lampost.
Mr Montgomery was born in Dalry, Ayrshire and came to Glasgow at an early age. As a youth he worked in St. Enoch Hotel for three years before transferring to the spirit trade in which he gained experience in Rutherglen Road, Eglinton Street and Parkhead before joining the staff at Blackadder’s.
Montgomery went on to own the Elysian Bar, 290 Buchanan Street assisted by his youngest son James.
Facts…
Licence Holders.
1992 Vincent O’Hagan.
1978 G. Mullen.
1973-1971 John Connor Townsley.
1960 Aitken.
1950-1937 James Wedderburn.
1920-1890 Mrs Margaret Blackadder.
1889-1864 David Rennie.
1862-1860 William Cook.
London Road Tavern
1285 London Road, Glasgow. G31 Tel: 01415542600.
London Road Tavern. 1991.
The London Road Tavern, photograph taken 1991.
This very old establishment is now only opened when the Football season is on. It has a very interesting history to read more click here.
London Road Tavern. 2005.
The date 1900 when the red sandstone tenement was erected.
The owners initials Edward A Tait.
Advert for A R Tait London Road Tavern for Quality and Quick Service. Two minutes walk from Springfield Park.
A great read for anyone from the East End of the city, many good photographs of the Streets of Parkhead. Author Charles McDonald. Also visit
www.http://glesgakeelie.proboards.com/
The London Road Tavern has now changed it’s name to the Real McCoy, just in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Thanks to Colin Walker for the image.
Johnny Scobie’s
18-30 London Road, Glasgow.
Johnny Scobie’s. 1991.
Over the years this pub has had many name changes. It was originally Robert Graham & Son’s main office then he acquired a licence to sell wines beers and spirits. The name above the doorway would have been Robert Graham & Son’s. Other names were the Public House Trust, Dirty Dick’s, the Mecca Bar and Barnum’s and The Spirit.
To read more on Robert Graham click here to buy our book.
The Mecca Bar. 1970s.
Johnny Scobie’s interior.
The Spirit. 2005.
In the NEWS 1979…
Special agent Barton in case of Dirty Dick’s…
Man with a Dick Barton points to the pub sign that has sparked off the what’s – in -a – name riddle.
Publican Dick Barton has a special assignment which will take him through the streets of Glasgow. The mission which he has already accepted is to determine once and for all what’s in a name.
The intrigue began four months ago when Dick Barton, not to be confused with the fictitious television character, bought the P.H.T.,( Public House Trust) which stands in London Road in the shadow of one of the city’s most famous land-marks the Tolbooth.
The dilapicated property underwent a facelift to the tune of £4500 in a bid to rid the pub of it’s unenviable reputation for attracting the wrong sort of drinkers.
TONE
Now the mock Tudor style pub stands out amid the surrounding decaying properties of Calton. And by way of a final touch Dick decided to rename the pub “Dirty Dick’s.”
However, it would seem that neighbour shopkeepers are unhappy with the name. Dick said, “I was astonished to here some of my customers say that local shopkeepers had objected to the name, saying it lowered the tone of Calton.
DOOR
“That seems to me more than a little strange because the area is recognised to be one of the most rundown and socially deprived areas not just in Britain but in Europe.”
Dick was informed by his lawyer that he was under no obligation to change the name, so Dirty Dick’s it will remain. He chose the name because he thought it was true to life. Dick owns a fireplace manufacturers business nearby and is always dressed in dirty jeans with “dirty under my finger nails.”
Now Dick wants to find out who the complaining shopkeepers are so that he can personally invite them into his comfortable lounge to partake of a dream or two. He feels sure the shopkeepers who are annoyed have never stepped over the door of his premises and points out that a London pub has an identical name.
“It’s been called Dirty Dick’s for over 150 years and in fact the name was given to it by a royal duke. “It seems strange that in this day and age a few narrow-minded Calton shopkeepers should start objecting.”
This old Pub is not to be confused with Dirty Dick’s which stood half-way down Finnieston Street.