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Argyll Arms.

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62 Paisley Road West, Glasgow. G51 1JW. Demolished.

Argyll Arms. 1980s.

The Argyll Arms sat at the corner of Paisley Road West and Rutland Crescent.

This was originally owned by spirit merchant William Bennett, a prominent figure in the area in the 1870s. Mr Bennett employed a young barman called Robert Sloan who purchased the premises in 1881. To read more on the history of Robert Sloan Please check back soon for our second book.

The Argyll Arms was named by the McNiven family who owned the premises in the 1930s, he also owned pubs at 122 Glebe Street at the corner of Kennedy Street and 100 Glebe Street in the city of Glasgow called the Argyll Arms.

The founder of the business was Archibald McNiven, he born in the glens of Taynuilt, on the borders of Argyll shire, maybe this is where he got the name for the pubs.

His father was a builder and young Archie assisted him for a short while in the construction of the shepherds cottages. Young McNiven spoke Gaelic and it wasn’t until he left school that he started to speak English. When he came to Glasgow in 1882 found employment in William Teacher’s pub in St. George’s Road, Teacher’s liked to employ highlanders as barmen as they were often trustworthy and very big men. Work was very hard in those days, young McNiven worked from eight in the morning till eleven at night with no stack time.

Six years later Archie joined the staff at David Hutchison’s bar at 109 Kennedy Street, Townhead to manage his public houses, his other pub was on Parliamentary Road. Five years later Mr Hutchison retired and Archibald secured the licence for Kennedy Street. This old pub was renamed the Argyll Arms.

In 1931 he acquired another licence for premises at 168 Kelvinhaugh Street, a business that the family ran for many years.

From his early days as a licence holder Archibald had taken a continuous and close interest in the administrative side of Trade Defence work. In those days Kennedy Street was included in the old St. Rollox division of the city, and in that area the Trade had the most live organisation in Glasgow. Practically every licensee was a member and Mr McNiven almost at once became a member of the Executive Committee.

In 1920 the city was divided differently and Kennedy Street by some peculiar planning, became part of Cowcaddens Ward, The old city division associations were dissolved and by a new constitution the Glasgow Association became fully representative of the whole city with a directorate comprised of a delegate from each ward organisation. Mr McNiven, who then had an interest in a business in Shawlands, became the representative of the Campbell Ward to the board, but subsequently transferred to Cowcaddens which he had represented for many years. The business interest he had in Shawlands was the Bay Horse and traded under the name of McNiven & Co with James Finlay as manager.

In 1929 Archibald was elected a vice-president of the Glasgow Association and about the same time became a member of the Managing Committee of the Scottish Association.

During the Local Veto years of 1920 and 1923, Mr McNiven had a strenuous time in the Cowcaddens fights and succeeded in proving that the campaigner’s had not the slightest hope of victory in that part of Glasgow.

His chief interest outside his business and his Trade work had been in the Glasgow Oban and Lorne Association. He was a member for over 40 years and was a president for six years. He was an active Freemason in Lodge the Gael and gained the office of Deputy and Substitute Master. The war, however, intervened, and Mr McNiven could not find the time to go further. He was also a member of the St. Rollox and Campbell bowling clubs but was never an enthusiastic bowler.

Archibald had four sons three of whom were in the trade, between them they had premises in Paisley Road West, Kelvinhaugh Street, Parliamentary Road, Shawbridge Street, Kennedy Street, St. James Road.

The annual inter-ward bowling competition for the J & R Tennent Cup, held under the auspices of the Glasgow Licensed Trade Defence Association took place in June 1935, at Queen’s Park green. Included in this photograph are some of the members R Faichney, John Lawson, Archibald McNiven, D Menzies, J Macrae, J Canning, G McCartney, J Denholm, Alexander Graham, J Learmouth, J Douglas, W Craig.

Glasgow Licensed Trade outing May 1936. Included in this photograph are Archibald McNiven, P B Jackson, Lawrence Brady, Peter Wharry, Alexander Graham, Kenneth McLean, William Jamieson, Alexander Lawson, Robert Moodie, D Stewart, John Holmes, George McCartney, Douglas A Wood, Jock Mills, Murdock MacRae, James Paterson, William Cosgrove.

Cowcaddens Licensee at the Grand Hotel 1929. Included in this photograph are Mr & Mrs Archibald McNiven, Mr & Mrs R Sanderson, James Denholm, J C O’Reilly, Mr & Mrs George Thomson, Hugh McLaughlan, John Tully, J Ramsay, Frank Jeans, Miss Finnie, Mrs McCartney and Miss Mamie Jeans.

At the Royalty Burns Club 1966, the gents left to right Mr John Young, Wee Mans, Gallowgate, Mr J Walker, Star Bar, Stirling, Mr Donald McNiven, Argyll Arms.

Here are some principal personalities who attended the smoker dinner held at Belmont House, Glasgow, by the Cowcaddens Ward of the Glasgow Association in 1962. Left to right: Mr G Ramster, Glasgow Association Office; Mr H Doherty, Symposium Bar, Cowcaddens Street; Mr N Jones, Cross Keys, St. Peter’s Street; Mr J Dougan, Dougan’s Bar, Springburn Road; Mr R Lemon, Lemon Tree, Parliamentary Road (Ward Convener); Mr W J Bennet, Port Dundas Road; Mr W B Gow, Bristol Bar, Cowcaddens; Mr J Lanagan, Maitland Street; Mr T F Flynn who succeeded Mr Gow as president of the Glasgow Association; Mr D McNiven, Argyle Arms, Kennedy Street; and Mr W J McDowall, Secretary, Glasgow Association.

…………………….

Mrs McNiven. 1930.000000000000000000000Mr Archibald McNiven. 1936.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1975 E Davidson.
1973-1958 Agnes Marshall McNiven.
1950-1937 Peter Campbell McNiven.
1919-1915 John Lang Sloan.
1911-1881 Robert Sloan.
1870s William Bennett.

Do you remember this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Arden

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57 Main Street, Thornliebank, Glasgow. G46 7SH. Closed Down.

The Arden, 1991.

This pub is reputed to be one of the oldest in the district, having been established around the 1850s. A new lounge bar was built in 1954 for Mr John I Lawson, formerly occupied by dwelling houses adjoining Mr Lawson’s original premises on the main thoroughfare. A corridor used only by staff connects the new lounge with the old bar. The interior decor of the new lounge was furnished with small tables of light oak with chairs to match, the wall seating around the room was covered in red leather. The floor was covered in a patterned Korkoid while the walls were panelled halfway up in hard board with plaster board above. The doorway screens were of walnut veneer. A small fireplace was fitted in one wall opposite the entrance. A triple mirror backed the gantry while the bar counter and front was of formica.

Left to right Mr Hugh Campbell manager, Mr James Finlay managing director of Aitken’s and John Lawson, 1954.

Interior view of the new lounge, 1954.

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In the NEWS 1979…

Comfort and Courtesy, That’s the aim at the New Arden…

Many years ago Thornliebank was a hamlet with a thirst. So a pub was built, and business was good. Decades later the rapacious demands of the developers became so great that the village grew and grew, like Pinocchio’s nose, and increased out of all recognition.

Not only did the village multiply, but so did its surrounding policies of Carnwadric and Arden. And with it grew the thirst of the inhabitants.

The growth was not lost on the suppliers, those wise men from the east who trade under the name Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. Tow years ago the realised that their little oasis was too small to slake the thirst of the populace in the comfort and style of which their name has become a byword.

They did something about it and now the “Oasis,” called the Arden Bar, has been remodernised, refurbished, and has doubled in size.

LUXURY

It is certainly good news for locals because the new premises are airy, spacious, comfortable to the point of luxury, and the lounge alone can seat 170 people.

Tommy Farquharson, who has been manager at the Arden for the past eight years, is obviously delighted with the new concept. “It gives people more room to breath, and of course to drink, and the initial reaction is splendid. People seem to like the new decor and it’s getting so busy that we might have to double the size again.”

The increased size of the new lounge has made it possible to put on entertainment and that is what they do four nights a week. Says Tommy: “We are featuring middle of the road entertainment, duos, trios, groups, comedians. I had thought of putting in a resident group but thought our customers might get tired of them.

So at present we are experimenting, by putting on different shows on each of the four nights. That way we can gauge what our customers like best, and ask them back again. It just wasn’t practical to put on entertainment before because we just couldn’t make it pay. Now we can, and it seems to be going down very well.”

At present the Arden doesn’t have an all-day drinking licence, but they hope that that will be rectified at the October sitting of the Licensing Court.

REASONABLE

If it is granted, Tommy intends putting on lunchtime snacks. Until now, he says, “We just haven’t had the space to do it. It won’t be anything too lavish but good food at a reasonable price.”

Apart from “ra bevy” probably the most important thing about any pub is its staff, and that is where the Arden really scores. Most of Tommy’s staff have been with him for many years and the accent is on courtesy and good service.

The Arden Bar fell into bad management with gang members frequenting the bar, the pub was finally closed down around 2013. Only the local people would frequent this bar as it ended it’s life in a very bad way the previous owners would never have let this happen.

Facts…
The new Arden Lounge was opened by James H Finlay, managing director of Aitken’s Brewery.
Proprietor Mr John I Lawson also had the Regent Bar, Pollokshaws Road which he took over from his father, four years later he bought the Arden Bar.
Mr John Lawson had been in the licensed trade since 1917, he was a chairman of the Local Veto Committee.
Manager Hugh Campbell had 40 years experience of the licensed trade in Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Glasgow. He was formerly manager of the famous Queen Anne in Argyle Street which was destroyed by fire the same fire that destroyed Arnott Simpsons.

END.

Archie’s

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27 Waterloo Street, Glasgow. G2 6JX. Demolished around 2006.

Archie’s Bar, 1991.

Now called L’Attache. 2006.

Archie’s circa 2004.

Also see Arches, Argyle Street.

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In the NEWS 1979…

Archie’s Got The Lot… drinks, meals, coffee, gateau.

Interior view of Archie’s 1979.

Girls, the next time your better half says he’s going to Archie’s don’t think he’s dropping in on an old pal. The chances are he’ll be sampling the hospitality of Glasgow’s latest lounge bar, Archie’s in Waterloo Street.

Archie’s opened only 2 weeks ago, but already it’s become a favourite spot for businessmen at lunchtime and, later, theatregoers.

That’s not really surprising, because the pub not only offers cosy surroundings but a selection of fine foods.

The Beard family who own Archie’s, they also own the Busby Hotel, have spent almost £70,000 on the premises, which used to be the Garrick, and it is money that has been well spent.

Prints

Only real material have been used in the interior design of the pub. The walls are covered with wood panelling and stone and much of the scating is made from cane which has been specially stained down it fit in with the rest of the decor.

Mr J. R. Notman, a Glasgow-based architect, was in charge of the interior design and it was he who chose some beautiful old prints of Glasgow for the walls of the pub.

Salad

But where Archie’s really scores is the fact that it serves food from 12.15 right through to 10 o’clock at night. Archie’s opened only 2 weeks ago, but already it has become a favourite spot for lunch time businessmen and pre-theatregoers.

The menu varies from a selection of super salads to dishes like chicken a la king or curry. There is also a selection of starters, with delicious gateau to finish off your meal.

“Although we serve meals we would be more than pleased if someone came in simply to have a coffee and a piece of gateau,” said a family spokesman. “And the fact that we are serving food, virtually all day means that a customer can come in at any time and be guaranteed a meal,” he added.

The Beard family know that some of their customers won’t have a lot of time to eat, especially at lunchtime, and so they have installed handy shelving round the main lounge area where customers can eat a quick snack.

Archie’s is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. So, Girls, the next time your husband says he’s going to Archie’s, go with him and enjoy a really good evening out.

Archie’s advert 1979.

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Archies was a favourite haunt of staff from Britoil in the mid 1980,s when they had an office in Cadogan St (before the move to the big office at 301 St Vincent St). Specially popular as the Archie Equation was used by oilfield petrophysicists to calculate the amount of oil present in a rock. The initial plans to found the Glasgow Hash House Harriers in 1985 (now celebrating its 1500th run tomorrow (2nd June 2013) were made in the basement bar in Archies between myself and Mark Simpson. Sent by Roger McIIroy. 1/06/2013.

Facts…
Do you know anything about this pub?
If so please contact us.

END.

The Arcade Bar

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39 Wemyss Street, Queen’s Arcade, Glasgow.

The Arcade Bar, 1960s.

Wemyss Street was once called West Russell Street and the pub sat at one entrance of the Queen’s Arcade, an ancient shopping arcade, at the other end of the arcade you had another pub called the Camp Bar.

There has been a public house on this site since the 1870s occupied by renowned wine & spirit merchant James Dewar, he also had licensed premises at 247 Duke Street, 1 Port Dundas Road, 225 New City Road,227 Cowcaddens and 48 Commerce Street.

In 1894 another well known licensee occupied the premises, John Lochart also owned pubs at 762 New City Road, 184 North Street and 444 Maryhill Road

In 1898 William Craig acquired the licence. William was born in Kirkfield Burn, Lanark and came to Glasgow in 1881. His father William and family all worked as carpet weavers. When William came to Glasgow he worked for a short time in the railway, but gave this up to work with his uncle, Samuel Aitken, a wine & spirit merchant in both Duke Street and North Woodside Road. Samuel also came from Kirkfield, Lanark, he lived in Greenock for a short spell before coming to Glasgow to set up a home in North Woodside Road, with his wife Elizabeth and a large family of five sons. In 1877 he acquired the licence for premises at 262 North Woodside Road near to he residence.

William Craig joined his uncle in the Duke Street premises and was soon managing the premises. On the death of his uncle William became the new proprietor for Duke Street.

Mr William Craig  President of the Scottish Wine & Spirit Merchants Benevolent Institution 1897-1898.

Mr William Craig was born in 1842 and came to Glasgow in 1862.

In 1898 William was the new landlord on the Arcade Bar, West Russell Street at the entrance of the Queen’s Arcade. The Duke Street premises were lost as a result of Dennistoun Ward Voting Limitations in 1920.  William concentrated his efforts into one licence. He was a member of both the St. Rollox and Uddingston Bowling Clubs, this took up most of his spare time when he wasn’t serving his customers behind the bar. William also owned licensed premises at 60 Eglinton Street.

William recalled the old days when children of tender years used to come for father’s refreshments and the heavy duty on whisky was from 10/6 to 72/6 per proof gallon, restrictions that were imposed after the war dealt a crippling blow to the trade. Even before that the writing appeared on the wall when opening hours were cut down from 8am to 11 pm to 10 to 10 each day, these changes were welcomed by some and deplored by others. At the same time they were privileged people when it was remembered how the permitted hours were restricted during the war and how they were curtailed to 8 per day by the 1921 Act.

Mr William Craig  first worked at 217 Duke Street then owned the premises 1916-1920, 39 Wemyss Street 1898-1938, at 52-54 West Street, Tradeston 1868-1905, 60-62 Eglinton Street 1873 -1920, Licensed Grocers business at 36 Pollok Street, and 15-17 Norfolk Street 1889 to 1903.

William Craig, 1935.

Another well known and respected member of the Scottish Licensed Trade to own this pub was James Millan, he took over after William Craig. James Millan also owned the Abercorn Bar, 26 Abercorn Street, he also became hon. president of the Ashfield Football Club, the trophies were proudly displayed in the pub. Cups and trophies gathered on the gantry, a proud event when the football club won a tournament.

Left to right Mr J McCabe, Mr J Millan and Mr Malcolm MacLeod.

The Arcade Bar was refurbished in 1956, outside the Wemyss Street frontage was made up of Napoleon and Patricia marble on a black granite base. The arcade entrances used the same marbles, relieved by glass brick windows and fluted teak on the walls of the lounge. Inside the public bar a decor of oak panelled walls. The oak fronted counter with a formica top blended well into the new decoration and a remodelled gantry. Above the mirrored oak gantry was a floodlit which passed over the mural panel representing Wemyss Street and the Queen’s Arcade in the early days of the 19th century. Another reminder of old Glasgow was tiling incorporated into one wall of the Arcade Bar, picture tiles which were once a showpiece on the outside wall of the bar. The bar ceiling was in red with primrose frieze, upholstered red wall bench seats were a new feature in the bar. The lounge was small and cosy with high ceilings, panelled oak walls with red bracket shade lighting and red upholstered wall seating. The grand opening was performed by John Taylor M.P. for the West Lothian District and well known Scottish Licensed Trade president Thomas Flynn.

When the bar was demolished no-one saved the set of tiles depicting the Trades of Glasgow which were displayed in the Gents toilets. A very sad day.

Interior view of the Arcade Bar at the opening of the refurbishment in 1956, Mr & Mrs James Millan behind the bar with staff with John Taylor M.P. on the right with Thomas Flynn.

James Millan behind the counter of the Abercorn Bar, note the cups and trophies’ on the gantry.

Update: 18/01/2014…

Jimmy Millan with Margaret and Angela Hull. An outing at Helensburgh in 1969.

Mr James Millan, 1960s. A Glasgow delegate, who had been a member of the management committee since 1953.

Mr James Millan. 1950s.

Cartoon of James Millan by Coia. 1950s.

Do you know anything about this pub, if so please get in touch…

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1960-1947 James Millan.
1937-1898 William Craig.
1894 John Lochart.
1875 James Dewar.

END.

The Aragon

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131 Byres Road, Glasgow. G12 8TT. Tel: 0141 339 3252.

Aragon, 1991.

Aragon, 1980s.

This is quite a new pub, opened around 1970. It was formerly a butchers shop. Very popular bar in the West End. Student flock here in there droves from the nearby University.

In the good weather seats and parasols are placed outside where locals can enjoy a nice glass of wine or whatever takes your fancy and watch the traffic going by.

The Aragon on a nice summers day, 2006.

Aragon sign 2006.

Facts…
Do you know anything about this pub?
If so please contact us.

The Aqua Bay

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Hogganfield Loch.

Aqua Bay. 1991.

This was a great place for a refreshment with couples after strolling round Hogganfield Loch. It is now long gone, the place when on fire and was demolished afterwards. It was situated facing the old Rhubarb Fields, a housing estate now occupies the old field.

Owners Tony Ghani and wife Anne formerly owned Blackjack’s, Hope Street and Zhivagos, Ingram Street.

Facts…
Do you know anything about this pub?
If so please contact us.

END.