68 McNeil Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Pig & Whistle. 1991.
This well established Gorbals pub has been a landmark here for many years. There has been a pub on this site since 1868, landlord William Johnston also owned a small public house on Great Hamilton Street now London Road.
William Johnston sold the pub to Walter Robin in the 1870s, Robin ran the business successfully and had two other pubs, one in Thistle Street and the other in Water Row, Govan.
In 1888 publican James Kemp took over the pub, Mr Kemplived round the corner at 432 Govan Street now Ballater Street. Mr Kemp went on to own several pub in the city including one in Dale Street, Hayfield Street, Albert Street and Main Street, Bridgeton. James kept the licence for the Pig and Whistle until the 1920s.
Another well known publican to hold the licence was Anthony McAulaybetter known as Tony. Mr McAulay took over the licence in 1953 he went on to run the Tony’s Bar in Dalmarnock Road. The family are still in the licensed trade today an run the successful business Drummond’s, West Regent Street and The Renfield Bar, Renfield Street.
Pig & Whistle. 2008.
Pig & Whistle. 2008.
The name Pig & Whistle is generally considered a take of “peg and Wassail”, a phrase associated with the ancient custom of drinking health in tankards marked with pegs, somewhat as modern medicine phials are marked into measured doses. Check out some other pub name meanings here.