PaisleyRoadWest

1860 Paisley Road West, Glasgow. G52 3SX. Tel: 01418836538.

Quo Vadis. 1991.

Built in the 1960s Quo Vadis was one of the most up-to-date licensed cocktail bars and restaurant in the area. Manageress Mrs Lee Murawska won first prize in the big Cossack Fruit Machine Contest in 1966, she collected a cheque for £250, both she and her husband, who were Polish, went on holiday to Poland with the winnings. Manager Mr M Spillard collected a cheque for £75.

Mr Alasdair Morland, Scottish representative for Cossack with Mrs Lee Murawska, manageress of the Quo Vadis 1966.

The Quo Vadis advert 1974.

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Drunk Dog.

There was this dog in the pub who thought he’d been given short measure.

In the NEWS 1975…

Mr. Gilbert Toner and his drunk Alsatian dog Mick. 1975.

Mick, a Glasgow Alsatian dog, is a hardened drinker.

He has been known to down 11 pints in a night. And when he suspected that he had been served a short measure of whisky in a pub trouble began.

The story of the uncanny friendship between man and dog was told at Govan Police Court yesterday. Gilbert Toner (50), of 128 Dormanside Road, Pollok, was fined £22 for assault, breach of the peace, and refusing to leave the public house when asked. At the end of the two-hour trial he set off for home with his “old friend” padding along at his side.

In his evidence Mr Toner told the astonished Court that his dog usually drank beer “but when he wants whisky he gives me a nudge.” On the day of the pub incident the dog had about three pints and then switched to whisky.

“The dog is my only companion so why shouldn’t he come out for a drink?” he asked. Staff from the Quo Vadis public house in Paisley Road West, Glasgow, spoke of the June afternoon when Toner and Mick, a five year old dog with an impressive pedigree, walked into the bar. Toner was told that no dogs were allowed in, but insisted on having a drink.

Mrs Julie Congleton, a bar assistant, said the dog put its paws on the bar and Toner told her: “If you don’t give me a drink I’ll tell him to come over and eat you alive.”

REFUSED SERVICE

After this threat he was served, but the staff noticed that Toner wasn’t drinking alone. The dog was happily lapping whisky and beer from an ash tray.

Finally, when the staff refused to serve him. Toner began cursing and threw a pint jug, striking a barman in the stomach. When three police officers arrived they found customers in the bar terrified and cowering in a corner. There was glass all over the floor and a “Large Alsatian dog was charging around.”

Constable Robert Clark said the dog was going crazy but he held it by the lead while the other officers led Toner out of the bar, across Paisley Road West, and into Cardonald police office nearby.

He backed away

Constable Clark said he held on to the lead and the dog dragged him across the road and into the police office behind his arrested master. Toner told the Court that the only time he had complained in the bar was when he found he had been given a short measure.

“I bought the dog a double whisky and one for myself, but when I held it out to him he backed away I looked closer and saw there was less whisky in his glass and he had noticed. He wanted my glass. It had more in it.”

Toner, who is deaf, gave evidence with the help of an interpreter. During the trial Mick was variously described as being “as large as a pit pony” and a “big, soft, docile lump.” During the trial he was kept sober in police custody.

Neither Toner nor the dog had been in trouble before.

Mr Paul Burns, who reported Toner, said that the bond between the dog and its master was very much deeper than the normal relationship between dog and owner.

Quo Vadis advert 1975.

Licence Holders.

1991 Moyra McIntosh for Scottish & Newcastle Breweries.

1972 Catherine Elizabeth McNaughton Healey.

21-23 Paisley Road West, Glasgow. G51.

The Quaich. 1991.

There has been a pub on this site since at least the 1890s, landlord Robert Gordon occupied the premises until the end of the 1800s.

Charles Murray then took over the licence until October 1907. Well known publican Patrick McNeil then took over the running of the pub, which stayed in the same family for well over 50 years.

When the Empire Exhibition came to Glasgow in 1938 Paisley Road West saw many shops and pubs get face lifts, most of the pub here were refurbished including the Exhibition Bar, before this the pub was known as McNeil’s. Mr Molloy one of the trustees of the late Patrick McNeil had the pub reconstructed to allow for a new bar counter and to install an up-to-date and well equipped gantry and two cosy alcoves for the rush of people visiting the exhibition.

The licensee of the pub was then Sarah McNeil, a new office was also installed on the premises.

In 1960 the pub was reconstructed again and had a name change, The Quaich Bar. During the alterations a new lounge bar was added in to basement. The lounge had new grey carpets added, walnut and mahogany paneling was used tastefully, in front of the canopied bar two walnut columns decorated with pink mirrors was added with ample table and chairs. A feature of the public bar was a large illuminated gantry with pink mirrors.

Interior views at the opening 1960.

Licensee Daniel Miller Gordon invited several trade personalities including guests of the directors of the Improved Public Houses (Scotland) Ltd, I G Donaldson of the Vaux Steel, Coulson-Usher Group, Leslie Bubb, general manager of the I P H and Councilor Mrs M Omnet, she stated that when facilities of such a standard were available, men should not hesitate to visit them accompanied by their ladies.

Center Mr I G Donaldson with two members of the Bluebell Girls from the Lido, Paris, who were present at the opening.

Leslie Bubb, J Young and licensee Daniel Miller Gordon.

Mr D M Gordon took over the Stadium Bar, Ibrox in 1967.

The Quaich Bar has now been closed for years, on several occasions a sign has appeared above the door TO LET.

I passed here recently and noticed that a bookies has taken over the property.