GovanRoad

1-3 Govan Road, Kinning Park, Glasgow.

Note the striking mural of the Jeanie Deans on the wall of the gantry.

Seated is model Diana Broadley posing for the photographer. 1970.

In the News Jeanie Deans 1970…

If you were one of the thousands of Glaswegians who spent many happy hours gliding down the Clyde in the paddle steamer Jeanie Deans you’ll no doubt have mourned her disappearance from the river scene in 1964. But you’ll be able to paddle straight into her. In fact; Scottish and Newcastle Brewers will be highly delighted if you do for The Jeanie Deans is the name of their newest lounge bar.

Situated at 1-2 Govan Road, Glasgow, the lounge is on the site of the old Albany Bar, which was burned down at the New Year of 1970. The place was left for some time while the Scottish and Newcastle Brewers’ team of designers and interior decorators thought of a “theme” for it. Bringing the old Jeanie Deans into the picture was an inspired thought.

Mrs. Helen Touba at the bar. 1970.

Blue shades

A large, colourful mural showing a paddle steamer sailing down the Clyde takes pride of place behind the bar. There are large paintings – 0ld British Railway prints – showing various ships and steamers, and the curtains depict every aspect of the sea, from ships charts to flags, anchors, and bells.

The decor is predominantly blue to link up with the sea – or Rangers, I wonder?

The name of “Jeanie Deans”, once the fastest paddle steamer on the Clyde, had been perpetuated by the opening by Scottish & Newcastle Breweries of a lounge-cum-restaurant at Paisley Road Toll, Glasgow, named after the famous ship.

The Jeanie Deans, at 1-3 Govan Road, replaced the former Albany Bar which was destroyed by fire on Hogmanay in 1969.

The theme of the decor of the new premises was the paddleship herself, and a 15ft. long colour mural of the steamer by Fraser Designs, of Edinburgh, was set above the gantry wall.

In command was Mrs. Helen Touba, who had since 1964 been in charge of the lounge of the Albert Bar, Langside Road, Glasgow for nine years. Working under her were full-time staff of six, with two part-time waitresses. Meals were served at lunchtime and after 5 p.m.. Not surprisingly, that emphasis will be on fish – herring in oatmeal, soused herring, scampi, prawn cocktail, and so on. But there will be other things on the menu, steak and chicken in particular. In charge of the cuisine was Mrs. Helen Bailey.

There’ll be no cabaret at The Jeanie Deans but you can sit back with a good meal and listen to taped music and watch colour television. There’s seating for about 50 and more room at the bar, where meals will also be served.

Customers will be able to enjoy meals ranging from the “Daily special” to a luscious steak.

The seating was in ultramarine simulating sea, and the lighting was from ships’ lanterns. There was accommodation for around 50 people.

The ‘Jeanie Deans’ (839 tons) was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, of Govan, in 1931. After 33 years service in peace and war she was sold to a consortium of English businessmen and renamed Queen of the South, and was in service on the Thames before being broken up in 1968.

574 Govan Road, Glasgow.

James Watson wine & spirit merchant sat at the corner Bryce Lane which later became known as Three Ell Lane, many will remember a pub with the same name that used to sit on this site in the 1970s. James Watson’s pub was demolished and a new tenement building was srected on the same site with a public house on the ground floor. The name of the new tenement was The Three Ell Corner.

The Three Ell Bar. 1977.

This wonderful drawing by C. K. Fletcher in 1977.

From 1918 till after WW2 the pub was run by the Public House Trust Glasgow District Ltd and the licence was held by John McLaren Biggar, the other Public House Trust pub was at 18 London Street.

Another well known licence holders here was Merrless Chassels, he owned the Cottage Bar, Shettleston Road, licensed premises at 22 Elder Street, Govan and Govan Arms, 783-85 Govan Road.

Patrick Clancy ran the pub in the 1970s, he also owned the pub at 22 Elder Street and licensed premises at 401 Sauchiehall Street which is now the Variety Bar.