Old Glasgow Pubs

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The Lorne Bar

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32-34 Main Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. Demolished.

Mr Patrick Donaghue owned this premises in 1911 and was subject to a very important case that affected publicans since the passing of the Licensing and the Children Acts.

Important Case under Children Act

In 1911, Patrick Donaghue was at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh because he was charged with a contravention of the Children Act 1908, section 120 for allowing 3 children under the age of 14 years old to be in the bar of his premises at 32 Main Street, Bridgeton on the 8th of November 1910.

Mr Donaghue was convicted and fined 31s 6d or seven days, but appealed the decision.

This appeal was very important for the pub trade at the time because the law was very vague about where children were allowed to be in a pub and this helped gain some clarity.

As a result of the drawing of the inside of the premises (below), the conviction was quashed and Patrick was entitled to 10 guineas of expenses as a result.

The full article from the National Guardian is available for print for a small cost, get in touch with us for more information.

Plans of the premises that were used in the appeal.

The Lorne Bar was also known as the Misty Inn Bar between 1976 – 1981.

The Spur Bar

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296 Polmadie Road, Glasgow. G42 0PH. Tel: 01414239528.

Spur Bar

The Spur Bar. 1991.

The Spur Bar was opened by John Scouller in 1877. Mr Scouller also owned the Snaffle Bit, Howard Street and the Horse Shoe Bar, Drury Street. To read more on Mr Scouller and his popular bars click here.

Johnny Bonnar was involved in this pub at one time.

I got an phone call 10th November 2008 from Mr Willy Gallagher stating that he passed the Spur Bar at the weekend and noticed that the Spur Bar was now closed for good. The wood panelling outside the pub with the horse shoe’s and whips have been destroyed and is now a cafe.

Another reminder of the state of the licensed trade in the country.

Licence Holders.
1991 Lorraine McGoarty.
1973-1971 John Richmond.
1960-1950 George Crichton.
1937-1925 John Thomson.
1924-1877 John Scouller.

The Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen

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7a Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow. G20 6NQ. Tel: 0141 334 4653.

The Ragamuffin 7a Landsdowne Crescent

Interior view of the Ragamuffin Bar. 1974.

In the NEWS 1974…

Glasgow Pubs have changed considerably over the years. Few pubs can exist now by sell just beer with the occasional pie and beans. Customers want more now with a variety of meals.

Those changes began in the 1970s and one bar keen to adapt to the new demands was The Ragamuffin, which opened in 1974 in Lansdowne Crescent in the West End.

It was run by Mick and Kathy Kenna, who already ran some city pubs, including Granny Black’s in the Candleriggs. The name Ragamuffin came from a painting of street urchins they were hanging in their restaurant. When they asked the artist what its name he said “The Ragamuffin” …So that was the name for the new venue.

Kathy, who used to be a secretary to entertainer Jimmy Logan, was the hostess, while her husband Mick took care of the grub. An a la carte meal, which could have included prime Scotch beef or roast duck, cost £2.50, while a three-course set meal was £1.25.

But pubs are always changing and The Ragamuffin is no more. But drink and food is still on the menu… the place is now called The Lansdowne Bar and Kitchen.

The Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen Landsowne Crescent

The Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen. 2015.

Lough Erne

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6-10 Spoutmouth, Glasgow.

Lough Erne Spoutmouth

A view of the Gallowgate with Spoutmouth on the left. You can just see the Lough Erne Bar. 1970s.

There has been licensed premises on this sit since at least 1830. Charles Fraser was then landlord of the tavern, he continued to serve the locals here until the 1840s. Another well known Glasgow spirit dealer to own the tavern was Robert Horn. Robert was landlord here in 1847, the name above the door was probably the Burn Bank Tavern, as he also owned the Burn Bank Tavern in Great Western Road and 53 North Woodside Road. Maybe the tavern was called this as the Molendinar Burn was in close proximity.

During the 1860s Robert Horn was running another pub at 55 King Street, Tradeston in the south side of the city. Mr Horn was then residing at 23 Main Street, Anderston.

In 1876 Robert Johnston took over the business. Robert was born in 1835 in the Campsie Glen, in the 1880s he was living with his wife Jeanie, and five daughters at 49 Kent Street, now the heart of the famous Glasgow Barras. Robert was not just a spirit merchant he was trained as a Hatter before becoming a Glasgow publican.

Lough Erne 1970s

This image of the Spoutmouth shows the Lough Erne on the right hand side. 1970s.

In 1899 the rent for his premises was £60 per annum. Robert passed away in 1908, his eldest daughter Mary became the licensee as one of the trustees of his estate. The family connection with this old public house ended in 1938 when it was sold off to wind up the estate.

After World War Two James McFadden was running the pub and in 1950 well known publican Peter Smyth took over the Lough Erne. Peter ran a successful business until the late 1960s he also ran the Gordon Arms at 134 Gallowgate at the corner of Moir Street.

John Boyle and Clare Smyth wedding photo 1956

Wedding photo of groom John Boyle and Clare Smyth. 1956.

The wedding of Clare Smyth daughter of Peter Smyth, to John Boyle took place at St. Conval’s Roman Catholic Church, Pollok, Glasgow and the reception was held at the Marlborough in Shawlands.

Many will remember Nora McDaid, she was one of the last to run the Lough Erne Bar until it was demolished in the late 1970s.

Licence Holders…

1978 M McDaid.

1973 Nora Breen McDaid.

1960-50 Peter Smyth.

1947 James McFadden.

1938 Miss Jemima Johnston.

1937 Miss Mary Sloss Johnston.

1908 Miss Mary Sloss Johnston.

1899-1876 Robert Johnston.

1875-1870 William Ferguson.

1863-1847 Robert Horn.

1840-1830 Charles Fraser.

The Logan Bar & Lounge

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680-80a Rutherglen Road corner of 3 Logan Street.

Exterior view of the Logan Bar & Lounge 1960s

The Logan Bar & Lounge 1960s.

In 1899 Rutherglen Road had 26 Public Houses and 3 off sales, here is a list of some of them, Crawford’s, Tuft Bar, McGinn’s, Horn Bar, Eadie’s, McLean’s, Broon’s Bar, Kick Off, Morrison’s, Railway Tavern, McIndoer, Seaforth, Wheatsheaf, Coronation Bar, The Elm, Garrick Vaults, Boundary Bar, Braehead, Holly Tree, Cecil, Teacher’s, Anderson’s, Halfway Bar the Ferry, and the Roseberry.

The Logan can be traced back to 1880 when James Lochhead and Dugald Butler acquired a licence for the premises. James Lochhead and Dugald Butler joined forces and traded under the title of Lochhead & Butler at 27-29 Saltmarket in 1871.

In 1885 Thomas Lochhead and Dugald Butler traded at 680a Rutherglen Road and 559-63 Dalmarnock Road. Both of them lived at 139 Greenhead Street. Dugald was one of the founders of the Bridgeton Victualling Society. The pub gets its name from the street on the corner of Rutherglen Road (Logan Street).

Lochhead & Butler sold these premises in 1892 to another well known wine and spirit merchant, Samuel M Burnside. The Burnside family owned some of the best bars in the East End and the South Side. Samuel also acquired a licence for premises at 81 Houston Street.

In 1919 Samuel M Burnside was now running pubs at 323 Baltic Street, 317-19 Dalmarnock Road and 680 Rutherglen Road.

Samuel’s son Matthew took over in the 1930s and 40s.

Many will still remember Joseph Robb, he ran the pub in the 1950s and 60s. One of the last licensee was J & M MacLeod, wine and spirit merchants 1967.

Do you remember this old pub, if so PLEASE get in touch.