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Birds ‘N’ Bees Disco.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

2-4 Paisley Road Toll, Glasgow. G51 1HS. Tel: 0141 429 5396.

Birds ‘N’ Bees Disco advert. 1972.

The Birds and Bees was in the Grand Ole Opry.

In the News 1972…

Learn all about the Birds ‘N’ Bees…

When Luigi Zani arrived in this country 12 years ago from his native Milan he had no choice but to come to Glasgow. A hotel school in Italy decided where its pupils were to study, and Luigi’s name was marked down beside Glasgow. Well, as I said, that was 12 years ago, and he’s still here, through choice.

“I like Glasgow and I like the people, in fact I think they’re wonderful,” he told me. One doesn’t remain a pupil for ever, and when his training days were over Luigi decided that he’d stay and get more experience, first as a waiter and then managing restaurants, discos, and cabaret spots. He went further afield, up to Aberdeen to manage the best cellar night spot in a city centre hotel.

Experience

But Glasgow was the place where he wanted to stand on his own two feet, and when he thought he’d gained sufficient experience back he came. The results of his watching and waiting policy can be seen tonight when his new venture The Birds ‘n’ Bees discotheque opens at Paisley Road Toll.

This weekend nightspot for the youngsters is a means to an end for Luigi’s burning ambition is to open a high class club where people are admitted by membership only and where they can have an excellent meal dance to a first-class band and watch some tip-top entertainment. But that kind of venture requires backing, and some one with an existing business is more likely to receive backing than someone starting afresh.

“I had a choice,” explains Luigi. “I could open a hotel or a restaurant or a discotheque, the outgoing capital required for a disco isn’t as great as for the other two. And so the idea of the Birds ‘n’ Bees was born. Why the name? “I suppose it gives the idea of young people getting together,” he laughed. “Anyway, eventually I want to be the best discotheque in the West of Scotland.”

Guest group

To start with, the Birds ‘n’ Bees will open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Tonight the two guest groups are Stag and Verge and Luigi has plans to invite at least one top 10 group to his place once a month.

Do you remember this old Disco? If so please leave a comment and we will post your review.

END.

New Regano.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

471-473 Paisley Road, Glasgow. G5 8RJ. Tel: 07447 406635.

New Regano. 1991.

From 1885 to 1894 this was the site of the Glasgow Coffee House. James Henry Roger of Rogano Ltd then took it over as a store for his Spanish Wine Cellars. A certificate was granted to sell liquor here around 1910.

The new the New Regano was spelt differently as the pub couldn’t use the same name as Rogano in South Exchange Place when the Grant family owned it.

Jim Baxter’s Bar 1970s.

Slim Jim Baxter Rangers football team fame took over the licence in 1970. The pub was situated at the corner of Paisley Road and Admiral Street.

In the News in 1970…

Jim Baxter granted a pub licence in October 1970.

A former Scottish international footballer, Jim Baxter was granted a public house licence at the Licensing Court in Glasgow. The not so slim Jim who was 31, will be mine host at the Rogano Public House, at the corner of Paisley Road and Admiral Street, at Paisley Road Toll.

The court was divided after hearing objections to the application from Glasgow chief constable, Sir James Robertson. But the licence was granted by eight voted to five. Sir James said that Baxter was convicted of a road offence in August last year, when he was fined £25 and disqualified from holding a driving licence for 12 months.

Mr Jim Baxter outside his pub.

An agent for Baxter said that Mr. Baxter was a personality not unknown in football circles and was a member of a famous Glasgow Club for a time. At the time of this offence Baxter had been engaged in an exhibition match in Dunfermline.

“Persons of his standing suffer from adulation, and hospitality which they do not want is often forced upon them” the agent said. “It was very much a border-line case and he has learned a short sharp severe lesson which he will not forget.”

Ballroom Licences

During his career Baxter left Ibrox Park for Sunderland, and later was transferred to Notts Forest for £100,000. Eventually he was given a free transfer and was signed for Rangers by the then manager David White. He failed to make his mark in the team. however, and was given a further free transfer from the Ibrox Club.

Jim Baxter said afterwards- “I am delighted. I will be working full-time in the public house. We hope to have alterations made to it by Christmas.” He added that the pub would be renamed “Jim Baxter’s.”

At the same court the Plaza Ballroom at Eglinton Toll, were given permission to sell drink on the premises. Until to-day they had a restricted licence allowing them to serve drink only with food. A similar release from a restricted licence was also granted to the Albert Ballroom in Bath Street and to Johanas which is also part of the Albert. The only provision at both the Albert and the Plaza was that there would be an age restriction of 18.

The pub was later known as the Sportsman’s Bar.

Sportsman’s Bar. 1980s.

Today 2006 the name above the door is now Merchant Quay.

Merchants Quay. 2007.

The Merchants Quay, 2007.

Update September 2016:

We gave The Union Bar a visit on the 3rd September 2016. The pub was very clean and looked like it was just opened the day we went in. The old wood carvings around the doors are still intact. The owners of the Angel across the road took over the old Merchants Quay and cleaned the interior a few months ago.

The Union Bar from Admiral Street, the Gold lettering looks good against the crimson background. 2016.

Interior view of the bar 2016.

Another view of the interior main bar. The main bar is quite small for the size of the pub. That means there is more foot space for customer when Rangers FC are playing at Ibrox. 2016.

This view of the bar shows the pool table and lounge area. 2016.

Postcard showing Rogano on the right hand side of Paisley Road.

Do you know anything about this old pub? If so please leave a comment and we will post your review.

END.

Basic.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

203a Pitt Street, Glasgow. G2 4DT.

Basic. 2004.

Opened as “Cobar” since January 2006.

Cobar. 2008.

This pub has not been opened since 2008.

Do you have anything to say about this pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Bar Bax

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

232 Paisley Road, Glasgow. G5 8NG.Tel: 01414201272.

Gairdener’s Airms. 1991.

The Gairdener’s Airms was built just before the opening of the famous Glasgow Garden Festival. The beer garden outside proved to be popular with the customers. The pub has a new name under the title of Bar Bax.

There used to be a pub on this site called the Moy, which was demolished in the 1960s.

Bar Bax. 2007.

Burns Cottage.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

488 Paisley Road, Glasgow. Tel: 07988 480458.

Burns Cottage. 1991.

This popular Kinning Park local is now called the Angel. There’s been a pub on this site since 1879.

Once owned by John Waterson of Burns Howff, West Regent Street.

John Waterson with the leaders of the Bards and Sabres. 1966.

Swinging Pub Beats all-comers.

The most swinging pub in Scotland, that’s a title which can well describe the Burns Cottage in Glasgow. For in addition to packing ’em in with its musical evenings the pub’s resident group, called the Bards, have beaten a host of other top pub entertainers from all over Scotland in numerous challenge contests.

The latest challenge to the Glasgow group came from the Sabres from Grangemouth.

A meeting was arranged last weekend at the “Cottage” in Paisley Road and proved such an attraction that the doors had to be closed about two hours after opening time. One again the Bards emerged winners and immediately threw out another challenge to other pub entertainers.

In addition to fighting off challengers at the “Cottage,” the Bards have travelled to various towns in Scotland including Dundee where they met the Couriers at the Craigtay Hotel.

The Bards were not without support at this contest as Mr Waterson organised six couches to transport about 250 of his regulars to the Craigtay. As a result to the various challenges contest over £190 had been raised for charity. This is the amount of money which had been put forward by Mr Waterson and Challenging publicans. When the Bards win both wagers go to charity. Mr Waterson stated “I believe pub entertainment is one way of meeting the challenge of the clubs.

To read more on the history of this old pub, check back soon for our second book.

In the News 1972…

A few years back one of the most popular musical spots in Glasgow was the Burns Cottage at Paisley Road Toll. But time and tastes change.

The man who now owns it, Edward Brunton, is determined to bring it back to its former glory by making it one of the most swinging spots in town. Edward started laying the foundation of his fortune as a schoolboy tattie howker and now runs a few Rolls-Royces.

Within the past few weeks he has bought over several pubs in the city, and smiles quietly when you ask him if he’s working on his second million. He can afford to smile; he’s practically at the top of the ladder – and he’s only 24. Last night he had “Speakers Corner” on stage at the Burns’ Cottage, and the boys will be playing there again tonight and tomorrow.

Edward tells me- “I intend to make it a big night spot, and something worthwhile will be happening every night. I haven’t thought of a resident group because I intend ringing the changes and giving customers value for money. “If I do think of a resident group, believe me they’ll have to be good, very good.”

I’m looking forward with interest to see how things develop because in the licensing business in Glasgow, Edward is certainly one of tomorrow’s men.

Fergie’s Bar, advert 1975.

The Elbow Room was the lounge at Fergie’s Bar, this advert dates from 1977.

The Angel Bar. 2007.

NN10. 2019.

Nova’s Lounge and Nacho’s Bar.

Postcard showing Paisley Road.

Facts…

Also see Waterson’s other premises…

Jean Armour.

Burn’s Howff.

Other names this pub has been known as…

Tuck’s Bar.

Fergie’s.

Burns Bar.

Burns Cottage.

The Angel.

NN10.

END.

Blythswood Cottage.

November 10, 2016 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

144 Park Road, Glasgow. G4 9HB. Tel: 0141 339 9124.

Blythswood Bar. 1991.

Blythswood Cottage has been sitting on Park Road since 1862, landlady Miss McGibbon occupied the premises until 1890. In 1891 John MacLachlan took over the business paying an annul rent of £80 he also ran a pub in Garscube Road. Mr MacLachlan employed a manager Roderick Gillies to run the Blythswood Cottage, he went on to run the Imperial Hotel in Oban and the Royal Hotel, Keith.

The MacLachlan family continued to run the family business until the 1960s.

In 2008 a new name was above the door, “Bar Bola.”