N

New Orlean’s

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

24 Mill Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 2NA. Tel: 01416472866.

New Orlean’s. 1991.

Now called the Millcroft. 2007.

Millcroft Rutherglen

The Millcroft. 2009.

Thanks to Norrie McNamee for this image.

——————————————————————————–

In the News 1974…

That ‘Ol’ deep south’ luxury comes to Rutherglen…

Two well-known Glaswegians have got together in an effort to enliven our night life. And their venture looks like being a tremendous success. Tony Queen, a stalwart of the bookmaking business and Pat Harkins, who was a seafaring man until he went into the restaurant business, joined forces to open, last May, the Virginian, a restaurant and bars complex in the centre of Glasgow.

Their second joint venture has just opened its doors for business. It is the New Orleans, in Rutherglen, which has a top class restaurant, function suite and bars.

It has impressive decor. Mr Queen told me that the “Deep South” image which had gone down so well in the Virginian was well researched to ensure its authenticity. Mr. Harkins and he wrote to the University of Louisiana for literature and ended up buying more than £100 worth of books on the area. Their research hasn’t been in vain. For the New Orleans, with an overall red colour theme, has a real “Gone With The Wind” atmosphere.

When Mr. Queen proudly showed me the function suite which can take up to 140 people for a wedding, private party, or staff dance, he pointed out a magnificent wall decoration made entirely in leather, by an Edinburgh artist. It depicts a group of Negro minstrels.

Booming

Although the New Orleans has just opened, business is booming. A luncheon club has been formed for local business men and this has some 60 members already. Bookings are pouring in for the function suite and, while I was talking to Mr. Queen, a wedding party was arranged for next August. “We can take over all the arrangements for a wedding.” Mr Queen explained.

I asked Mr. Harkins why the “Deep South” theme had been chosen and he explained, “It fulfils an ambition for me. When I was at sea, years ago. I visited this part of the world and was very impressed.”

Messrs Harkins and Queen are proud of their chef Sardinian Guiseppe Figus, who has worked in top Continental restaurants, hand.

In their attractive restaurant, with its leather seats and subdued lighting many of the dishes on the menu have evocative “Deep South” names and I was assured that they’re genuine, some of the books from Louisiana contained traditional recipes.

The New Orleans restaurant, which offers an a la carte menu at lunch-time as well as in the evening, can seat 72. And it looks like becoming the “in” place for an evening out in Rutherglen. And well as offering a first class meal, the restaurant has a two piece band so that patrons can dance if they wish.

Included in the attractive building which houses the restaurant and function suite is a lounge bar, very chic with leather seating, a gorgeous multi-coloured carpet, and plants dotted round the place. There’s also a public bar and off-sales and Balmoral Turf Accountants have a betting office on the premises.

———————————————————————

In the NEWS 1976…

A Taste of Dixie.

It’s 18 months since Glasgow businessman Tony Queen, opened the New Orleans restaurant and lounge bar in Mill Street, Rutherglen.

And in that 18 months the complex has built up a regular clientele, of businessmen looking for an a la carte lunch, the office workers hankering after a bar snack, even the housewives seeking a night away from the chores.

In fact, one of the main attractions of the New Orleans is that it caters for everyone. Four weeks ago, the New Orleans underwent a change of management with the arrival of Mr Ian Henderson, a 25 years old East Kilbride man who has had six years experience in the hotel trade.

Mr Henderson trained in hotel management in Eire and has arrived at the New Orleans, ready to put some new ideas into action. The New Orleans has always been a lively place. The management have made sure that there is something different on nearly every night.

Bookmaker

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are ladies nights and anyone who has been at one of these knows just how lively they can be. It’s then that the “Jackson Two” play not forgetting the sing-song too.

On Fridays and Saturdays there are dinner dances, and Saturday mornings are strictly for the Jazz types. A six-piece Dixieland band plays that good old-time jazz music, and according to Mr Henderson it’s very popular, particularly with shoppers.

The New Orleans itself is a large complex which includes a public bar, lounge bar, restaurant with cocktail bar and a function room with its own private bar. There is even an adjoining bookmaker, Balmoral Turf Accountants.

Bar snacks are available in the public and lounge bar while upstairs in the restaurant there are full a la carte and table d’hôte menus available. I’ve sampled the New Orleans fare and can thoroughly recommend it.

The New Orleans function suite is idea for a wedding or business conference.

Talent Hunt…

In the near future the New Orleans is holding the New Orleans Showboat Talent Competition, and Mr Henderson anyone who would like to take part.

The competition is open to anyone from dancers to comedians. So if you think you are a budding Gene Kelly or Les Dawson contact the New Orleans. You may win a share of the £100 that’s to be divided between the winners.

The New Orleans advert 1976.

The New Camp Bar

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 5 Comments

529 Garscube Road corner of 2 Camperdown Street, Glasgow.

The New Camp Bar. 1970s.

There has been a public house on this spot since the 1860s. One of the first names this pub had was the Oakbank Spirit Vaults, the pub was situated next to the Oakbank School at the corner of Barr Street intersects as it was then known.

Mr H Robertson was proprietor in 1863 and traded at number 343 Garscube Road, the numbering of the street changed through time. By the 1870s wine and spirit merchant John Peacock was landlord and served the locals until 1901. Mr Peacock was a good businessman he also owned pubs at 64 North Woodside Road corner of 64 Lyon Street and the Old Basin Vaults, 58 Old Basin which he took over in 1886. John Peacock owned the premises on Garscube Road and sold up in 1901.

Another prominent figure in the Scottish Licensed Trade John Higgie then took over the pub. Mr Higgie lived at 6 Doune Gardens before moving to 2 Oxford Drive in Kelvinside in 1903. John Higgie was also a traveller for the Greenhead Brewery and in 1909 became one of the directors of Steel, Coulson. Ltd., the other director was Simon Cameron. Mr Higgie ran the Oakbank Spirit Vaults until the end of the First World War.

In the 1930s Archibald Hay was running the pub with the help of his wife, Archibald died in 1933, his wife then took over the running of the business and continued as licensee until the 1960s.

Many will remember this old pub as the Camperdown Bar and the New Camp Bar which was run by Murdoch MacKenzie until the pub was demolished in the that 70s.

Allan Rough famed Scottish Goalkeeper owned this pub for a while and renamed it the Goal Post Bar.

Alan Rough’s Bar, the Goal Post Advert.

Alan Rough got his training in a well-known city centre pub.

———————————————

In the NEWS 1979…

If ALAN drops a clanger…

It might have been a nightmare at Hampden last night for Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough, but brother Dough showed today that at least the family are keeping their sense of humour.

Dough is the look-alike relative who runs Alan’s pub in Maryhill and he is getting just a bit fed up with fans coming in and asking for his autograph. So he decided to make it clear that he is his own man, and not the player who one his record equalling 28th cap for Scotland against Austria.

Scotland, if you haven’t heard by now, dropped a vital point in the European Championship match they really had to win to give them a real chance of qualifying for the finals in Rome, and it was a goal keeping blunder by Rough which cost Scotland a point.

BRAVE

And to make Alan’s night worse, he chose to turn up at his pub last night just as the match came up on Television. Said brother Dough, pictured above as he looked at a shot of the Hans Krankl goal which followed Alan’s boob, “It certainly was an unfortunate time to come in for him.

“He had to take a lot of stick from the regulars when they saw the Austrian goal. I felt sorry for him, but he has been brave and honest enough to admit the blame. What more can he do?”

Dough, however, has no sympathy for the twist of nature which made him a dead ringer for the Partick Thistle man who is only one match away from becoming Scotland’s most capped keeper.

“It has been going on for ages,” he said. “And I must say it does get boring after a while. People keep asking me for my autograph when they come into the pub for the first time.

“But I suppose I will have to put up with it.”

Do you remember this pub. If so please get in touch.

The Nairn

January 2, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Woodhill Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. G64 1JL. Tel: 0141 762 2262.

Nairn’s. 1991.

Opened in 1965 The Nairn was built to cater for weddings and functions in the area. It was equipped with three bars a function room and a large kitchen. Scandinavian decor was a feature of the lounge bar, a wall separated it from a small cocktail bar in broken wrought iron work with artificial climbing plants.

The ceiling of the cocktail bar was railed into sections by narrow black oak beams, the walls were panelled in elm intersected with ebony strip wood. The bar front was of elm wood with a black speckled bar counter.

The walls were decorated with prints of vintage cars, the light fittings suspended from the ceiling were replicas of old oil lamps. On the upper floor was the function room with a brides room for weddings.

There was also a small stage at the end of the room. Adjacent to this was the large kitchen. Another feature of the Nairn was the stereophonic music system which was wired throughout the whole building.

The Nairn was owned by the West of Scotland Taverns part of J & R Tennent group and managed by John Middleton.

Manager of The Nairn, John Middelton. 1965.

Interior view of the new bar. 1965.

Interior view of the cocktail bar. 1965.

Now Called The Campsie. Tel: as above.

The New Coffin Bar.

December 30, 2016 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

88 Whitevale Street, Glasgow.

The New Coffin Bar, Whitevale Street has a fascinating history to tell. Click here to read more.

The Ring Bar.

After many years the bar became in desperate need of attention especially the building itself, the need for repair and a total refurbishment was needed, however the City Council had other idea’s and was demolished in the 1960s.

The New Coffin had a name change in the late 1950s and was known as The Ring Bar. The photograph above was taken in the 1960s and the pub was already closed down by this time.

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

END.

Nobody’s Inn.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

72 Howard Street, Glasgow. G1 4EE. Tel: 0141 243 2564.

Nobody’s Inn. 1991.

Another name this pub has had over the years is “Inn Decision,” “New Eagle Inn,” and “Buchanan’s.”

Inn Decision’s. 1997.

Buchanan.s. March. 2007.

Coyote Whisky Bar. 2015.

Coyote Whisky Bar. 2017.

Coyote Whisky Bar Advert.

Interior view of the Gantry. 2017.

Facts…

Licence Holders.

1991 James Milligan.

Do you have any memories of this old Bar? If so please leave a comment.

END.

New Regano.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

471-473 Paisley Road, Glasgow. G5 8RJ. Tel: 07447 406635.

New Regano. 1991.

From 1885 to 1894 this was the site of the Glasgow Coffee House. James Henry Roger of Rogano Ltd then took it over as a store for his Spanish Wine Cellars. A certificate was granted to sell liquor here around 1910.

The new the New Regano was spelt differently as the pub couldn’t use the same name as Rogano in South Exchange Place when the Grant family owned it.

Jim Baxter’s Bar 1970s.

Slim Jim Baxter Rangers football team fame took over the licence in 1970. The pub was situated at the corner of Paisley Road and Admiral Street.

In the News in 1970…

Jim Baxter granted a pub licence in October 1970.

A former Scottish international footballer, Jim Baxter was granted a public house licence at the Licensing Court in Glasgow. The not so slim Jim who was 31, will be mine host at the Rogano Public House, at the corner of Paisley Road and Admiral Street, at Paisley Road Toll.

The court was divided after hearing objections to the application from Glasgow chief constable, Sir James Robertson. But the licence was granted by eight voted to five. Sir James said that Baxter was convicted of a road offence in August last year, when he was fined £25 and disqualified from holding a driving licence for 12 months.

Mr Jim Baxter outside his pub.

An agent for Baxter said that Mr. Baxter was a personality not unknown in football circles and was a member of a famous Glasgow Club for a time. At the time of this offence Baxter had been engaged in an exhibition match in Dunfermline.

“Persons of his standing suffer from adulation, and hospitality which they do not want is often forced upon them” the agent said. “It was very much a border-line case and he has learned a short sharp severe lesson which he will not forget.”

Ballroom Licences

During his career Baxter left Ibrox Park for Sunderland, and later was transferred to Notts Forest for £100,000. Eventually he was given a free transfer and was signed for Rangers by the then manager David White. He failed to make his mark in the team. however, and was given a further free transfer from the Ibrox Club.

Jim Baxter said afterwards- “I am delighted. I will be working full-time in the public house. We hope to have alterations made to it by Christmas.” He added that the pub would be renamed “Jim Baxter’s.”

At the same court the Plaza Ballroom at Eglinton Toll, were given permission to sell drink on the premises. Until to-day they had a restricted licence allowing them to serve drink only with food. A similar release from a restricted licence was also granted to the Albert Ballroom in Bath Street and to Johanas which is also part of the Albert. The only provision at both the Albert and the Plaza was that there would be an age restriction of 18.

The pub was later known as the Sportsman’s Bar.

Sportsman’s Bar. 1980s.

Today 2006 the name above the door is now Merchant Quay.

Merchants Quay. 2007.

The Merchants Quay, 2007.

Update September 2016:

We gave The Union Bar a visit on the 3rd September 2016. The pub was very clean and looked like it was just opened the day we went in. The old wood carvings around the doors are still intact. The owners of the Angel across the road took over the old Merchants Quay and cleaned the interior a few months ago.

The Union Bar from Admiral Street, the Gold lettering looks good against the crimson background. 2016.

Interior view of the bar 2016.

Another view of the interior main bar. The main bar is quite small for the size of the pub. That means there is more foot space for customer when Rangers FC are playing at Ibrox. 2016.

This view of the bar shows the pool table and lounge area. 2016.

Postcard showing Rogano on the right hand side of Paisley Road.

Do you know anything about this old pub? If so please leave a comment and we will post your review.

END.