London Road

The Welcome Inn

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

95-97 London Road, Glasgow. G1 5NN.

The Welcome Inn, 1991.

Over the years the Welcome Inn has become one of the best and largest Irish family run pubs in the city of Glasgow. The pub has grown over the years from a very small establishment, now it is three times it’s original size, taking over empty adjacent shops.

The history of this old pub can be traced back to at least 1845, an old pub sat on this site owned by spirit merchant John Brown. Over the years many Irish publican’s have owned this establishment McMenemy, Meikle and Casey just to name a few.

The pub then was very small compared to what it is today, six men at the bar created a crowd with no elbow room. The old pub was demolished and a new tenement with a pub on the ground floor was erected around 1875, the pub was then owned by Robert Paterson.

James Riddell a well known and respected city publican took over the pub from 1883 to 1902, Mr Riddell also owned a pub on Nelson Street now called the Lord Nelson. James liked to move around, in the 1880s he was living in South Barrfield Cottage, East Kilbride, then to Bellahouston Terr, Ibrox before moving to Milton House, Dunoon.

The Morrison family also ran the pub for many years, when George Morrison died his wife Louise took over the licence until the 1920s. Another family to hold the certificate for many years was the Eadie’s, the pub stayed in this family for nearly 30 years.

image of the New Hampden Bar, London Road 1979 — New Hampden Bar, 1979, thanks to James Green (photographer).

The Hansom Cab Inn 1980s.

Over the years the pub has been known under many different names including Riddell’s The Red Lion, The Hansom Cab Inn which was named by Glasgow taxi driver Mr O’Hara. During the 1970s the pub was known as the Hampden Bar and the New Hampden Bar.

Frank McMenamin changed the title to the Welcome Inn around 1988, the pub is still in the same family today. If you intend to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day this is the place to be, that’s if you can get in, as the place is backed full of party goer’s.

The Red Lion 1931.

The Welcome Inn, now three time’s it’s original size. Photo taken August 2005.

The Welcome Inn is now closed forever. Developer’s have moved in and Welcome Inn will be demolished to make way for new houses. 2008.

Licence Holders.

1991-1986 Mary McMenamin.

1978-1969 Edward John Joseph Lynas.

1960 -1950 M Eadie.

1947 Mrs M A Eadie.

1940 G Smith.

1937 Jane Gunn Smith.

1930 J Adamson.

1920-1911 Mrs Louise F M Morrison.

1910 George Morrison.

1902-1883 James Riddell.

1881-1875 Robert Paterson.

1873 Mrs Casey.

1870 James Joseph Casey.

1865 John Meikle.

1860 Robert McMenemy.

1855 William Graham.

1852 Isabella Scott.

1850 William Naismith.

1845 John Brown.

Jack’s Bar & Lounge

January 17, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

195 London Road, Calton, Glasgow.

Jack’s Bar, August 2006.

Jack’s Bar. 1991.

The history of Jacks Bar can be traced back to 1862. Well known Cambuslang and Glasgow Wine and Spirit Merchant William Cook was the first licensee. William lived in the Cairns, Cambuslang and had a tavern there too called Cook’s.

His son William also traded in Cambuslang and Glasgow. Between them they owned some of the best bars in the area, including., 169 Canning Street (London Road), Cathcart Road, Gorbals, Abercromby Street, Gallowgate, Clyde Street, Calton, South Albion Street (Albion Street). Old Mr Cook traded as a tavern keeper and wine and spirit merchant from the early 1840s.

William Cook traded here until 1883 and the business was taken over by William Speirs.

William Speirs and his wife lived at 58 Whitevale Street, off the Gallowgate. When William passed away his wife then took control of the pub until 1893.

In 1892 a well known Watchmaker & Jeweller family took over the old pub. Mrs S Vogt became the licensee while her son Joseph ran the pub. The Vogt family had a business at 200 North Street and 225 Great Western Road selling top quality watches and jewellery, they lived next door to the shop in North Street.

Mrs Vogt’s other son Robert was a famous bicycle racer, he had his own business too as a Cycle Agent at 225 Great Western Road. They all lived at 196 North Street.

In 1894 his brother Joseph took over the old public house licence for premises at 7 Great Hamilton Street now known as London Road a pub which stood a few doors away from the famous Old Burnt Barns.

Robert like his brother fancied the new life style of being a Glasgow publican and acquired his own premises from John McNee’s old pub at 102 Norfolk Street which sat at the corner of South Portland Street.

Robert was a talented craftsman and one of Glasgow’s famous cyclists not only in Scotland but had trophies from all over Europe. He had won over 500 prizes nearly all firsts from cycle tracks all over the country and abroad. Apart from all this he was an ardent Volunteer and a member of the 1st L R V, during this period he gained third prize for his shooting skills at the Wapinshaw.

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World Champion Cyclist, Robert A Vogt standing proud with his bicycle and hundreds of Trophies.

More on the Vogt Family…

Robert Anton Vogt was born in Argyle Street and received his education at St. Mungo’s Academy then afterwards spent his last years of education at St. Aloysius School at Garnethill. Robert’s first job was to learn in the trade of cabinet-making with the well known Glasgow firm of Bryce & Martin at Charing Cross. Robert had other things on his mind and lasted only a year in his wood working career.

His mother Sophia had two jewellery businesses in town, young Robert followed in the footsteps in the trade which his family was so long and honourably connected with, the watch making and jewellery trade. His family was one of the city’s renowned clock, watchmakers and jewellers.

The family had a history of German clock making since 1840, having small premises in Saltmarket and traded under the name of Vogt & Fleck. His father Anton and mother Sophia had a large family of five sons and four daughters all of them having been connected with the family business at one time.

Young Robert started his apprenticeship with Hugh Wilkie, a small independent watchmaker at 181 Duke Street, he had what it took to be a great craftsman and obtained first prize and a diploma for his skills. At the great exhibition of 1888 his talent was recognised as he received the highest award and at the East End Exhibition, a diploma and medal for a watch constructed by himself.

On completion of his apprenticeship in 1889 he left to take charge of his mother’s shop, which was carried on by his brother Louis in Great Western Road, before transferring to the other shop at 200 North Street.

Royal Doulton made this tea set for Robert A Vogt.

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Other publicans to run this old pub were John McMahon, John Conlin, Victor Cairns (of the Barras market), and June Ferrie.

Mr John (Jack) Conlin took over this pub in the 1949 and renamed it Jack’s Bar. Jack Conlin bought the pub from John McMahon in 1949, the pub was very smart with an old wooden polished bar with a brass foot-rail running the full length of the bar.

As you walked into the bar, the public bar was right in front of you. Jack’s wife Margaret encouraged him to put ladies toilets in the upstairs part of the bar which turned out to be very successful as women were now allowed in the pub with their husbands or boyfriends.

Interior view of Jack’s Bar with Margaret and John (Jack) Conlin.

During and after the Second World War Jack worked in Frank Kelly’s Pop Inn Bar, Cowcaddens. Frank also owned a well known bar called the House of Lords were Jack Conlin must have worked now and again when staff were short. Jack Conlin gave up the trade when he took a stroke in the 1960s.

Mr and Mrs Conlin’s daughters Marie and Rita were not encouraged to go to the bar, however both of them worked in the bar from time to time when Jack held private business affairs in the bar. The girls loved to work in the bar as the tip were good.

Front Marie and Patsy with their husbands in the back. Photo taken in Jack’s Bar.

Marie and husband standing outside Jack’s Bar.

In 1970 the Barras Market boss Victor W Cairns took over as licensee and let the pub out to various publicans.

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The pub had a name change, “The Foggy Dew” 2012.

The Foggy Dew, 97 London Road.

A NOTORIOUS pub has become the first in Glasgow to be shut down with immediate effect after a crisis meeting. The Foggy Dew was closed at an emergency hearing of the city’s licensing board.
Police Scotland asked licensing chiefs to review the licence after alleged “serious violence” and “sectarian, religious prejudice behaviour” within the premises.
Officers claimed the London Road bar should be closed after a string of incidents, including an alleged serious assault at the weekend.
The licensing board heard how police said there was a “lack of co-operation from management and licence holder” at the East End pub.
Chief Inspector Hilary Sloan said: “The management has completely failed to engage with us and that’s a big issue for us. We can’t predict what may happen in future.

The Foggy Dew, 195 London Road.
“But there’s a likelyhood that there will be further disorder as they have not taken on board any of the recommendations made by us.”
She asked for the closure order to be imposed for “sufficient time “for Police Scotland to return to the board for a review hearing of the premises.
It is the first time that closure order powers, within the licensing legislation, have been used in Glasgow Granting the order, Councillor Bill Butler said: “The board is satisfied that a closure order is necessary to prevent crime and disorder and secure public safety.”
The pub was named after a famous Irish ballad and was popular with both locals and city visitors. However, the bar caused controversy when it held a party to ‘celebrate’ the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Police launched an investigation into the event after footage appeared on the internet.
Archie McIver, the solicitor appearing for the licence holder, East End Catering, told the board he had been instructed not to oppose any motion by the police.
The Foggy Dew’s designated premises manager, Lloyd Ingram, did not attend the hearing and no-one appeared on his behalf.

Foggy Dew.

The Foggy Dew did not last for long. After a short closure the pub was reverted back to Jacks Bar.

William Donnelly’s Bar. The Golden Acre.

January 8, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

431 London Road, Glasgow. G40 Demolished.

image of the Golden Acre bar London Road 1960s — Golden Acre. 1950s.

This old Tavern was situated at the corner of Great Hamilton Street now London Road and Craignestock Street. There has been licensed premises here since 1845. The first licensee was wine and spirit merchant Robert McIssac.

I am not sure of the name of this old Tavern, however it was a very old one. In 1866 Bowman Miller was trading from here. Bowman lived next door from the pub. He served the locals until 1888.

William H Parker took over in 1889, William was not new to the trade as he was licensee of a public house at 155 Graeme Street now Bell Street since 1885. Mr Parker’s public house in Bell Street sat at the corner of St John’s Place and next to St John’s Church. Mr & Mrs William Parker lived at 65 Great Hamilton Street a little west from his pub on London Road.

Close-up image of the Golden Acre London Road 1960s — Golden Acre. 1960s

William H Parker’s wife Margaret took over the as licensee of both pubs in 1896 possibly as her husband concentrated on his other business as a Telegraph Office and Newsagent at 174 Great Hamilton Street which was across the road from the pub. William, Margaret and family were now living at Monteith Row an exclusive address in those days, so business was good. Margaret continued as licensee just before the First World War. By this time the pub on Graeme Street was closed down.

Image of The Golden Acre Tavern Great Hamilton Street 1916 — The Golden Acre Tavern. 1916.

Thanks to Mitchell Library.

The pub and the tenement building was demolished in 1916. The Parker family ceased to trade and the business across the road was also closed. It wasn’t until 1920 that son John B Parker acquired a licence at new premises at 171 Great Hamilton Street. In 1928 the address was changed to 431 London Road. John continued as licensee until the 1940s.

During the 1950s and 60s the pub was run by Denis McEneny then William Donnelly. The City Council saw that the old tenements in the east end of the city were in need of demolition this resulted in the loss of many shops and pubs disappearing for good during the 1960s and 70s.

Image of William Donnelly's premises London Road 1960s 1960S — William Donnelly. 1960s.

Facts…

Today London Road starts from Glasgow Cross to Mount Vernon where Mount Vernon railway station stands. However in the 19th century this stretch of road had four different addresses from Glasgow Cross to Ross Street was known as London Street.

From Ross Street to Craignestock Street it was called Great Hamilton Street.

From Craignestock Street to Bridgeton Cross was Canning Street.

From Bridgeton Cross onward’s was London Road.

London Street had 7 public houses.

Great Hamilton Street had 10 public houses.

Canning Street 10 public houses.

London Road had 20 public houses.

Total 47 pubs.

Do you remember this old pub or any of the 47 pubs on London Road? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Crimson Star

January 2, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

577 London Road, Bridgeton, Glasgow. G40 1NE. If you own this pub please give us a phone number.

The Crimson Star. 2005.

The Crimson Star sits at the corner of London Road and Kerr Street, Bridgeton.

Before the railway took over this site in 1876 there used to be a few shops on the site. The first licensee was William Arbuckle.

William Arbuckle was wine and spirit merchant , he was new new to the licensed trade as he acquired a certificate to trade as a wine and spirit merchant at 98 Main Street, Bridgeton in 1869.

William Arbuckle was born in Glasgow in 1844, he married Helen Armour daughter of a well known publican in the east end of the city who had pubs in Broad Street, Stevenson Street, King Street Calton and Main Street, Bridgeton. They lived with their 3 sons and 2 daughters at Morris Place not far from their pub.

William died in his early 40s at which time Helen took control of the business, when she died in 1906 their second eldest son Hugh took over the licence paying an annul rent of £110.00.

When the railway company took over the surrounding ground a new pub was erected for the Arbuckle family. Mrs William Arbuckle took over the licence during the 1920 and the pub stayed in the family until the 1930s.

Mrs Mary Russell Robertson then took over the certificate and ran the pub for over 20 years she also ran a pub at 350 St. Vincent Street, many will remember this old pub as the Tudor Bar..

During the 1970s this old pub was known as “The Regent.”

The Regent. 1991.

The pub is now a rangers shop and has been so for many years, over the past 15 years it has closed down a few times. The pub is now opened under a different name the Crimson Star.

The Crimson Star. 2014.

Facts…

Licence Holders.

1991 Raphael Naas.

1973-1969 Colin Maxwell Brown jun.

1950-1937 Mary F Russell Robertson.

1930 Mrs William Arbuckle.

1919-1906 Hugh Arbuckle. as one of the trustees of the late Helen Arbuckle.

1906-1888 Helen Arbuckle.

1888-1876 William Arbuckle.

Do you have any memories of this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

The Weavers Inn.

November 13, 2016 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

415 London Road. Calton, Glasgow G 40 1AG. Tel: 0141 554 1573.

Weavers Inn. 1991.

The Weavers Inn was situated at the corner of 415 London Road and 131 Green Street. Land-lady and well-known author, Actress, Comedian, Janey Godley renamed the pub “The Weavers Inn” as a reminder of the Calton Weavers. In 1787, a meeting of the weavers was held on Glasgow Green. Their wages had dropped because of the increased importing of cheaper textiles from abroad and most of the workers decided to strike, although some weavers accepted the lower wages and carried on working.

This was a desperate situation for many of the people. To be without employment and wages resulted in them being evicted from their homes and seeing their families go hungry. Yet the striking weavers stood strong and took on the might of the authorities.

The dispute eventually came to a head on 3 September, 1787: violence erupted after the strikers tried to seize materials from the weavers who had carried on working despite the low wages. The military were called in and a detachment of the 39th Regiment of Foot opened fire on the demonstrators.

The strike was broken.

Six of the men killed at the scene were considered martyrs and some of them were buried in the Calton Cemetery. The families of the men were so poor that they could not afford a headstone, although a century later a memorial was raised to commemorate their actions.

A group of local people are currently fighting to preserve the graveyard, to cherish the memory of the martyrs and also to educate the local youngsters in their historical roots.

The Calton Bar. 2005.

An old hostelry dating back to the year 1776 sat on this site, it was called the “Old Herb Beer House,” and was famous all over the city as the house where herb beer was first retailed along with alcoholic drinks.

In 1837 a licence was granted to a gentleman called Robert Marshall to sell porter & spirits. Mr Marshall was born and bred in the Calton and also stayed in the premises. In 1839 the licence was transferred to Mrs Marshall, the family ran this pub until 1847.

In 1893 a Mr Robert Cumming owned the premises and was a very successful businessman, he owned three other public houses in Glasgow one at 56 West Street, south side, 63 Stobcross Street and one at 15 Catherine Street, Anderston. Mr Cumming travelled daily from his home at 395 Eglinton Street by horse and cart and visited all four premises to make sure business was good, his daughter took over the licence in 1896.

In 1897 the licence was transferred to Mr Timothy Joseph Walls. These old premises were demolished around 1898 and a red sandstone building was erected on the same site with a tenement of flats above and a public house on the ground floor. Mr Walls continued business here in his new public house.

The Calton Bar. 2005.

In the early 1900s the licence holder was a Mr Patrick Cassidy who also owned the Weeman’s on the Gallowgate, he resided at 6 Montgomery Street, Bridgeton. In 1927 the address changed from 161 Great Hamilton Street to 415 London Road.

On 21/10/1969 Mrs Mary Birnie Storrie took over the licence, the Storrie’s continued in the pub for many years. Many will remember this old pub as the Nationalist Bar, in the 1950s it was known as the Crystal Bar owned by Thomas O’Kane. Mr O’Kane sold the pub in the early 50s and took over a pub on Westmuir Street and renamed it O’Kane’s Bar.The pub was then really small, he bought the adjacent shop to make a new lounge.

Calton Bar. 2012.

Calton Bar. 2013.

Facts…

In 1899 the rent for the premises was £120.00 per annum and a gill of 10 year old Scotch whisky was 10d, in 1920 a gill of whisky was 1/8 and rum 2/1, 1929 a pint of draught beer was 6d, 1976 a pint of lager was 30p, heavy 28p and a quarter gill of whisky was 33p.

Do you have any memories of this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Braemar Bar.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

145 London Road, Glasgow. G1 5BX. Tel: 0141 564 2911.

Braemar Bar. 1980s.

Braemar Bar. 1991.

The Braemar Bar an old established east end local. There has been a pub on this site since 1843. James Crawford the owner was a spirit dealer and a general merchant.

In the middle of the 1800s the McLaren family took it over, their name was positioned above the door for years well after the First World War. In the 1930s Andrew Jamieson was running the pub however the name Fletcher has been known in this pub for over forty years now and is still in the same family today. Some will still remember the Breen family. The pub has been up for sale for a few years.

The Braemar Bar on the left. c 1910

In the NEWS 1975…

Three accused under terror prevention act.

Three men appeared on petition at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 1974.

William McGuigan (33), James Fegan (26) and Gerald McMorrow (19) are charged that in a house in Glasgow they solicited support, financial or otherwise, by distributing for sale posters supporting the Irish Republican Army.

Fegan was also charged with displaying and offering for sale in the Braemar Bar, 145-47 London Road, Glasgow, posters supporting the IRA.

Mr Joseph Beltrami, agent for all three accused, made no plea or declaration and Sheriff S. E. Bell remanded them in custody for further inquiries. The three accused are believed to be the first ever to appear before a Court charged in connection with the anti-terrorist Act, which came into force a few months ago.

Paisley police meanwhile are seeking a deportation order from Mr Roy Jenkins Home Secretary, for a man who was detained under the Act at Glasgow Airport on Saturday on arrival from Northern Ireland.

On the order being granted the man, Thomas Cupples, aged 27 of Belfast, will be returned to Northern Ireland. 1975.

Braemar Bar. 1970s.

Note the tenement building above the bar.

The Braemar Bar. August 2005.

Note most of the tenement building is gone.

Do you have any memories of this old pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.