68 Saltmarket, Glasgow.
The Singing Saloons on the Saltmarket are on the right hand side. The photograph was taken from Bridgegate with Glasgow Cross in the background.
Saltmarket
The Tolbooth
11 Saltmarket, Glasgow, G1 5NA. Tel: 01415524955.
The Tolbooth. 1991.
The Tolbooth was once called Coggan’s Coat of Arms. To the read the full history of this popular Irish theme bar click here.
One of the licensee’s was James McCready who obtained a certificate 12th March 1963.
Exterior view of Coggan’s Coat of Arms. (The original Name of the pub.) 1909.
The Tolbooth. 2005.
Other Saltmarket Pubs…
The Old Ship Bank
166 Saltmarket, Glasgow. G1 Tel:
The Old Ship Bank. 1991.
The Old Ship Bank has been successfully run by the Hyslop family now for many years. Today Frank jun controls the running of the pub. I was so surprised when I met Franky one Sunday afternoon, the place was jumping, I could hardly get in the place. As I squeezed my way past the locals I was served right away by the barmaid who didn’t know me, that was a plus right away as the bar was so busy. If you think the Old Ship Bank is like all the rest of the pubs in the area then think again. The Old Ship as it is sometimes called had a sing along the afternoon I was in, Frank tells me that the singers come from all over and are very talented, that I could here for myself. I think all of the singers in the city was in the Old Ship Bank that afternoon, I have never seen so many singers in one place, It was also the last day of smoking, one elderly lady was smoking two fags at a time. If you like a friendly pub with lot’s of atmosphere and you fancy yourself as a singer, then this is the place to be, it’s very much better than the Karaoke bars in town and you never get any trouble, the locals are so very friendly. I had a great time when I visited the Old Ship Bank, Franky made me very welcome.
Cheers Franky.
Old Ship Bank Wine & Spirit Vaults 1949.
The Old Ship Bank, August 2005.
Licence Holders.
1991 Marina Hyslop.
1973 Joseph Patrick Healy.
1919-1905 Patrick Joseph Healy.
1899-1895 Bernard McAnulty.
1888 Mrs Ellen Fitzpatrick Kelly.
1875-1850 Edward Kelly.
1849-1831 George Ross.
1828 Robert Love.
Nightingale Tavern
28 Saltmarket, Glasgow.
This is a watercolour by W R Mainds showing the back of a timber building at 28 Saltmarket which housed the Old Nightingale Tavern, reputedly Glasgow’s first singing saloon. Two women are standing in the doorway of the building opposite the saloon. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.
Singing Saloons were especially common on the Saltmarket, offering a cheap and cheerful alternative to music halls with no entrance fee and the added attraction of cheap drink. Patrons sat at long wooden benches and were entertained with renditions of popular songs of the day and sometimes by comic turns. An entertainer who failed to please the audience would have been subjected to a barrage of abuse and rotten tomatoes thrown at them. These saloons gained a reputation for rowdiness, most had been closed down by the 1890s when the City Council’s redevelopments in the area.
Graham’s Tartan Lounge
37 Saltmarket, Glasgow. G1Tel: 01415520567.
Graham’s Bar, 1991.
To read the full history of this old establishment click here.
This old public house is now called O’Brien’s.
O’Brien’s. August 2005.
In 1892 Mr Graham the proprietor once reported what he say in London was awful, “A throbbing mass of drunken humanity of every age and sex, from the girl or youth of fourteen summers to the hoary-headed old man and woman.”
The Old Empire Bar
68 Saltmarket, Glasgow. G1 5LD.Tel: 01415520844.
The Old Empire Bar. 1991.
Dominick McCreadie traded here in 1877, owing to the City Improvement Trust Mr McCreadie was moved from the opposite side of the street where he traded since 1863.
He lived with his wife and family in nearby Steel Street for over twenty years. At the beginning of the 1900s Mr McCreadie moved to better accommodation in Kingsley Avenue, Crosshill.
Dominick was born in Ireland in 1829 he married Irish lass Catherine, their three sons John Dominick and James all worked with their father in the pub after leaving school. James went on the work as a clerk in a lawyers office but was soon managing the Old Saltmarket Vaults.The family were fortunate enough to have a domestic servant Margaret O’Hara from Sligo and their niece Hannah an unmarried Irish girl helping around the house.
Son John A McCreadie went on to own his own pub at 75 Greendyke Street, John was a great football player and assisted in the foundation of the Celtic Football Club. In the winter of 1907 John caught a chill and died a fortnight later as a result in 1908, his wife Catherine then took over the licence the her son John.
At the end of the 1800s son James was managing the Old Saltmarket Vaults assisted by head barman James Kiernan who was a faithful worker and friend for over 6 years before leaving for America in 1907. The pub was situated in one of the most roughest part of the city, every Tuesday and Friday crowds of workers from the nearby hide market and carriers quarters flocked here to sample McCreadie’s special blend of old Scotch whisky.
The rent for the premises in 1899 was £80.00 per annum.
When the Crawford’s took over the pub before the Second World War the pub was renamed Crawford’s Bar, the family continued in the pub until the 1960s.
The Old Empire Bar, August 2005.
Mr James Sweeney.
Barman James Sweeney worked with Dominick McCreadie in the old premises before they were removed to the opposite side of the road, he moved with the McCreadie family serving with them for thirteen year. Sweeney then went on to work with publican Thomas Neeson in Greendyke Street. He then went on to run his own pub the Auld Hoose in Canal Street.
Licence Holders.
1991 Francis Costello.
1971 Joseph Gartshore Scott.
1960 Margaret Crawford.
1937 James Crawford.
1930-1913 Daniel McGuinness.
1913-1877 Dominick Joseph McCreadie.
1976-1863 Dominick McCreadie.