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The Ruchill Tavern

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 13 Comments

97 Ruchill Street, Ruchill, Glasgow.

The Ruchill Tavern. 1991.

This pub was used in the Scottish Sitcom Still Game as ‘The Clansman’ that was run by boaby the .

Opened in April 1965 by Beechwood Taverns Ltd. The licence holder then was Robert Porter and managed by Joseph Robb and his wife Netta. The pub was then known as the Gimlet, it consisted of an attractive lounge bar which could hold 50 people, a spacious public bar and an off-sales department.

The Ruchill tavern has now been demolished to make way for a new housing estate.

Mrs Netta Robb and Mr Joseph Robb, manageress and manager of the Gimlet. 1965.

Interior view of the lounge bar, Gimlet. 1965.

Licence Holders.

1991 James Smith for Messrs Dempster & Anderson.

1973-1969 James Boyle.

1965 Robert Porter.

Robert Glover

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

149-51 Albert Street, Townhead, Glasgow.

McAslin Street. 1960s, with the pub, maybe it was called the cosy Bar.

Robert Glover traded as a wine and spirit merchant from as early as the 1870s, he owned pubs at 149-51 Albert Street which later became McAslin Street, 284 George Street at the corner of 61 John Street and 146 Stirling Road. There was also a William Glover trading at 85 Cowcaddens in the 1870s, he started out in the 1840s in George Street, the two men must have been related, maybe this was Robert’s father.

Robert continued to serve the local until he passed away, his wife Sarah Anne took over the business and the running of the pubs. Sarah Anne sold the pub at Albert Street when the First World War broke out, Michael McCrossan then took over as landlord. Sarah Anne, however continued as licensee of a licensed grocers shop in Springburn Road until the end of the great war.

Michael McCrossan was successful in the pub and was well liked by the locals. During the 1930s John Thomson owned the pub, he also traded at 227 Cowcaddens Street, many will still remember this old pub which became known as the Mermaid Bar.

In 1957 William Clelland was the owner followed by Archibald McInnes, the pub was demolished in the 1960s in the City Council’s clearings.

Other Albert Street Pubs…

Broon’s Bar.

Glebe Bar.

Ross’s

January 25, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

78 Mitchell Street, Glasgow. G1 Tel: 01412212287.

Ross’s. 1991.

This old pub was originally called The Gordon Bar. To read the full history of the pub and Mr Ross check out our book here.

The Gordon Bar advert 1976

The Gordon Bar with Johnny Beattie and Una McLean. 1976.

Glen Daly visits the Gordon Bar. 1977.

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The Gordon 1980s.

Ross’s. 2007.

Also see Kelvinhaugh Vaults.

Facts…

David Ross owned many pubs in Glasgow including…

35 Clyde Place, 35 Possil Road, 90 North Woodside Road, 198 Kelvinhaugh Street, 306 Argyle Street, 45 Grove Street, and 78 Mitchell Street.

Red Lizard

January 17, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

49 Bell Street, Glasgow. G1 Tel:. 0141 552 3539.

Red Lizard. 2006.

Formerly known as Fiddler’s Court.

Fiddler’s Court was probably named after the worst close on nearby High Street in the early 1800s. The close was filled by the poorest people in the city, all sorts of smells reeked from this close including urine and sanitary waste. The close was swept away in the 1870s by the City Improvement Trust.

Its a wonder the owners chose such a name as this was quite a nice pub to drink in, attracting students and nearby residents of the nice flats in the Merchant City. The menu had a great choice and was very reasonably prices.

The bar had a refurbishment and is now called Locomotiv, closed in the summer of 2005, it was called the Red Lizard.

The Rubaiyat

January 16, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

94 Byres Road, Glasgow. G12 8TB. Tel: 01413411041.

Opened in the early 1950s by James Montgomery who formerly had licensed premises in Buchanan Street. The Rubaiyat was built on the site of Drummond’s Tea room.

The small circular cocktail bar “The Bowl of Night” has disappeared when it was refurbished in the 1980s. The locals protested when the interior was being destroyed and they even changed the name of the pub to Findlay’s, however the original etched mirror has survived and still hangs on the wall.

The Rubaiyat name has always confused the passer by many still cannot pronounce the name, over the years I have heard the name rubber rat, rubber yacht and many more such names. The students of nearby Glasgow University are quite familiar with the name, the poet Omar Khayyam’s masterpiece reads

“Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night, Has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight: And Lo! the hunter of the east has caught, The Sultan’s Turret in a noose of light,”

The pub was up for lease last month August 2005.

Exterior view of Finlay’s during the early 1990s.

The Rubaiyat. 2007.

The neon sign that once hung over the doorway of the Rubaiyat. 1953.

Richard’s

January 8, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

952 Govan Road, Govan, Glasgow. G51 3AJ. Tel: 0141 445 1018.

Exterior veiw of Richard's Bar Govan Road 1991 — Richard’s Bar, 1991.

There has been licensed premises on this site since 1887.

The pub sat at the corner of 1 Ruthlin Street formerly known as Reid Street.

Over the years this old pub has been known as Kraken Bar 2018, Richard’s Bar 1990, The Glen Bar 1980s, the Beauty Parlour, Chassels 1935, David Wood 1899, William Sutherland, Old Govan Arms and Donnelly’s.

William Sutherland was the first owner of these premises and at first opened as a restaurant, it wasn’t long before he acquired a full licence. William was no new-comer to the trade as he was trading as a wine & spirit merchant at 833-835 Govan Road at the corner of 2 Morrison Street now Helen Street. Mr Sutherland was living with his family at 4 Hamilton Terrace, West Partick.

Mr Sutherland traded from these premises until 1892. The following two years a Mr John Thomson took over, however William was back trading under his own name by 1890. William sold up a few years later.

The next licensee was David Wood, he renamed the premises and put his name above the doorway in 1895. David was living at 19 Reid Street, Govan. In 1899 Mr Wood was paying an annul rent of £98. In 1915 Mr Wood also had a public house at 231 Paisley Road and was now living at 3 Church Road, Ibrox.

Image of David Wood's premises Govan Road early 1900s. — David Wood’s premises on the right. Circa 1910.

In 1916 the license was transferred to Mr James Rae Chassels. The Chassels family traded from here until the late 1960s.

In 1973 the licensee was John Dingwall.

This was known for many years as the Glen Bar, it was changed to Richard’s bar by the new owner Richard Wilson. It was previously called the Old Govan Arms and Donnelly’s named after another licensees’.

Update 2018…

In 2018 the pub had a new name the “Kraken”. Kraken is a US based crypto-currency exchange founded in 2011.

Exterior view of the Kraken Bar formerly Richard's Bar, Govan Road 2018 — The Kraken, 2018.

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

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