£500,000 Hotel Plan Withdrawn.

301 Albert Drive Pollokshields. 1970.

116 St. Andrew’s Drive. 1970.

Applications by the Reo Stakis Organisation for a £500,000 hotel plan for Pollokshields, Glasgow, which were to have come before the city Licensing Court, were withdrawn on the eve of the court’s sitting.

Two hotels had been planned one ‘The Knowe’ in Albert Drive and the other ‘The Gables’ in St Andrew’s Drive. Both were to have been 50 bed roomed hotels. The applications were withdrawn because of opposition by local residents and Glasgow councillor Cyril Lombardi, of Pollokshields, said he was very pleased with the decision.

Mr Lombardi, who was managing director of Dambrosio, McKinlay and Lombardi, wholesale wine and spirit merchants, declared: ‘This has not been a man-hunt.’ The main complaint, he said was the sitting of the two establishments. He was sure that other sites could be found in the district which would not cause such concern.

The Glasgow court, however, heard several other applications for licences in Pollokshields ward, which went ‘wet’ through a veto poll towards the end of 1969. Two public house licences were granted for the ward, the applications having been made for removals of certificates in suspense.

The successful applicants were Mrs Elizabeth Strain, for premises at 210 Crookston Road, and Mr Joseph W Dunn, for premises at 105 Albert Drive. For Mrs Strain, it was stated that full meals would be served in her premises which would have a country club atmosphere. The conversion of an old house for the premises would take about a year to complete.

The court also granted six off-sales licences for the ward. Successful applicants for removals of certificates in suspense including Mrs Jean M Grier for a site in Easterhouse Township Centre. A provisional hotel licence for a site in Bothwell Street was granted on behalf of Strand Hotels. This venture, to cost two and a half million, will include a tower block with 245 bedrooms and a banqueting suite to accommodate 500 persons.

Also see Stakis new premises “The Golden Garter Rooms” at Hills Hotel, Drumchapel.

In the NEWS 1976…

Mr Reo Stakis. 1976.

“Are you a millionaire?” I asked Reo Stakis. His black-currant eyes widened and gave a little smile. “No,” he said “I don’t think there is such a thing as a millionaire. Let’s say I’m comfortable, I can’t complain.”

I though this was the understatement of 1976, coming as it did from a man who was 63 a week or so ago, and whose firm had just reported that they had doubled their profits as compared with the previous year.

Just 15 years ago Reo Stakis owned five restaurants in Glasgow. Today his company have 27 hotels, 45 restaurants, 12 public houses, 6 casinos, 40 betting shops, an ice rink, a central store, a 160-acre farm, and a butcher’s shop.

This isn’t bad for a Greek Cypriot who arrived in Glasgow in 1948 and went round houses trying to sell lace made by his mother back in Cyprus. He gave up lace to go into the restaurant business, and it just happens that he asked me to perform the opening ceremony for his first eating place, the Prince’s Restaurant at the top of Renfield Street.

REVOLUTIONISED EATING HABITS

He has revolutionised eating habits in Scotland. (He’s also done his bit in England, for he owns hotels in Newcastle, Bradford, and Leeds.) There are also those who say that they don’t like Stakis restaurants because they are all the same.

“This isn’t true,” says Reo. “Certainly in most of our places we keep a limited menu because we can provide better food that way. But there are differences in menus and decor in all our restaurants. I still believe we give the best value of any restaurant in Britain.”

What does he eat himself? “I eat plain, and I don’t live extravagantly. My wife and I will go out to eat maybe four or five times in a year. We eat at home, when I can get home, because I must keep visiting my hotels and restaurants.

“My wife is a wonderful cook, as you can tell by my tummy. I do my best to diet, but when I get home I can’t resist my wife’s cooking. Stews and roasts are what I like best.

A MIND OF HER OWN

Reo Stakis is a family man, although now that the family is growing up he doesn’t see so much of them. “I have four daughters and two sons and they are wonderful. Two of my daughters are married and my second grandchild is expected next month. My youngest son is hoping to go to Cambridge University.

“All my children have been to University except Stasia. She is a girl with a mind of her own, and said she wanted to be an actress. Her mother and I disapproved, but she was determined. So we gave in and she went to the College of Drama in Glasgow. She came out top and my wife and I went to the presentation of prizes. When the medal was put round Stasia’s neck we were both crying.”

For the last two years Roe Stakis hasn’t had a holiday, so he’s looking forward to going to Athens for the birth of his second grandchild. “And if I haven’t had a holiday,” he says, “I’ve had my shooting. From the 12th August to January 31 every season I go out shooting. I have two shoots, one at Crawfordjohn and the other at Arnprior.

We get grouse, partridge, pheasant, snipe, and woodcock and nearly all the birds we shoot go to my hotels and restaurants. Good, because there are very few shots in them.”

He gives one of his warm smiles and say’s, “As well as shooting I took up fishing seven years ago. In seven years I have caught two fish!”

He points at a photograph on his office wall. “That is Archbishop Athmagonas, head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Britain, and he loves fishing. So I took him up to the river Spey to fish and I thought that, if he blessed the water, it would have good results. But it didn’t work and as usual we had to buy fish to take home with us.

Four Cathedrals in Glasgow

“I’m taking the archbishop up to the Spey again on the 12th of April for a couple of days and if we don’t get a fish this time I think I’ll give up.”

Reo Stakis is the head of the Greek Cypriot community in Glasgow. He bought a West End kirk and it has been converted into the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Luke. “That makes four cathedrals for Glasgow,” says Reo, “More than any British town outside London.”

He estimates there are about 600 Greek Cypriots in the city. “We get about 100 to 130 in the congregation every Sunday. Yes, I know that, by modern standards, that’s a good percentage, but I’m always complaining.”

He stops smiling when I ask him about the future. He thinks for a moment, then says, “Well, in 1973 we had 62 building projects on hand when we sensed that a business crisis was coming.

“We stopped 60 of the projects and carried on with two, which have been successful. At this very moment we’re set for expansion, not only in this country but right into Europe, if we can get the right places.

“I am an optimist for the future. I believe that, within a year from now, things will improve in the business and industrial world by from 60 to 70 per cent, on the present, especially in Scotland.”

Reo Stakis regards himself as much a Scot as a Cypriot. He looks sombre and shakes his head sadly when he talks about present conditions in Cyprus. But when he talks about Scotland his eyes start shining again and that broad smile beams out.

Also See Reo Stakis in City Slickers 1978.

Elderslie Street, Glasgow.

Interior view of Ruxton’s Bar. 1971.

This old pub dates back to 1867. William Gilmour was the first licensee. He was not new to the licensed trade as he occupied a public house as a wine and spirit merchant at 7 Greenhill Street, Anderston since 1860. He lived at 2 Bothwell Street in Anderston.

When he acquired the new premises at 21 Elderslie Street in 1867 he was living at 77 Dumbarton Road before moving to Elliot Street. In 1875 he was also trading at 539 Springburn Road, 41 Cowlairs, Road and Greenhill Street and later acquired premises at 117 Bishop Street, by this time he was living at 176 Kent Road.

The premises at Elderslie Street was taken over by a well-known publican William Reid in 1900, the pub was then known as the St. Vincent Bar. Mr Reid continued to serve the locals here before the first World War.

James Butter then took over in 1916. During the 1920s David Ruxton was running the pub very successfully. Jessie Ruxton, David’s wife took over as licensee when David passed away in 1937. Their son Charles took over the running of the pub from 1947 until the pub closed in the 1970s.

In the News 1971…

Americans buy a Glasgow bar as a TV prop.

One of Glasgow’s oldest pubs is to be demolished, but will live again as a prop in TV studios in San Francisco.

The pub is Ruxton’s Bar in Elderslie Street, which comes under the Anderston redevelopment scheme. Before the bulldozers move in early in the new year the whole interior of the pub, mirrored gantry with gleaming glasses, glossy varnished tables and stools, and curving bar, will be dismantled and shipped to the United States, where they will be re-erecting at the Californian television studios.

The “takeover” began when Lanarkshire antique dealer Tony Kierney dropped into the bar one night and got talking to the owner, Mr Charles Ruxton (51), whose family has had the pub for 47 years.

I might see it

In the “Scottish Licensed Trade News” today, Mr Ruxton said, “This chap just dropped in and said he was intrigued by the place and our fittings and that he had just returned from a business trip to the United States, and that he’d like to buy all the fittings, lock, stock, and beer barrel.”

Mr Ruxton continued, “I’ll be sorry to see the place go, but this is obviously much better than having it bulldozed. “And, who knows, we might see the old shop popping up now and again if any of the television programmes made there are shown in this country.”

Mr Ruxton expects to be opening a new pub across the road from the old premises, and the name will probably be the same as it has been for the past 47 years.

Included in this happy group from the ‘Ben’ are Mr. W. Ruxton; Mr. W. R. Anderson (Kilmarnock Arms, Kilmarnock.); Mr. W. H. McAllister and Mr. E. Ewart, both of Johnny Walker, and ladies. 1973.

Mr. Charles Robert Ruxton with his new bride Lillian. 1950.

The wedding took place at St. Margaret’s, Episcal Church, Renfrew, of Mr. Charles Robert Ruxton, eldest son of the late Mr. David Ruxton and Mrs. Ruxton, 5 Pembroke Street, Glasgow, to Miss Lillian Williams, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. Williams, 1 Mary’s Lane, Renfrew.

Mr. Ruxton has been licensee for two and a half years at premises at 21 Elderslie Street, Glasgow. His brother David, who is a licensed grocer in Dalry performed the duties of best man. The bridesmaid were Miss Helen Williams, sister of the bride. The reception was held in the Georgic Restaurant, Union Street, Glasgow.

Mr. David Ruxton with his new bride. 1946.

Home on leave for his wedding.

The wedding took place in Augustine Church of Scotland, Rutherglen Road, Glasgow, on Thursday 14th March of Mr. David Ruxton younger son of the late Mr. David Ruxton and Mrs. Ruxton, to Miss Jean Jessamine, eldest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Jessamine, 200 Waddel Street, Glasgow. The grooms mother held the licence at 21 Elderslie Street, Glasgow and her husband who died in 1935 was a well-known and popular figure in the licensed trade in Glasgow.

Best man was Mr. James Adams and two bridesmaids were in attendance to Miss Hetty Jessamine, sister of the bride and Miss Betty Ruxton, sister of the groom.

Following the wedding ceremony conducted by the Rev. J. G. Taylor, a reception was held in Partick Lesser Burgh Hall, attended by a hundred guests. The groom had been for three and a half years service in the Armoured Corps with the 3rd Kings Hussars. He came home on leave from Palestine for his wedding, prior to enlistment he was in the business at 21 Elderslie Street.

Mrs J Ruxton with staff on an outing dated 1937.

The Beauties of Glendarule were investigated by this happy band on a recent Sunday. They are the staff and friends of Mrs J Ruxton, wine and spirit merchant at Elderslie Street. Mrs Ruxton is seen seated in the centre, while other well-known figures in the group are Mr David Spiers and ex-Bailie J Ratcliff.

100 Bath Street, Glasgow. G2 2EN.

Check back soon for the history of this pub.

84 Ingram Street, Glasgow.

The Royal Oak, 1930s.

The history of this pub dates back to 1883 when John R Stevenson occupied the premises. He also ran a small pub in Green Street, Calton.
The pub was taken over by his son William in 1895.
In 1914 the pub had a new landlord Andrew Donaghey, he continued to serve the locals until around 1930.

John Ryan then took over, he wasn’t new to this area as he ran a pub at 68 Ingram Street since the beginning of the 1900s.
Mr Ryan then sold the pub to Malcolm MacDonald in 1932 for £1,200.

The rent for the premises then was £115 per annum.
Mr MacDonald got into difficulties paying the bills and keeping stock, the creditors moved in and made Mr MacDonald bankrupt.
The accountant Mr Frederick Furniss became trustee on the sequestrated estate and sold the business to Malcolm MacDonald’s son Austin Chamberlain MacDonald for £900.

Mr Furniss gave Austin just 7 days to come up with the money for the business.
The transaction went as planned and Austin Chamberlain MacDonald paid £800; the license was transfer over to Austin in 1936.

The weekly takings for the pub were between £23 and £32. Austin had a weekly wage of £3.00.
Business should have been very good as there where only three pubs on Ingram Street compared with George Street, which had seven.

Things didn’t improve at the pub, infact it got worse, on November 1936, Austin finished a weekends work at the pub, closed the doors and never returned to open them back up again on the Monday morning. When the staff arrived Mr MacDonald was nowhere to be found, his own mother and family didn’t’t even know where he was.

The creditors found that the stock in the pub was very low and a weeks takings from the business had disappeared along with Austin MacDonald, they immediately had to put in a new manager until Mr MacDonald returned.

It was found out later that Austin had infact taken a weeks takings from the business and fled off to London and returned at the end of January 1937 when the money he had taken was all gone.

Mr Austin Chamberlain MacDonald.

On his return he went back to the pub and asked to be replaced in the shop, the creditors dealt with Mr MacDonald very leniently, they did not wish him any harm and in spite of what he did they put him back in the pub.

Things never seemed to work out for Austin, apparently when Mr MacDonald was in London the new manager’s takings for the pub were double what Austin was taking.

Mr Furniss the trustee and accountant saw that the stock was low a weeks wages were not accounted for and so ejected Austin MacDonald from the premises and changed the locks on the doors to prevent Austin from ever returning.
Austin Chamberlain MacDonald was also made bankrupt.

The pub had a few managers afterwards but they too didn’t’t last long, until John McKichan took over in 1938.
Mr McKichan was 41 years of age and worked in Wilson’s bar in Blackfriar Street now known as the Strathduie for the long period of 24 years. His employer James Wilson sold the business and the new licence holder took on his own staff. Mr McKichan paid £1,200 for the Royal Oak and served the public until the middle of the 1950s. Gilbert Walker then took over and the pub closed for good in 1959.

Many thanks to Billy McLaren for the wonderful photographs.

Other Pubs on Ingram Street…

Assembly Rooms.

Chubby Chester’s. 178

Corinthian the. 191

Duke of Torraine.

Gumbo. 33

Oko. 68

The Ramshorn.

The Red House. 97

Star Inn.

Sylvester’s.

Zhivagos. 178

Motherwell.

The Royal Hotel, Motherwell. 1889.

The Royal Hotel was built in 1873. Duncan MacDonald took over in the hotel in 1889. Mr MacDonald came from Girvan, Ayrshire, and successfully ran the Argyle Hotel in 1882. He completely refurbished the Royal Hotel, the dining rooms and sitting rooms were re-decorated and upholstered, the Commercial room on the ground floor was also de-decorated and was fit for all social occasions. All the bed-rooms were large and very clean. All the usual breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, suppers and teas were very moderately priced.

George Square, Glasgow.

Postcard of the Royal Hotel, George Square.

Facts…

All the fashionable hotels were mainly centred in George Square. The Wellington, Star, Caledonia, Royal Horse, Franklin, James Watt, Sir John Moore, Old Royal Hotel and McDonalds’ Private Hotel , the Waverley, Crow, Clarence, Globe, Imperial (which became the L & N.E. Parcel Office), Queen’s, Royal and George, while at no. 16 there was a somewhat unpretentious hostel named “The Noddy Drivers’ Eating House.”

Other George Square Pubs…

Clarence Hotel.

Crow Hotel.

James Watt Tavern. 19

Sir John Moore Tavern. 7

Waverley Hotel.