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Murphy’s Old Mill Vaults

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

122-26 Millburn Street, Glasgow.

Millburn Street in the Garngadhill area of Glasgow had a famous old pub called Murphy’s Old Mill Vaults. It was first licensed back in 1874 when James Muirhead acquired a certificate to sell wines, spirits and beer. Mr Muirhead lived with his family at 181 Garngad Road now Royston Road.

James Muirhead went on to own another pub at 382 Springburn Road, many will remember this old pub as Smith’s Kerry Inn. At this time Mr Muirhead moved house to 4 New Keppochill Road before moving to better accommodation to Viewfield Villa, Springburn. This meant business was very good. James continued as licensee until 1890.

In 1891 Margaret Flynn Murphy took over the business. Margaret was a very proud business woman having pubs at 124 Great Eastern Road (Gallowgate) called the Caledonian Wine & Spirit Vaults; 743-49 London Road (Springfield Vaults); 37 Preston Street (Waverley) and 53-55 West Scotland Street.

The Murphy family continued in this pub until it was demolished in the early 1960s. In 1920 Margaret McConnell was licensee then Mr J Murphy, Henry Francis Murphy ran the business in 1937 until the early 1960s.

In 1941 Henry F Murphy was living with his family at 184 Southbrae Drive, he also ran the pub at 548 St Vincent Street (The North Star Bar.)

In 1918 The Firm of Philip Flynn wine and spirit merchant, 59-61 Garngad Road, 745 London Road, 122-24 Millburn Street, 37 Preston Street, 16-22 Coulter’s lane has been dissolved owing to the retirement of Margaret Flynn Murphy. The Millburn Street premises (Murphy’s Old Mill Vaults), will be carried on in the future by Mrs Murphy and the other premises will be taken over by Philip, David Vincent and James Flynn under the style of Flynn Brothers.

Milton Bar

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

37 Milton Street, Glasgow.

Milton Bar. Licensee John Strian. 1906.

Check back soon for the history of this pub.

New Orlean’s

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

24 Mill Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 2NA. Tel: 01416472866.

New Orlean’s. 1991.

Now called the Millcroft. 2007.

Millcroft Rutherglen

The Millcroft. 2009.

Thanks to Norrie McNamee for this image.

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In the News 1974…

That ‘Ol’ deep south’ luxury comes to Rutherglen…

Two well-known Glaswegians have got together in an effort to enliven our night life. And their venture looks like being a tremendous success. Tony Queen, a stalwart of the bookmaking business and Pat Harkins, who was a seafaring man until he went into the restaurant business, joined forces to open, last May, the Virginian, a restaurant and bars complex in the centre of Glasgow.

Their second joint venture has just opened its doors for business. It is the New Orleans, in Rutherglen, which has a top class restaurant, function suite and bars.

It has impressive decor. Mr Queen told me that the “Deep South” image which had gone down so well in the Virginian was well researched to ensure its authenticity. Mr. Harkins and he wrote to the University of Louisiana for literature and ended up buying more than £100 worth of books on the area. Their research hasn’t been in vain. For the New Orleans, with an overall red colour theme, has a real “Gone With The Wind” atmosphere.

When Mr. Queen proudly showed me the function suite which can take up to 140 people for a wedding, private party, or staff dance, he pointed out a magnificent wall decoration made entirely in leather, by an Edinburgh artist. It depicts a group of Negro minstrels.

Booming

Although the New Orleans has just opened, business is booming. A luncheon club has been formed for local business men and this has some 60 members already. Bookings are pouring in for the function suite and, while I was talking to Mr. Queen, a wedding party was arranged for next August. “We can take over all the arrangements for a wedding.” Mr Queen explained.

I asked Mr. Harkins why the “Deep South” theme had been chosen and he explained, “It fulfils an ambition for me. When I was at sea, years ago. I visited this part of the world and was very impressed.”

Messrs Harkins and Queen are proud of their chef Sardinian Guiseppe Figus, who has worked in top Continental restaurants, hand.

In their attractive restaurant, with its leather seats and subdued lighting many of the dishes on the menu have evocative “Deep South” names and I was assured that they’re genuine, some of the books from Louisiana contained traditional recipes.

The New Orleans restaurant, which offers an a la carte menu at lunch-time as well as in the evening, can seat 72. And it looks like becoming the “in” place for an evening out in Rutherglen. And well as offering a first class meal, the restaurant has a two piece band so that patrons can dance if they wish.

Included in the attractive building which houses the restaurant and function suite is a lounge bar, very chic with leather seating, a gorgeous multi-coloured carpet, and plants dotted round the place. There’s also a public bar and off-sales and Balmoral Turf Accountants have a betting office on the premises.

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In the NEWS 1976…

A Taste of Dixie.

It’s 18 months since Glasgow businessman Tony Queen, opened the New Orleans restaurant and lounge bar in Mill Street, Rutherglen.

And in that 18 months the complex has built up a regular clientele, of businessmen looking for an a la carte lunch, the office workers hankering after a bar snack, even the housewives seeking a night away from the chores.

In fact, one of the main attractions of the New Orleans is that it caters for everyone. Four weeks ago, the New Orleans underwent a change of management with the arrival of Mr Ian Henderson, a 25 years old East Kilbride man who has had six years experience in the hotel trade.

Mr Henderson trained in hotel management in Eire and has arrived at the New Orleans, ready to put some new ideas into action. The New Orleans has always been a lively place. The management have made sure that there is something different on nearly every night.

Bookmaker

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are ladies nights and anyone who has been at one of these knows just how lively they can be. It’s then that the “Jackson Two” play not forgetting the sing-song too.

On Fridays and Saturdays there are dinner dances, and Saturday mornings are strictly for the Jazz types. A six-piece Dixieland band plays that good old-time jazz music, and according to Mr Henderson it’s very popular, particularly with shoppers.

The New Orleans itself is a large complex which includes a public bar, lounge bar, restaurant with cocktail bar and a function room with its own private bar. There is even an adjoining bookmaker, Balmoral Turf Accountants.

Bar snacks are available in the public and lounge bar while upstairs in the restaurant there are full a la carte and table d’hôte menus available. I’ve sampled the New Orleans fare and can thoroughly recommend it.

The New Orleans function suite is idea for a wedding or business conference.

Talent Hunt…

In the near future the New Orleans is holding the New Orleans Showboat Talent Competition, and Mr Henderson anyone who would like to take part.

The competition is open to anyone from dancers to comedians. So if you think you are a budding Gene Kelly or Les Dawson contact the New Orleans. You may win a share of the £100 that’s to be divided between the winners.

The New Orleans advert 1976.

The Redan

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

1802 Maryhill Road, Maryhill, Glasgow. G20 0HD.

The Redan. 1991.

This part of Maryhill Road was formerly Main Street, Maryhill.

This old established Maryhill local was owned by Bailie William McLeod.

William McLeod was born in 1843 at Lambhill and educated in Springburn, his first initiatory start in life was his engagement as clerk to the firm of Messrs., Leadbetter, Govan & Co, quarrymasters, to whom he remained for 17 years, during which time he married a niece of Mr Govan, one of the partners.

Mr McLeod took over his first pub at 281 Gairbraid Street, Maryhill, premises that had just been built in 1873 at the corner of 3 Vernon Street, now Queen Margaret Drive. In 1881 he took over another public house at 394 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow, many will still remember this old pub as the Lemon Tree Bar. Business was booming and in 1887 he acquired another pub further up Maryhill at 210-12 Main Street the “Redan.” Using his Gairbraid Street establishment as his headquarters, all the finest liquor was dispensed at his premises, blending all his own whiskies and his special blend of “Tiree” which not only had a large home consumption but was known abroad, where it was extensively exported.

McLeod’s Bar corner of Maryhill Road and Vernon Street now Queen Margaret Drive.

William was a valuable inhabitant of Maryhill, with good qualifications and a talent to get on with the locals, he was elected as Bailie to the Town Council of Maryhill before the Burgh was merged with Greater Glasgow, the separate Council then ceased to exist.

He was a famous dog lover and an acknowledged judge, he owned Scottish Terrier “Tiree” and even named his whisky after him, the dog was one of the finest canines in the country, paying £50 for him at the Edinburgh show in 1890. In the black and tan class he owned the famous “General II” while his Greyhounds “Chevy Chase” and “Sodger Hew” made an enviable reputation for themselves. His Scotch Terrier “Ashley Plug” was a prize winner at Birmingham and Crystal Palace shows where he was also successful with his Bulldog “Jim Mace.”

Another view of McLeod’s Bar. 1960s.

Mr McLeod was a director of the Scottish Kennel Club and for many years was well known at the Maryhill Cattle show, president of the Bowling Club, secretary for many years at the Kelvin Dock Curling Club and a freemason, vice-president of the Maryhill Conservative Association, how he managed to run a successful business is beyond me.

William lost his wife when she was in her 30s, leaving him with a young family of 2 daughters and 3 sons, his brother Alexander lived with them at East Park Terrace, Maryhill, Alexander was also involved in the licensed trade in the area, he was licensee of premises at Main Street, Maryhill at the corner of Watt Street, this pub is now known as the First and Last. he also ran the Little Mill in Bowling, Dumbartonshire.

William McLeod’s son Robert took over the pubs in 1906 which then consisted of 281 Gairbraid Street, 210-12 Main Street and 15 Cambridge Street.

During the 1950s and 70s the pub was run by Allan Peter Hannah for Robert Fyfe McLeod and Co Ltd.

The last time I passed the Redan it was closed down with a TO LET sign on the building, it looks like this old establishment will be demolished, with houses erected on it’s site.

The Redan 2005.

Bailie William McLeod. 1893.

Munn’s

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

610 Maryhill Road, Glasgow. G20 7ED. Tel: 01419462942.

Munn’s. 1991.

Munn’s was founded by Daniel Munn in 1874.

A spirit haunts this old pub, when Karon McLaughlin licensee moved into the pub 2 years ago, she heard strange noises coming from the cellar thinking it was just the usual noises you hear from an old building, at first she thought nothing of it until she started to feel a presence in the pub. Karon stressed she heard a noise coming from downstairs, as she investigated, the noise suddenly stopped, she had a quick look around but nothing was there, as she came back upstairs the noises started again, Karon said it sounded like shutters rattling, she quickly run back up the bar. Another strange thing happened to Karon as she was in the lounge bar, something passed in front of me I didn’t see anything but it made the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stand up. Later on that night 2 barmen felt a strange atmosphere and a presence at the bar, one man felt as if someone was blowing on the side of his face the other felt as if someone was passing in front of him marching backwards and forwards. Karon stated that as though she has never seen a ghost in the pub she has felt it and said it is a woman.

The staff calls the ghostly woman Mrs Munn. I asked Karon if she knew anything of the history of the pub, she said that the only thing she knows was that it was always called Munn’s. I replied that the founder Daniel Munn died a young man, his wife Margaret took over the running of the pub in 1875. A lady called Mrs Munn owned the pub right up until the late 1920s then Margaret’s son Walter took over. There has been frequent haunting’s of Mrs Munn in the last year or so, Karon said it is as if Mrs Munn is distressed as the pub is under threat of being demolished to make way for a new housing complex.
Karon went on to say that silly wee things have went missing, the staff blame each other for the disappearance, an old set of keys went missing, the keys opened an old padlock at the rear of the premises, the keys were never found.

Mrs Margaret Munn, with her daughter, grand daughter and Great grand-daughter. Thanks to Margaret Parkill for this great image.

Karon over the years has got used to feeling someone or something standing over her as she counts the night takings, the only thing that disturbs her is when she feels a small breeze then the temperature drops suddenly. Over the years the pub has expanded, taking in adjacent shops and cellars, one of the cellars are out of bounds as everyone is scared to go down there, Karon stressed that the temperature has plummeted to freezing conditions, even on summer months when the weather is very warm this old cellar has ice in it.