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The Riverside Tavern

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

3 Waddell Court, Gorbals, Glasgow. G5 0QA.

The Riverside Tavern. 1991.

In 1970 big John Adams ran this brilliant Gorbals local known for it’s great singers. Well known Glasgow pub musician Frank Hassen was a regular in here entertaining the locals with his keyboard and singing daughters Elaine and Ann.

John Adams ran the Tavern in Ballater Street at the corner of Florence Street during the late 1950s, when the pub was demolished at the end of the 1960s he moved to new premises in Waddell Court.

Mr Adams was a right character he was often known to give tick in the Riverside Tavern but if you missed a payment he would never give you a drink the next time you were short of cash. When John retired he moved to Spain and by chance he stumbled across a film crew who were filming a new soap for British Television, Elderado, John was given a small part in the filming of the short series which was a total flop despite spending millions of pounds on the film set. Afterwards John was involved in a car accident in Spain and was never the same afterwards.

The Tavern, Ballater Street with St Luke’s chapel and hall in the back ground. 1960s.

Mr John Adams left with Mr W T Currie and Mr G Henderson. The occasion was at a golfers dinner of the St. Mungo’s Golf Club. 1961.

Mr John Adams right with Mr Jack Gow. 1972.

John Adams with his wife Betty and son Jack. Winners of the Sunday Mail Pub of the Month 1976. Thanks to David Adams for the image.

Another view of the Tavern in great need of a paint job.

Now Called by a shorter title The Tavern. 2008.

The Tavern. 2008.

Allan Gilmour was landlord of the Tavern, Govan Street, in 1887.

The Ritz Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

241 North Street, Glasgow. G3 7DL. Tel: 01412264419.

The Ritz Bar. 1991.

In 1890 John Gemmell ran Gemmell’s Bar at this address. John Gemmell was a well known and respected publican in Springburn having Gemmell’s Vaults at the bottom of the Balgrayhill Road many will remember this old pub as the Kelvin Bar. Mr Gemmell traded as a publican at the bottom of the Balgrayhill since 1869, he then ran a pub at 327 Parliamentary Road from 1881. “Gemmell’s” special blend of old Scotch Whisky was sold on the premises along with “Highland Park” malt whisky which retailed at 3d a gill.

The pub was sold in 1903 to Thomas Dunbar, his son Michael then took over the business, he was a well known figure in the licensed trade on the Gallowgate, he ran 3 pubs in the 1890s all called “Dunbar’s” his first pub was at 429 Gallowgate, then 32 Main Street, Bridgeton and then 72 Gallowgate. Mr Dunbar later opened another pub at Reid Street, Bridgeton.

Marguerita Dunbar then took control the the business in 1920 until the outbreak of the Second World War. Miss Kathleen Dunbar then took over the licence and traded under the name of K Dunbar Wines & Spirits Ltd.

Scottish & Newcastle then took over and completely refurbished the interior and exterior, today the old cast iron pillars and the richly decorated plaster cornices are the only surviving features of the old pub.

The Ritz Bar 1980s.

The Ritz Bar, Octobert 2005.

The Ritz

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

138 Main Street, Cambuslang, Glasgow. G72 7EL. Tel: 01416413746.

The Ritz Bar. 1991.

Ritz Bar. 2005.

The Ritz bar is a reminder that there was once the Ritz theatre here, a popular entertainment in Cambuslang. Cambuslang had other theatres the old Empire picture house and the Savoy in Main Street which became a bingo hall.

The Right Half

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

16-18 George Street, Glasgow.

The Right Half. 1991.

It was shame to see this old Glasgow pub being demolished a few years ago.

There was a pub on this site away back in 1844, Alexander McKenzie was then landlord before pastry baker and spirit merchant James Gentles ran the premises for a short while.

In 1849 Alexander Fraser became the new owner, Mr Fraser lived with his wife Jane a few door away from the pub. He was born in Nairn in bonnie Scotland, he came to Glasgow at an early age to start as a publican in the city. Mr Fraser met his wife in Glasgow and had a large family, all of whom worked in the pub at some time, business prospered and other pubs were added to his small empire one at 36 Stirling Road and one at 1 Kings Cross, he was them known as a grocer and spirit merchant. With a good income Mr & Mrs Fraser moved home to Westercraigs, Dennistoun an exclusive address in the east end of the city. Locals in the area knew that if they went for a refreshment in Fraser’s Bar they would get nothing but the best liquor available. Alexander’s sons took over the business after his death and the family ran the pub until the 1960s.

In 1966 the pub was run by Colin Maxwell Brown jun the pub also had a name change, this is when it was called the Right Half. Mr Brown was a well known publican in the east end of the city in Bridgeton area having two pubs there, the Pop Inn at London Road at the corner of Fraser Street and the Regent Bar, London Road at the corner of West Street. He also ran a pub at St. Andrew’s Road at Shields Road. William Brown took over the running of the pub until it closed a few years ago.

View of the Right Half. 1960s.

The Brown family advert 1975.

Licence Holders.

1991-1978 William Brown.

1973-1966 Colin Maxwell Brown jun.

1960 Alexander Fraser.

1950-1937 William L S Fraser.

1919-1894 John stewart Fraser.

1894-1849 Alexander Fraser.

1847 James Gentles.

1845-1844 Alexander McKenzie.

The Riggs Bar

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

11 Candleriggs, Glasgow. G1 1LA.

The Riggs Bar. 1991.

To read the full history of this once famous city bar keep an eye out for our second book here.

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In the NEWS 1979…

Murder Squad In Tour Of Pubs…

Detectives are today piecing together the last hours of murder victim James McGuire.

Mr James McGuire. 1979.

And last night officers from the Murder Squad toured city pubs, carrying pictures of the victim and seeking information about his movements.

Mr McGuire (57) was found battered to death behind British Rail head-quarters at Port Dundas, Glasgow. He was naked and had severe head injuries. Since the discovery a large team of men men have been drafted into the investigation.

And one theory being closely checked is that he was the victim of a gang who prey on men alone in the area.

SISTERS

Police believe that such a gang has been operating, and among their victims have been homosexuals lured away from pubs and clubs. Mr McGuire lived with his sisters Isobel and Catherine at 268 Broadholm Street, Possilpark. Yesterday the grim news had to be broken to the women on a caravan holiday at Arbroath.

The CID team are still anxious to speak to any witnesses or people who knew Mr McGuire. Their confidential telephone line is 041-???????.

Detective Chief Inspector Donald Grant, the man leading the hunt: said later, “We are anxious to speak to any person who saw this man between 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, when he left the Riggs Bar, Candleriggs, and when his body was found on Sunday morning.”