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Trongate

Tontine Hotel

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Trongate, Glasgow.

Tontine Hotel Trongate image by Annan

The Tontine Hotel.

The Tontine Hotel was situated at Glasgow Cross on the Trongate.

Tontine Hotel Trongate2

Another view of the Trongate with the Tontine Hotel on the left.

Tontine3

Trongate with the Tontine Hotel c 1870s. The Tontine Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1911.

In 1795, the Assembly Rooms, in Ingram Street, were built as a Tontine, with subscriptions of £20 per share. The building latterly became the Athenaeum, and when it was acquired for post office purposes, the main doorway, with window above, was re-erected as the entrance to Glasgow Green at London Street, through the generosity of Bailie James McLennan. In 1816, another Tontine was formed under the name of the Glasgow Tontine Society.

Rabbie Burns

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153 Trongate, Glasgow.

Rabbie Burns

Rabbie Burns. 1930s.

To read the full history of this city centre pub check out our book here.

1888 the opening of the Rabbie Burns Tavern, 151 Trongate, Glasgow. A pleasant little convivial meeting was held the other evening on the occasion of the opening of Rabbie Burns Tavern, by an old pressman, Mr David Gilmour, late of Buchanan Street. Amongst the company present were :- ex-Deacon Convener Warren, Bailie Shaw, Major Menzies, Messrs John Jexlong, Matthew Paxton, William Black, Thomas Steel, William Moore, T Arbuckle & Co..

Ex-Deacon Convener Warren proposed health and success to Mr Gilmour in a few well-chosen remarks, to which the worthy host made a felicitous reply. The premises are fitted up in first-class style, and are the model of the Clanneries Bar in the Exhibition. They are designed by the same architect as McKenzie’s bars, and when completed will certainly be one of the most attractive and comfortable houses in the city.

Donnelly’s Tavern

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88 Trongate, Glasgow. Demolished.

Drawing of Donnelly's Tavern 88 Trongate
Donnelly’s Tavern.

Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

Sir John Moore (1761-1809), son of the physician John Moore (1729-1802), was born in this three-storey tenement, Donald’s Land, opposite the Tron Steeple in Trongate. The family moved to Dunlop Street c 1771. Sir John became a national hero following his death fighting against the French at the Battle of Corunna during the Peninsular Wars in 1809.
The building was subsequently occupied by a shoe shop and Donnelly’s Tavern and Billiard Rooms. It is depicted in this engraving during its demolition in 1855. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

Can you add anything about this old tavern? if so please leave a comment.

END.

Britannia Vaults.

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113 Trongate, Glasgow. G1 5HD.

Britannia Vaults. 1880s.

The Britannia Music Hall (The Panopticon) in Trongate, Glasgow, is the oldest surviving music hall in the world.

Built in 1857 by Thomas Gildard and HM McFarlane, it has hosted some of the biggest names on the Music hall circuit.

In 1906 Stan Laurel made his first stage appearance there on amateur night. In that same year A E Pickard bought the building and changed its name to the Panopticon. He also undertook some major works, installing a freak show, a roof top carnival and a waxworks. He also excavated the basement and installed an indoor zoo.

The Panopticon was one of the first buildings in Glasgow become powered by electricity and one of the first cinemas in Scotland. It closed in 1938 when it was sold to a tailors and converted to a workshop. It is currently being conserved by a trust who regularly perform traditional shows in the auditorium. It is now protected as a category A listed building.

The Britannia Vaults was situated at 113 Trongate and 2 New Wynd. One of the earliest licensees’ was John Graham who was landlord in 1858.

When Gildard & McFarlanes’ theatre first opened it appears to have been called Willie Campbell’s Singing Saloon, within a few months John Brand took over and renamed it the Britannia Music Hall.

Before the Britannia was built there was licensed premises on this site and in 1847 John Couper Spirit Merchant was trading at 113-115 Trongate, he also ran a public house at 17 McAlpine Street / 6 William Street, Glasgow.

Britannia Music Hall. 1857-1938. Also known as the Panopticon.

Robert Hillcoat a well-known Wine & Spirit Merchant in town was approached by Albert Ernest Prichard (Panopticon,) he needed to find more space and beneath the pub on the ground floor. Prichard and Hillcoat after months of excavation it was ready to open 4th May 1908. The pub had iron cages with birds, reptiles and curios to attract customers the the Panoptican.

Facts…
The Britannia Public House Licensees’…
John Couper. 1847.
John Graham. 1858.
Robert Hillcoat. 1875.
William Hillcoat. 1899.
Archibald Bulloch Hillcoat. 1902.
George Burden (trustee for the late A B Hillcoat) trading as Robert Hillcoat & Sons. 1925.
Other Trongate public houses…
1837. William Naismith (Britannia the). 80 Trongate.
1843. Mrs A Hendry. 80 Trongate. (Britannia)
1846. Christiana Henry. 80 Trongate. (Britannia)
Bush, 80 Trongate, Robert Smith. 1846.
The Castle, 80 Trongate, John Kinloch, 1846.
Jenny Dean’s, 80 Trongate, Matthew Algie, 1846.
McVey’s Tavern, 80 Trongate, Bernard McVey, 1846.
Salutation, 80 Trongate, Thomas Seton, 1846.
Perth Arms, 80 Trongate, Hector Stephen, 1842.
The Union, 80 Trongate, Alexander McLennan, 1837.

Do you have anything to say about the Britannia? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Maggie May’s.

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60 Trongate, corner of Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 5EP. Tel: 0141 548 1350.

Bluu. 2006. This photograph was taken from the Trongate.

Bluu is situated at the corner of Trongate and Albion Street. Next door is The Fat Cat Cafe Bar.

Bluu. 2006.

The Fat Cats Cafe Bar. 2006.

The pub had a facelift shortly after this image was taken and is now called Maggie May”s, next door is J T Rockhead and the Gate. The Gate has a secret garden, the style of the menu is from the Far East. This popular establishment sits across from the Tron Theatre.

Maggie May’s, Trongate. 2009.

Maggie May’s is where Bluu was situated and the “Club Bar” is where The Fat Cat Cafe Bar was.

Maggie May’s. 2009.

Do you have anything to say about this these great bars? If so please leave a comment and we will post your views.

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