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The Fotheringay

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

17-21 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow. G41 2AL.Tel: 01414231088.

Fotheringay. 1991.

This is now the Horse Shoe owned by ex-manager David Smith of the Horse Shoe Bar in Drury Street.

The Fotheringay was opened in 1965 by east end publican William M Johnston, Mr Johnston owned the Charter Bar on Tollcross Road.

The Fotheringay was a new venture consisting of a buffet lounge, public bar, delicatessen and an off-sales. The new lounge could comfortably seat 120. A novel feature of the lounge was the two natural cellars with wrought iron gates which were used to display wine bottles.

Left to right at the opening of the Fotheringay Mr William M Johnston, Mrs Barr, Mrs Johnston and Mr Barr, president of the Licensed Trade Defence Association. 1965.

Interior view of the buffet lounge.

Some of the guests left to right H Carmichael, J Rankin, J Gow, J Chalmers and M Forbes all well known figures in the licensed trade.

It’s now called the Horse Shoe Bar, with the same lettering as the Horse Shoe Bar in Drury Street and the same manager . It didn’t last long and the place closed a few years later.

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In the NEWS 1978…

The Beer Boss Pulls A Smart One…

The Fotheringay staff (left to right) Andy McCallum, Ricky and Margaret Thom, and David Barclay.

The Fotheringay, which some say is the best pub Tennent Caledonian own in Glasgow, is having some problems these days, from the former sales director of Tennent Caledonian.

When Billy Findlay gave up his director’s job with T.C. he bought the Titwood Bar from the company.

Then it was a place which TC were not too interested in improving because their ace bar, The Fotheringay was directly facing in Nithsdale Street, Strathbungo.

Bill and his brothers John and Jim had no such reservations and spent tens of thousands doing up the place.

NICE BAR

Now Bill, who worked for 21 years with Tennent’s, is taking custom away from their best pub. Says Bill: “My future is staked in this place and I am not going to put my family and home in jeopardy for the sake of Tennent’s Okay, the Fotheringay has a good reputation and I am on good terms with the manager but I want the Titwood to be even better.”

Across the road, manager Ricky Thom told me, “The Titwood now is a nice bar but I don’t think it is going to do the Fotheringay out of business.

The Horse Shoe Bar. 2005.

The Horse Shoe Bar has now a transfer of the lease for anyone interested in running their own pub, a transfer premium of £46,500 is asked for. September 2005.

The bar reopened as the Fother. 2008.

Fother’s. 2008.

Licence Holders.

1970 Peter Colquhoun McKechnie.

1965 William M Johnston.

The Forfarshire Bar

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

420 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow.

Forfarshire Bar. 1960s

The Forfarshire Bar sat on the corner of Parliamentary Road and Killermont Street.

This old pub was ideally situated near the Buchanan Street Bus Station.

There has been a pub on this site since at least 1870s. Robert Anderson was landlord here in 1875, he also had pubs at 6-8 College Street and 161 West Nile Street.

In 1881 John Watt acquired the licence, he was a well established spirit merchant in the city, having licensed premises in 30 College Street and 70 Cowcaddens, many will remember this old pub as Tommy Foley’s Pop Inn. Mr Watt continued as licensee before WW1.

William John Ross then took over the pub, he passed away in 1918, his wife Helen then got a transfer of the licence. Helen’s son John took over the running of the business until the 1950s.

In 1939 John had the pub refurbished to keep the bar up to date with the rest of the pubs in the area. The pub had an increasing number of bus passengers among its clientele, a larger amount of visitors came to the district as a result of the bus station, which was the site of the old Buchanan Street railway station.

Two plain unpanelled doors, one in Parliamentary Road and the other in Killermont Street, where the family department was. The exterior of the premises were painted in grained light oak with terrazo work at the entrance. The inside swing doors were of Japanese oak, and two of them at the main entrance had special air pressure springs a new addition to the pub and one of the first to be installed in Glasgow.

Interior view of the main bar. 1939.

A display window with concealed lighting and a neon sign gave a good effect in Killermont Street. The interior was well lit by two large windows which had an artistic and modernistic bottle and glass theme worked through them presenting a very attractive appearance. Artificial lighting was provided by a number of hanging octagonal electric lamps which matched the design of the gantry and bar.

The gantry, semi-circular was finished in Australian walnut and with mellow concealed lighting displayed the various drinks available, behind this was Mr Ross’s office. In the centre of the gantry was a modern electric clock.

The bar counter was the same shape as the gantry with a mahogany top and Japanese oak finish. Monel metal bar pipe fittings with two sets of three chrome plated taps were fitted to the bar. A small display cabinet on the counter exhibited the various liqueurs. To the right of the counter was a small electric cooker for hot snacks.

The walls were panelled half way up in Japanese oak, with a red band at the top. Above this was painted cream, while the ceiling was papered in anaglypta. The saloon had glass topped tables and oak chairs. A modern electric fireplace was installed on one side with electric tubular heaters, which lined the bottom of the walls provided warmth during winter months.

A small sitting room with an arched doorway was situated to the left of the main saloon. Seats covered with red Rexine leather line the walls on either side. Small tables and chairs similar to those in the main saloon were provided. The floor was covered with red designed linoleum.

There were two architects involved in the construction of the new bar, William Reid and John Boyd.

Licence Holders.

1970-1960 James A D McLean Smith.

1950-1937 William John Ross jun.

1919-1918 Helen Gabriel Ross.

1917-1912 William John Ross.

1910-1881 John Watt.

1875 Robert Anderson.

Follie’s

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

193 Pitt Street, Glasgow.

Follie’s. 1991.

This favourite night club was mysteriously set alight and was burnt to the ground. 2005.

Five Ways Inn

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan 3 Comments

1409 Gallowgate, Parkhead, Glasgow.

The Old Straw House. 1991.

There has been licensed premises here since the 1850s. Landlord John Waddell served the locals here for nearly 50 years. Straw was left to be weighed outside the premises this is where the pub gets it’s name.

One of the most famous publicans to own the Old Strawhouse was Flynn family, James Flynn took over the pub from John Morrison in the 1920s. The family owned various pubs across the city including another pub on the Gallowgate the Springfield Vaults, London Road, Pollokshaws Road and the Garngad.

Mr Thomas Flynn. 1971.

Five Ways, August 2005.

Interior view of the new cocktail bar 1950.

The pub is now called the Five Ways, it’s a shame the new owners had to change the name of this old Parkhead pub.

The Five Ways. 2008.

This is still the clattiest pub in Parkhead, however the drink is cheap.

To read more on the pubs on the Gallowgate read up & Doon the Gallowgate by John Gorevan. A copy can be bought for a few pounds at the Hielan Jessie on the Gallowgate or contact me at [email protected]

Licence Holders.

1991 James Shannon.

1973-1968 John Andrew McBeath.

1960-1940 James Flynn.

1937 John Paterson (trustee for the late James Flynn.)

1924 Mr Flynn.

1920-1896 John Morrison.

1890-1853 John Waddell.

The Five Ways

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

220 Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

Five Ways. 1960s.

The Five Ways was situated at the junction of Buchanan Street with Cathedral Street, Bath Street and Dundas Lane.

This old pub was opened in 1860 by James Bowie who lived in one of the flats above with his wife and family. Mr Bowie was born in Paisley where he met his wife Grace.

He took over his first pub on Great Eastern Road in 1854, this old pub will still be remembered by east enders as the Reunion Bar at Camlachie.

James Bowie and his family moved out to Buchanan Gardens, Mount Vernon with his son William living next door with his family.

The Five Ways corner of Cathedral Street and Buchanan Street.

The pub on Buchanan Street was known first as the Cosy Den before it was renamed the Five Ways. When James died his son William took over the running of the business. William was born in the Cowcaddens district in 1849, he received his education in David Street school, then Annfield Academy, Bellgrove Street then to Wilson’s Model School which occupied the site of the Andersonian College in George Street. He then finished his education at the High School, John Street. On leaving school he immediately joined his father in the business.

In 1877 he married Miss Jamieson, her family were well known in their time, her grandfather was Rev. John Jamieson of Bellshill and her great grandfather was a doctor John Brown of Haddington.

Interior view of the Five Ways public bar, shortly after reconstruction in 1958.

William in his spare time loved bowling and was a member of the Mount Vernon Club he was also a member of the old Albany Club, he was a great shot with a gun and regularly went shooting at Darnley Range, he was president of the Bank Burns Club, which met on a regular basis in Maxwell Street.

Interior view of the new lounge bar. 1958.

In 1971 Mr John Miller, manager of the Five Ways retired at the age of 65. Mr Miller had more than 47 years experience in the trade and in the same pub, which was then owned by Tennent Caledonian Breweries, which must have been a record.

Licence Holders.

1972 Kenneth William James Beaton.

1960 Allan Anderson.

1959-1920 James Bowie.

1919-1903 Mrs Maria Jamieson Bowie.

1902-1885 William Bowie.

1885-1860 James Bowie.

The First & Last

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

1969-71 Maryhill Road, Glasgow. G20 0BX.Tel: 01419465339.

First & Last. 1991.

The first pub you reach coming from Milngavie and the last pub on Maryhill Road is the First & Last.

In 1885 Alexander McLeod ran this old pub, he was the brother of Councilor William McLeod who owned pubs in Maryhill and Parliamentary Road. Alexander was born in Springburn and educated at the Balgray School under Mr Watson and afterwards at the Martyrs’ School, Barony Street, Glasgow. He got his training in the licensed trade from John Baird, Kirk Street, Townhead, where he gained his apprenticeship after 5 years he worked his way to second hand in the Baird’s pub.

His elder brother Bailie William McLeod entered into the trade and secured his assistance in the building up of his large and prosperous business. Alexander remained with his brother for thirteen years and left to start a business of his own account taking over a pub on Main Street, Maryhill the (First & Last.)

In 1890 Alexander acquired the Little Mill public house at Bowling. The Little Mill was an old fashioned inconvenient roadside public house in need of a lot of care and attention. Situated in the main part of Bowling for business on the main road from Glasgow to Dumbarton, opposite the shipbuilding yard of Scott & Co. the principal industry of the place and within a stones throw of the railway station. Mr McLeod found he had secured premises well worth developing and capable of doing a very much extended trade.

Mr Alexander McLeod.

Many years ago the Little Mill was known as “The Dunters,” this name was applied to it from the fact that in the absence of bells the customers when attendance was required, “dunted” or rapped on the tables with the empty measure. Should the company sit too long, in the opinion of the landlord, or become uproarious, a gentle hint was given to them by asking if they had “dunted.”

Alexander like his brother was a member of many societies, he was an enthusiastic free mason, a Depute Master of Chapter of Lodge no. 510, Maryhill also a Royal Arch Mason of Chapter Cathedral 67. A keen bowler and president of the Maryhill Bowling Club, he was skip of the Kelvindock Curling Club, a member of the Benevolent trade.

He was known for his love of Collie dogs having prize winners at the best shows all over the country, Heather Meg, Heather Banner and Milton Ralph were amongst the best known.

Alexander McLeod’s “Little Mill” formerly called “Dunters” Mr McLeod is standing at the entrance with one of his favourite collie dogs.

First & Last. August 2005.

The Fotheringay

Licence Holders.

1970 Peter Colquhoun McKechnie.

1965 William M Johnston.

The Forfarshire Bar

Licence Holders.

1970-1960 James A D McLean Smith.

1950-1937 William John Ross jun.

1919-1918 Helen Gabriel Ross.

1917-1912 William John Ross.

1910-1881 John Watt.

1875 Robert Anderson.

Follie’s

Five Ways Inn

Licence Holders.

1991 James Shannon.

1973-1968 John Andrew McBeath.

1960-1940 James Flynn.

1937 John Paterson (trustee for the late James Flynn.)

1924 Mr Flynn.

1920-1896 John Morrison.

1890-1853 John Waddell.

The Five Ways

Licence Holders.

1972 Kenneth William James Beaton.

1960 Allan Anderson.

1959-1920 James Bowie.

1919-1903 Mrs Maria Jamieson Bowie.

1902-1885 William Bowie.

1885-1860 James Bowie.

The First & Last

Licence Holders.

1991 Robert Matonti.

1973-1957 Allan Peter Hannah for R F McLeod & Co Ltd.

1937 Mary Smith McLeod.

1919-1906 Mary Smith McLeod.

1902-1885 Alexander McLeod.