426 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G2 3LG. Tel: 0141 332 4760.
Mojama. 2005.
Mojamo in a poor state and closed down a few years later from the top image. Photograph taken 2008.
This is now an Indian restaurant called Tuk Tuk
M
Moffat Arms
13-15 Eglinton Street, Glasgow.
The Moffat Arms started life as a licensed grocers owned by wine & spirit merchant David Speirs Fraser.
Mr Fraser was born in 1858 in Millerhill, Midlothian, he came to Glasgow as a child and was educated at Glasgow Academy at Elmbank Street and later on to Glasgow University to study as a Physician, but entered into the licensed trade in his early 20s.
David lived with his mother Christina sister’s Agnes and Christina, brother’s William, Thomas and James at Laureston Place, Govan Road, his grandfather James Speirs a retired farmer also lived in the house with brother-in-law Edwin Cameron, he was born in Brazil. The family were well off to have a domestic servant called Annie Bell.
David had retail premises at 129 Govan Road at the corner of Plantation Street facing the River Clyde, the locals used to watch the Allan and State Liner’s dropping off emigrant’s as they first stepped on Scottish soil, the pub was a meeting place for Pole’s, German’s, Scandinavian’s and French, from here they found work in various parts of the city.
Mr Fraser’s other retail establishment was at 156 Crookston Street, he soon opened pubs at 64 Paisley Road West, 93 Govan Road, 333 Paisley Road, 307 Eglinton Street, 278 Cumberland Street and a wholesale business, the Southern Wine & Spirit Store at 13-15 Eglinton Street, the site of the Moffat Bar.
Business was booming and when he left his mother’s house, he moved to better accommodation at Sherbrooke Ave, Pollokshields. He had his own blend of whisky called The Canteen which proved popular with the locals in all his pubs.
David died in 1909 at which time trustee George Brownhill took over the running of the business which included 13 Eglinton Street and 93 Govan Road the other premises were sold on. The premises at 13-15 Eglinton Street obtained a full licence around the same time.
David Moffat changed the name of the pub in the 1930s. Lawrence Smith Blanche was licensee after WW2 and continued until the 1960s.
David Speirs Fraser. 1888.
Licence Holders.
1960-1947 Lawrence Smith Blanche.
1937 David Moffat.
1919-1909 George Brownhill.
1909-1899 David Speirs Fraser.
The Mitre Bar
12-16 Brunswick Street, Glasgow. G1 1TD.
The Mitre Bar. 1991.
It’s very sad to see this old favourite pub closed down and in a state of demolition.
Well known publican James Halliday opened the Mitre Bar in 1927. Mr Halliday was granted a licence on 13th April 1927, paying an annul rent £85.
The Mitre Bar was formerly occupied by Watson & Company, Bakers Utensil Makers and shop outfitters and is not a very old pub compared with other public houses in the Merchant City at that time.
The Mitre Bar at night.
Mr James Halliday was an experienced publican in town he had premises at 6 Brunswick Street, this old pub dated back to the 1840s before they were demolished in 1927, Cantor’s furniture store then occupied the site. Mr Halliday was then granted a licence for new premises a few door down at number 12 Brunswick Street.
Angus McBain then took over the Mitre Bar from the 1930s, which stayed in the family until 1963. When Mr McBain died his wife took over the licence, their two sons Sandy and George helped to work in the pub when it got busy. In 1959 the pub was extended upwards the floor above the pub was turned into a new cocktail bar and lounge. One of the oldest customers Mrs C B Barclay performed the opening ceremony by cutting the tape. Tom Lavelle a well known golfer in the licensed trade was manager, he worked for the McBain family for many years and previously worked for Mr Halliday. The interior of the new cocktail lounge was very brightly decorated, with blue star Formica tables which matched the bar counter. Drofilco, mahogany and obeche paneling had been used throughout. Orange strip lighting behind the bar gave a warm glow, concealed lighting was used in the canopy over the bar and concealed strip lighting was used behind the blue wall seating.
Mrs E McBain the owner of the Mitre Bar with her two sons George and Sandy on the left and Mr T Lavelle the manager on the right.
The photograph above was taken at the opening of the new cocktail bar and lounge upstairs in 1959.
Mitre Bar window.
George Hogg then took over; he ran the pub for over ten years.
Another well known Glasgow publican who ran the pub was Raymond McCrudden (Honorary Member of the Scottish Licensed Trade.)
In 1991 the pub was taken over by Kevin and brother Gerry Febers, the pub now lies empty in a derelict state, minus the old neon sign.
Customers watching a football match on T.V.
The Evening Times did a feature on the Mitre Bar in 1995 on the run up to Scottish pub week, they mentioned a date of 1866 which of course is just fabrication.
The Mitre Bar. 2007.
What a shame to see this once very popular bar in a state, with graffiti all over the frontage. A small of strong urine and alcohol takes the breath away from you.
Mitre Bar’s neon sign still survives on a wall in Tontine Lane off the Trongate.
Mitre Bar’s neon sign. 2009.
Facts…
Another old tavern in Brunswick Street is the Fox and Hound formerly known as the Angus Bar and Reid’s. James Denholm once own it in the 1940s.
On the other side of the street at 33 Brunswick Street The Prince of Wales Tavern stood in the early 19th century as was the old tavern the Lord Clyde.
Mission
160 Battlefield Road, Glasgow. G41 Tel: 01416497818.
Mission. 1991.
The Mission is now up for sale offers over £195,000 Leasehold is asked for.
September 2005. Peter Mortimer recall’s “that the pub sits on the site of the Queens Cinema, built 1922 to seat 550, the pub was formerly called “The Tonic.”
Mills Bar
380 Duke Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow.
Mills Bar. 1991.
This well run east end pub has an interesting history to read more click here.
Mills Bar as been closed for a few years now. It’s a shame as this was once a very popular and busy public house. 2008.
The Milestone
271 Garscube Road, Glasgow.
The Milestone Bar was built in 1908. There used to be an old Milestone Bar on the sit, but it was demolished and a new tenement of flats and a new public house on the ground floor was erected. The old premises were owned by Thomas Wilson and when the new building was erected he took over the new pub.
The pub was situated near the stopping place of the half penny tram and the roon toll. The new pub had large etched glass windows. Inside the new bar the walls were paneled in cypress wood. The ceilings and walls were covered in anaglyptic paper which was varnished to give a durable surface which was easy to clean. In the center of the room a large circular bar counter had a well stocked spirit rack, there were little snug’s around the bar with electric bells. A new family department (off-sales) was also added to the new premises. To the rear of the premises a stock room was full of bottled beers and stout, while the cellar underneath the pub was stocked with wines, whiskies and other favourite beverages.
Mr Wilson blended his own whisky on the premises, he also stocked Mitchell’s, Coleraine, and Talisker, Robert Younger for beer on draught.
Mr Wilson was born in Killearn and came to Glasgow as a young boy with his father who started business in the Cowcaddens, this is where young Thomas got his first experience in the licensed trade. He worked for James Anderson, Parliamentary Road for a few years before he was chargehand for John Caldwell’s pub, 37 Milton Street. Thomas stayed with Mr Caldwell for the long period of fifteen years, for his faithful service to his he was assumed a partner, an arrangement that lasted another fifteen years.
Thomas when on to own another pub, at New Keppochhill Road. In his spare time he played golf and loved out door sports, he was an ardent Freemason of Lodge Atholl.
The architect for the new building on Garscube Road was his son.
Facts…
There used to be an old milestone fixed to the outside wall of the Milestone Bar. Inscribed Royal Exchange 1 Mile, Drymen 16 Miles, Balfron 18 Miles and Aberfoyle 25 Miles.