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The Redan

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

1802 Maryhill Road, Maryhill, Glasgow. G20 0HD.

The Redan. 1991.

This part of Maryhill Road was formerly Main Street, Maryhill.

This old established Maryhill local was owned by Bailie William McLeod.

William McLeod was born in 1843 at Lambhill and educated in Springburn, his first initiatory start in life was his engagement as clerk to the firm of Messrs., Leadbetter, Govan & Co, quarrymasters, to whom he remained for 17 years, during which time he married a niece of Mr Govan, one of the partners.

Mr McLeod took over his first pub at 281 Gairbraid Street, Maryhill, premises that had just been built in 1873 at the corner of 3 Vernon Street, now Queen Margaret Drive. In 1881 he took over another public house at 394 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow, many will still remember this old pub as the Lemon Tree Bar. Business was booming and in 1887 he acquired another pub further up Maryhill at 210-12 Main Street the “Redan.” Using his Gairbraid Street establishment as his headquarters, all the finest liquor was dispensed at his premises, blending all his own whiskies and his special blend of “Tiree” which not only had a large home consumption but was known abroad, where it was extensively exported.

McLeod's Maryhill Road

McLeod’s Bar corner of Maryhill Road and Vernon Street now Queen Margaret Drive.

William was a valuable inhabitant of Maryhill, with good qualifications and a talent to get on with the locals, he was elected as Bailie to the Town Council of Maryhill before the Burgh was merged with Greater Glasgow, the separate Council then ceased to exist.

He was a famous dog lover and an acknowledged judge, he owned Scottish Terrier “Tiree” and even named his whisky after him, the dog was one of the finest canines in the country, paying £50 for him at the Edinburgh show in 1890. In the black and tan class he owned the famous “General II” while his Greyhounds “Chevy Chase” and “Sodger Hew” made an enviable reputation for themselves. His Scotch Terrier “Ashley Plug” was a prize winner at Birmingham and Crystal Palace shows where he was also successful with his Bulldog “Jim Mace.”

Another view of McLeod’s Bar. 1960s.

Mr McLeod was a director of the Scottish Kennel Club and for many years was well known at the Maryhill Cattle show, president of the Bowling Club, secretary for many years at the Kelvin Dock Curling Club and a freemason, vice-president of the Maryhill Conservative Association, how he managed to run a successful business is beyond me.

William lost his wife when she was in her 30s, leaving him with a young family of 2 daughters and 3 sons, his brother Alexander lived with them at East Park Terrace, Maryhill, Alexander was also involved in the licensed trade in the area, he was licensee of premises at Main Street, Maryhill at the corner of Watt Street, this pub is now known as the First and Last. he also ran the Little Mill in Bowling, Dumbartonshire.

William McLeod’s son Robert took over the pubs in 1906 which then consisted of 281 Gairbraid Street, 210-12 Main Street and 15 Cambridge Street.

During the 1950s and 70s the pub was run by Allan Peter Hannah for Robert Fyfe McLeod and Co Ltd.

The last time I passed the Redan it was closed down with a TO LET sign on the building, it looks like this old establishment will be demolished, with houses erected on it’s site.

The Redan 2005.

Bailie William McLeod. 1893.

The Royal

March 6, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

29-31 Glebe Street, Townhead, Glasgow.

The Royal. 1991.

There has been licensed premises on this site since 1849. The longest licensee to hold the certificate was William Smith, he took over the pub in 1851 and continued to serve the locals here till 1895.

Many Glasgow publican’s in Victorian times lived very close to their business, William and his wife Mary stayed in Stirling Road in the 1880s with their son David a shipbuilders clerk and their daughter Maggie who was still at school.

The licence was transferred to Mrs Mary Stirling Smith Munro in 1895, she sold the pub in 1910 along with her other establishment at 113 Springburn Road, many will remember this old pub as “Dougan’s.”Mary’s husband ran this pub from the 1880s.

William Collins took over the Glebe Street business in 1910 paying an annul rent of £70, his wife ran the pub after the Second World War.

The Royal Bar was taken over by Edward Lee, Funeral Director’s, who had premises in Glebe Street, Westmuir Street and St. Vincent Street. Edward Lee’s first pub was in Millroad Street before taking over the Royal Bar.

This well established hostelry was demolished in the early part of the 1990s along with the Manx Bar to make way for a car park.

The Lee family however got new premises across the road which is far bigger than the old pub. The name Lee is now above the doorway of the new pub which is on St. James Road.

The Lee 100 St James Road, Glasgow G4 0NS

Ronnie’s

February 24, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

30 Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

Ronnie’s Bar. 1991.

This old established pub was better known in the 1980s as Kittys’ Bar. When I was a teenager my father drank in here with his many friend, he had a small shop in Brunswick Street next to the Mitre Bar, selling bedding and soft toys. I remember he gave me a massive lion soft toy to carry to Kittys’ Bar, I could hardly lift the feline it was that big, my father had to give me a hand in case I fell. On arriving at Kitty’s everyone gazed at the size of this toy as my father sat it on the bar and said this is Kittys’ bar.

There has been a pub on this site since at least the 1840s. One of the publicans to hold the licence was John White Crichton, born in 1866 in Langloan, he was educated in Thomson Street school, Dennistoun, where he passed through his classes without special distinction. But he seemed to have a taste for mechanical work, his greatest pleasure as a boy was watching the steam cranes at work. He entered into this trade when he left school and passed his apprenticeship with A & P Steven, Provanside Engine Works. He stop his engineering job to help out his father’s business in Townmill Road where he remained for 5 years. In 1890 he was given a transfer to Stockwell Street.

A very fine public house used to stand on the site of Kitties’ Bar and was known all over the city as the Balmoral.

However Mr Crichton was better known for his other profession as an engineer, he invented the “Emergency” beer raising engine, a simple idea and much smaller than the larger beer engines in cellars of that time. John W Crichton went bankrupt in 1897. The pub side of his business was taken over by Robert Black the pub was then known as the “Record Bar” then Robert Paterson took over the business in 1902. Mr Paterson also owned the Park Bar on Main Street, Tollcross which is now closed and called the Village.

During the 1930s the Stockwell Street premises were run by John Lloyd jun he also had a pub on Parliamentary Road at the corner of Black Street. The pub was sold to the West of Scotland Taverns Ltd in 1959, the licensee Joseph Smillie ran a successful business here for many years, he also ran Mill’s Bar in Duke Street, a pub on Morrison Street and Westmuir Street, now called O’Kane’s.

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In the NEWS 1979…

Kitty’s Bar advert 1979.

Kitty’s Bar was owned by Ted Watters and his wife Kitty, the interior of Kitty’s Bar was panelled wall to wall with no particular featured decor. However the Watters and their staff were very friendly.

The couple were old friends of Glen and have been in the trade for a few years. They used to have a pub on London Road, Bridgeton, but when it was demolished they moved the Stockwell Street. It was a move they never regretted.

Darts was a favourite sport in Kitty’s Bar. Their Darts team were champions of the Independent League in 1978.

Robert MacDonald

February 24, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

37 Marquis Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow.

Mr Robert MacDonald. 1888.

Mr Robert MacDonald owned a public house at the corner of 37 Marquis Street and 101 Bernard Street, Bridgeton. He was an ardent FreeMason and brother R. W. M. 128 St John’s, Shettleston Lodge and a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Royal Arch Mark, no. 87. He was only in his 30s when this drawing was taken of him. He was educated at Annfield Academy and was apprenticed for the Engineering to Randolph & Elder. He then traveled to America where he worked as an engineer and came home when he heard of his father’s death. His father also Robert occupied the pub in Marquis Street from the early 1870s. Robert gave up his career as an engineer and became the new license holder in 1885. He learned the trade very quickly and became a very good wine and spirit merchant and continued in the pub until his death in 1915. His wife Elizabeth then took over as licensee until the 1930s.

Many will still remember this old pub as the Kick Off owned by Christopher McHugh in the 1950s and 60s.

The Regent Moray

February 9, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

1377 Argyle Street, Glasgow. Tel: 01413570261.

The Regent Moray. 1991.

There’s been a pub on this site since 1878. James Docherty the landlord served the locals here until 1889, trading under the name of James Docherty & Company.

Francis Grant took over the pub in 1890 until his death in 1903, Mr Grant also ran a small pub in Stockwell Street for many years, the pub stayed in the Grant family until the 1960s.For many years this old established pub was known as The Regal.

John E Jackson a well known figure in the licensed trade took over The Regal as it was then called before he went bankrupt. Mr Jackson owned some of the best known pubs in the city of Glasgow including Jackson’s Dog House in Dundas Street, the 100 Bar in Crown Street and the Carmunnock Inn, Carmunnock and the Garfield Hotel, Cumbernauld Road. John renames the pub to “Jackson’s Place.”

The Regent Moray takes it’s name from the nearby street of the same name, it is now called Spub Mulligan’s. It’s handy for visitors of the Kelvin Hall and the Art Galleries which is now closed for refurbishment.

The Regal Bar 1930s.

The Pub kept it’s royalty title with a new name in the 30s.

The University Bar. cirac 1924.

In the early 1900s the pub was known as the University Bar, a reminder that Glasgow University is nearby.

John E Jackson dancing wife his wife. 1950s.

The Kelvin. 2007.

The Kelvin as it is known today has a for sale sign up, you would think this would be very popular with the tourists as the City Art Gallery and the Kelvin Hall are a stones throw away. Maybe the owners of the pub is asking to much money for the premises, this is usually the case of many pubs in the city. I hope to see it open shortly.

Licence Holders.

1991 Mae Houston.

1973 Patrick McDonald.

1970-1966 John E Jackson.

1960 Miss Alice Grant.

1950-1910 Annie Brannan Grant.

1910 Neil Grant.

1903-1890 Francis Grant.

1889-1878 James Docherty.

Richards Basement.

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

142 West Regent Street, Glasgow. G2 2RQ. Tel: 0141 204 3605.

Richards Basement. 1991.

Update…2005. Now Called the Bear.

In the NEWS 1979…

A Warm Welcome to the Hot House…

Mouth-Watering moussaka, burger on sesame bun with French fries, tagliatelle Bolognaise and quiche…, all at one restaurant.

Versatility is the trademark of the newly opened Hot House Restaurant at 142 West Regent Street, Glasgow, and it’s a policy that should pay off for the enthusiastic young owners Maureen and Gregg McLeod.

They wanted to create a decor, an atmosphere, and most of all a set of taste sensations that patrons would remember with affection, a place to go back to time and time again. I reckon they’ve succeeded.

The initial impact is one of welcoming, spick and span sophistication. With its 1.0 a.m. licence, the Hot House will soon hold a warm spot in Glasgow’s heart.