123 Nelson Street, Glasgow. G5 8DZ.
Lady Hamilton. 1991.
The was once part of the Lord Nelson and is now closed down.
123 Nelson Street, Glasgow. G5 8DZ.
Lady Hamilton. 1991.
The was once part of the Lord Nelson and is now closed down.
508 Great Western Road, Glasgow. G12 8EL. Tel: 0141 334 2995.
L’academie. 1991.
234-38 Meadowpark Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow.
La Cala. 1991.
Opened in 1969 La Cala was the most up-to-date licensed premises in the district. La Cala, which means a Haven was the venture of young Tom Heenan and his mother. The big regret at the opening was that Tom’s father, who died the previous year, was unable to see the realisation of his son’s dream.
Situated near the corner of Meadowpark Street and Alexandra Parade La Cala had a public bar with seating for about 30 and a total capacity of 175, a lounge bar with alcove seating accommodation for 150 guests. In the lounge stripwood lampshades like lanterns shed a rosy glow upon the cherry wood panelling, the carpet matched the woodwork in fawn and brown colour.
Young Tom Heenan was not old enough to hold the licence, this did not stop him in his dreams of becoming a Glasgow Publican, he employed Pat Conlan as manager and licensee in the meantime.
Tom eventually got his licence for the La Cala in 1970.
Exterior of the new La Cala 1969.
Interior view 1969.
left to right Mr H McCormack, West of Scotland manager for Usher’s brewery, Mr & Mrs John Taggart, Big John’s Bar and the Royal Restaurant, Coatbridge, D G MacKay, Scottish sales amanger for Usher’s brewery, Mrs Heenan and young Tom Heenan.
This image was taken in 1972 on the occasion of the Ind Coope reception. Mr B G Frost, free trade sales director, Tetley’s met some of the Ind Coope customers at a reception at the Ind Coope offices in Clyde Street. Mr Frost (second from the right) is seen with Messrs Miller Reid, Reid’s Bar; James Elliot, Pop Inn; T Heenan, La Cala; R Meiklem, Montgomerie Arms in East Kilbride and W Langham, catering manager, British Rail (Scotland.)
151 Springfield Road, Glasgow.
L. MacPherson’s bar was situated at the corner of Springfield Road and Lily Street, Dalmarnock. Many residents of this area will remember this old established bar as the 151 Bar.
There was licensed premises on this site since at least 1875, the landlord then was a gentleman called James King.
In 1879 Alexander Taylor took over the old pub, he also owned Taylor’s Bar in Hutcheson Street, now called the Court Bar. Mr Taylor continued trading at Springfield Road until the early part of the 1900s.
In 1907 Lachlan MacPherson took over the premises, he was a well established wine & spirit merchant a bonder and blender having premises called the New City Lights, Castle Street.
MacPherson was born in a small village called Rahoy, fifteen miles from Oban, where he was educated. At an early age he came to Glasgow with his widowed mother and family, he became apprenticed to the trade of gold beating. After three years in this craft his employer gave up the business, young MacPherson was desperate as he was bringing in the money for his poor mother. He then became a messenger boy with Messrs Costigaine Bros., of the Granite House. After a few months here he joined the staff of Mr McLachlan, wine & spirit merchant, a native of his birth place in premises on Clyde Street, Port Dundas.
After a year he left to work for Mr John Watt in his Cowcaddens pub, the old Pop Inn, after 18 months he was managing his premises in Parliamentary Road, the old Forfarshire Bar. MacPherson stayed in this responsible position for fourteen years and left to become his own boss at premises on Castle Street.
Lachlan was one of the originators of the Wine, Beer and Spirit Trade Employees Association, in his spare time he loved music and played the bagpipes. He was a Gaelic Scholar and kept in touch with all the Gaelic literature in Glasgow. A Forester of Royal Ash Lodge, no. 5515. He loved the bowls and played in both St. Rollox and Belvedere Bowling greens. He was a member of the Defence Association, and many others including, Incorporation of Bonnetmakers and Dyers, the Deacon and Free Press, an Anderston Weaver and one of the Clydesdale Merchants. He was still an unmarried man in his 40s.
He took over the old licence for the 151 Bar on Springfield Road in 1907 which was a short distance from the Victoria Racing Grounds, the tramway cars from Anniesland passed the front door every few minutes, the area surrounding this old pub was a thriving part of the east end of Glasgow.
The lettering above the pub was in Gold, the main entrance on Springfield Road was the main bar area and Lily Street was the family department. On entering the main bar you were faced with a large mahogany horse shoe bar with large barrels on the gantry, he was not just a wine & spirit merchant but a bonder and blender too. Small tables and chairs took up the rest of the floor space. Mahogany wood stained panelling adorned the walls with crimson dado, the glasswork was of chaste design, the beer store and cellar was adjacent to the bar, and to the left was Mr MacPherson’s private office and telephone booth.
MacPherson continued in the Springfield Road premises until the 1920s.
In 1930 James McAloon was licensee, he also ran the Possil Bar, Possil Road. Sarah Duffin McAloon took over the licence in mid 1930s. Malcolm Paterson then took over, he was the last holder of the certificate until it was demolished around 1970. Mr Paterson also owned the Provanmill Inn, Royston Road.
Mr Lachlan MacPherson. 1893.
2562 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow. G14 0PT. Tel: 01419521342.
The Lovat. 1991.
There has been licensed premises here since at least the 1880s. On of the best known publicans to hold a certificate here was Alexander Fraser. Mr Fraser was born in 1876 in Stratherrick near Inverness, the son of a school master turned farmer, he was educated in the Parish school then completed his education at Raining’s School, once famous throughout the Highlands.
Alexander stated in the National Guardian that completing his education was an over statement, he studied there for a certificate which would allow him to follow a profession, but with only a few months to go in his classes, the sudden death of his father put an end to such ideas and ideals.
There was a large family of Frasers, so, to make things easier on the farm, young Alexander at the age of seventeen took a cousin’s advice and came to Glasgow to enter the spirit trade.
After serving a short apprenticeship, he became a licence holder of premises at the East End of the Broomielaw, near the Clyde Trust building. This old pub was named the Inverness Bar. Three years later he took over a pub on Shamrock Street then later the Lovat Arms in Yoker.
His Broomielaw premises were demolished due to the City Council Redevelopment scheme shortly afterwards he disposed of his other pub in Shamrock Street to concentrate on the Yoker premises. Mr Fraser was heavily involved in the Church and was treasurer in the Erskine Parish Church.
Mr Fraser was also involved in the Gaelic movement in Glasgow, he didn’t have the time to learn much of the Gaelic language in his home town and one of the first things he did when he came to Glasgow was to join the Glasgow Invernessshire Society and the Clan Fraser Society. Completing his Gaelic education in Glasgow he was prominently identified with the Gaelic movement for over thirty years.
In 1898 he was one of the founders of the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association, he was a member for many years and later acted as president. He was also a life member of the Northern Highland Benevolent Association of Glasgow and the Glasgow Celtic Society which he was president. When he took over the Lovat Arms in Yoker he associated himself with the Highland activities in Clydebank and formed the Gaelic choir there which he was a conductor for a short time.
He was also a director of the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association and became a member of the Renfrew Parish Council in 1913. In 1918 he became a county councilor for Yoker completing over 20 years service in the county.
Exterior view of the Lovat Arms, 1960s.
The Inverness Bar, Broomielaw.
Mr Alexander Fraser owner of the Lovat Arms, Yoker. 1935.
On the 10th of July 1909, a fire broke out late in the night. The damage was to the extent of £500. Mr Alexander Fraser was the publican at this time.
325 Hope Street, Glasgow. G2 Tel: 01413320905.
Le Phonograph. 1991.
This was originally Gershwins named after George Gershwin who was one of the most significant American composers of the 20th century, known for popular stage and screen numbers as well as classical compositions and his Jazz music.
In the NEWS 1979…
Shock ‘NO’ To A City Pub’s Licence…
Two Glasgow business men who re-mortgaged their houses, borrowing £40,000, and ploughed the money into a pub today lost their application for a licence on a technicality.
The city’s licensing board heard that the partners, Joseph Williamson and Alastair Goold, had sent off their renewal application in the post.
But, said advocate John Dowdalls, it had become “mislaid.”
DECORATIONS
He told the board that the public house, Gershwin’s in Hope Street, was one that the city “can ill afford to lose.” He added that the pub entered mainly for young people.
Mr Dowdalls said, “Both partners have put their entire life savings into the business and they have re-mortgaged their houses and borrowed £40,000. There are 10 full time staff and 25 part timers.
“They will have to be paid off if this petition fails. “There has also been, in the past year, £50,000 spent on the interior.”
The application for renewal should have been made five weeks before the sitting of the board. The board members ruled eight to four that the appropriate section of the Licensing Scotland Act, 1976, had not been adhered to and refused the application.
Neither partners had any comment to make after the case. Mr Dowdalls said they would be exercising the right to appeal. The Board also refused similar applications for two littlewoods stores and one Fine Fare store under similar circumstances.
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In the NEWS 1979…
Pop into Pipps for Local Atmosphere…
A novel feature of the new bar is the cleverly designed darts area which should prove popular with customers. 1979.
There was a time when Glaswegians complained that there were few places where they could spend a pleasant evening in the city centre.
But their pleas were heard and new places to eat, drink and dance began to spring up. One of the best bars to hit Glasgow opened its doors almost two years ago at the top of Hope Street.
In an ambitious venture, Eagle Inns took over premises which used to be MacConnell’s furniture shop and transferred park of them into Gershwins.
EXPANDED
Now, Gershwins is a family meeting place, both at lunch-time and in the evening, when those in the 20 to 35 age group congregate for a drink and a chat.
Gershwins has just expanded its horizons. Adjacent to the existing lounge bar, a new, as yet unnamed, bar and a lounge called Pipps have just opened for business.
They had been scheduled to open last Christmas, exactly a year after the first phase began business, but hitches occurred and the opening date was deferred until last Friday.
TALENTED
But Pipps was well worth waiting for. A subdued military theme has been used by the designer, who explained that the name was derived from the pips which donate military rank.
The management thought, however, that two “ps” would look more eye-catching on the sign over the door. Inside, the colour scheme is a muted green and military red. A talented sculpture, George Wylie, produced the talking-point brass helmets, surmounted by Glasgow sparrows in various poses, which are in evidence in specially- designed niches on the walls.
Business is just starting to pick up in Pipps, but the owners aren’t yet sure what type of clientele will prevail.
COUPLES
“We’ve seen quite a lot of couples so far,” they said.” “Their new public bar was designed to become the “Local” for the district. I was told, “There used to be a lot of pubs in the old Cowcaddens area, but most are gone now.
“All the people in the new flats need somewhere to go, so we hope they will come here.” Decor in the new bar, where prices are a pleasant surprise, as public bar prices are in operation, has concentrated on natural materials such as brick, timber, and cork.
Dominoes and darts are available to make the place seem even more like a “Local.” Heads are still being scratched, however, to choose a name which will register and be remembered.
Jokingly, one of Eagle Inns two partners suggested that a name finding competition might be necessary. Food is very much in the limelight in Gershwins, Pipps and the unnamed bar.
Although snacks are available at the bar, a full menu is offered at lunch time in two other areas. The chef produces standard meals each day, such as home-made steak pie, sirloin steak and southern fried chicken, and every week there is a speciality.
This week, it is veal cordon bleu. The menu starts with soup or juices and desserts include a delicious Black Forest gateau.
PLEASANT
Some £200,000 has been spent on making the old MacConnell’s furniture store into a place well worth a visit, either at lunch-time or in the evening.
And the adjacent car park (free after 7 p.m.) is another good reason for choosing this Glasgow hostelry. The 40 staff are especially pleasant and the surroundings are restful, and spotless.
Customers enjoy a drink in the pleasant surroundings. 1979.
Relax with music and real ale…
Camra, Campaign for real ale, supporters will be pleased to learn of the new hostelry. As they relax under the concealed lighting and listen to a variety of music, from the sixties hits to standards they will be able to sup real ale.
Surprisingly, audiences from the Theatre Royal, directly across the road, haven’t packed the place.
But the bar staff weren’t surprised to find that when Billy Connelly was drawing the crowds on his appearance at the theatre, the audience streamed across the road!
Their plans at the Hope Street site haven’t all been carried out yet. A still-empty area is being worked on just now and will open as a hairdressing salon around Christmas.
Gershwins Beer mat.
Pipps advert from 1979.
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Now called Trader Joe’s. 2007.
Trader Joe’s. 2007.