Old Glasgow Pubs

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Auld Rutherglen Pubs

Rutherglen has a great history of auld pubs. This is a list of all the pubs in Rutherglen that we have research on. There are a lot more articles to come in the near future. If you know anything about any old Rutherglen pubs, please get in touch.

Chapman’s.

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251 Main Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 2HN. Tel: 0141 647 1987.

Chapman’s. 1991.

There has been licensed premises on this site since at least 1850. The Freebain family occupied the premises for over 30 years. Andrew Freebain lived with his wife Jeanie and had a family of 3 daughters and a son all of whom were born in Rutherglen.

John Fyfe then took over, it stayed in the Fyfe family until the First World War.

Before the war came to an end John Chapman took charge of this popular bar, he lived in Stonelaw Drive before moving to Elm Drive, Burnside.

His son Hugh Chapman then took over the business, Hugh became heavily involved in trade affairs and was president of the Cambuslang Defence Association. Cambuslang went dry in 1920 and with the help of William Eadie a local publican and Hugh Chapman the pubs opened again in 1925. Luckily Rutherglen was not affected with the Local Veto Campaign.

Chapman’s. 1954.

This mural was painted on the wall on the upstairs lounge. 1954.

The Bar upstairs. 1954.

Also see Chapman’s Bar, Coatbridge.

Manager of Chapman’s in 1971 was a Mr Jack Wills, he had 42 years experience in the business, 35 years in Cambuslang until the premises had to be vacated because of the redevelopment and 7 years in Rutherglen.

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Mr Hugh Chapman. 1961.              Mr Hugh Chapman 1951.

In The NEWS…2008.

Publican, rugby player and golfer; Born July 8, 1957; Died February 6, 2008.

GEORGE Crozier, who has died aged 50 just six months after the death of his father, Sheriff George Crozier, was a publican of the old school who valued his customers and treated them as personal friends.

The Crozier family have been licence holders in Rutherglen for many many years.

Do you have anything to say about Chapmans? If so Please leave a comment.

END.

The Cathkin Inn.

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3 Mill Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 2LT. Tel: 0141 647 3007.

The Cathkin Inn. 1991.

In the NEWS 1978…

Barmaid Isobel McElhinney and Mrs Elizabeth Craig, wife of the manager, have a “trial run” before the opening of the Cathkin Inn. 1978.

New Cathkin Will Bring Back Old Friends…

It’s always a bit of a blow for regulars when their pub has to close and they are left without a friendly howff. But that’s what happened to the customers of the old Cathkin Inn in Mill Street, Rutherglen, when it closed because of redevelopment seven years ago.

But the good news is the Cathkin Inn lives again. Yesterday, Tennent Caledonian Breweries opened a new Cathkin Inn on almost the same spot as the old pub.

Manager of the new Cathkin Inn is Mr Robert Craig, who is confident that the Cathkin can win back all its old regulars. There is a lounge and public bar within the premises and both have been attractively laid out.

The lounge bar has been designed in the style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the main colours being black and red. In the public bar the prominent colour is orange. There is also some beautiful dark wood panelling in the gantry.

Mr Craig plans to serve bar snacks in the Inn at lunchtime and if there is a demand for it in the evening also. Although there is no live music, the Inn has a juke box both in the lounge and the public bar and some one arm bandits. The public bar also has a colour television.

Mr Craig, who is from Blantyre, has over 12 years experience in the licensed trade. “The Inn is ideal for a couple looking for a quiet night out or a man going out for a drink with his mates.

The interior is very comfortable and the Inn itself is in a very good spot,” he said. And with four full-time staff and part-timers too, Mr Craig can promise customers a quick and efficient service.

Update…2010.

Cathkin Inn. 2010.

I was passing the Cathkin Inn the other day and noticed the place had a new paint job, and it looks very clean.

Update…2018.

Cathkin Inn. 2018.

Funny thing … that every time I pass this old Pub it seems to have a new paint job.

Tributes paid to popular Glasgow pub landlord found dead in Rutherglen bar after leaving worrying messages on Facebook

Messages have poured in for Graham Bissett, 58, after the grim discovery in The Cathkin Inn at around 9.50am on Monday.

Mr Graham Bissett.

A GLASGOW pub landlord has been found dead in his Rutherglen bar after leaving worrying messages on Facebook.

Tributes have poured in for popular Graham Bissett, 58, after the grim discovery in The Cathkin Inn at around 9.50am on Monday.

The husband and dad-of-two, originally from Fernhill, had shared several worrying posts on social media in recent weeks.

One heartbreaking message posted by Graham on Monday morning simply read: “Goodbye World”.

Another shared on September 16 read: “Is it worth four years in the pub? Hope the next person that takes over the pub will make a better go of it because marriage comes first.”

But a touching message he posted on August 27 said: “To all my family and friends, I just want to tell you that I love you.

“Because yesterday is gone, today is almost over and tomorrow is not promised.”

Hundreds of messages have since rained in from family and friends for Graham – who was believed to have been stepping down from the pub this week.

And flowers and cards have been left outside pub for the landlord who was well loved for his DJ and impersonation skills.

One online tribute read: “Although my mum and me only knew you a few short years Graham, you made us feel like we’d known you all our lives.

“Completely heartbroken by the news. Our thoughts and love go out to your family and immediate friends.

“Hope you have now found peace. Rest in Peace Graham.”

Another said: “Rest in peace Graham. You lit up so many lives – will always be in our hearts!”

And one wrote: “Graham you were one in a million. Biggest heart of gold.

“Have so many treasured memories of you to keep. Sleep tight Graham god bless!”

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed Graham had been found dead in The Cathkin Inn at 9.50am on September 24.

They said: “There are no suspicious circumstances.

“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

Thank to the Scottish Sun Newspaper.

In The NEWS…2013.

A mass brawl which left five police officers injured has led to the Cathkin Inn pub in Rutherglen having its licence suspended for five days.

The incident took place at an 18th birthday party on Saturday, November 17 last year.

Licensing Sergeant Andy Macdonald told a Rutherglen and Cambuslang Licensing Board last week that there had been a “large scale disturbance.”

He said two officers attended the party at around 10.20pm where they allege they saw a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old male with a “white powder” on them.

The powder was later identified as cocaine.

The 15-year-old was also carrying a pint glass.

When the police tried to arrest the pair, they resisted and other party-goers became “hostile.”

One of the suspects escaped and despite help from door security, a female police officer was allegedly headbutted and kicked on the head.

They called for backup and a further four officers were injured.

Twelve arrests were made on the night while the male who escaped was arrested the next day. Four of those arrested were under 18.

Sergeant Macdonald said the incident had been affected by a “mix of underage youths, alcohol and drugs,” and the police had concerns about the “general lack of control.”

Andrew Hunter of Harper and MacLeod, was representing the licence-holder, Paul Nelson, as well as the Cathkin Inn manager Thomas Bowie.

He said Mr Nelson had six other pubs in the west of Scotland and was vice-chair of the Glasgow pub watch scheme.

He said the pub had stopped taking bookings for 18th birthday parties, something that had a “significant impact on the business,” but they wanted to start doing them again and suggested a condition be putting in place banning anyone under the age of 18 being allowed on the premises during functions. The licence had allowed under 18s to attend functions until 11pm.

He said of the incident itself that “stewards and staff handled it appropriately,” and said seeing family members being arrested had “created a hostile atmosphere,” among the crowd. Additional measures have now been put in place to avoid a repeat added Mr Nelson.

He added: “We truly view this event as a one off.”

Sergeant Macdonald also praised the staff for their reaction, but said: “There was clearly underage drinking taking place (and) high levels of drunkeness on the premises.

“As a result of this incident, other premises have stopped taking 18th birthday parties.”

Mr Nelson said: “It’s fair to say Mr Nelson and Mr Bowie are not suggesting the incident was acceptable but at the same time we believe it was handled appropriately.

“They could not have known when the function was booked that the incident could have happened.

Thanks to the Daily Record for this story.
Do you have anything to say about this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.
END.

The Fairway

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18 Chapel Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 1JE. Tel: 0141 647 4008.

The Fairway Bar. 1991.

The Fairway was built in 1961 for the Murray family. Rutherglen Town Council had the Murray’s old premises demolished which sat 50 yards from the new building and dated back to the 17th century. Ye Olde Inn  had an established date of 1650, John and Mary Murray took this old pub over in the 1920s from their family who had it for over twenty years.

Exterior view of the Fairway. 1961.

The Fairway bar was named as there was an old golf course on the site many years ago. A feature of the new premises both in the lounge and the public bar was the various types of timber used. Canadian Birch was chosen for the lounge bar, the bar counter front being rio rosewood, the public bar was panelled in American black cherry with mahore for the counter front and figured willow for the gantry.

Moquette wall seating in a violet shade in the lounge and the seats were upholstered in the same colour. The whole of the establishment had underfloor heating.

Opening ceremony group at Rutherglen’s Fairway. Left to right Mr J A MacDonald, Glasgow and West of Scotland manager, Scottish Brewers Ltd.; Mr John Murray jun.; Mrs Mary Murray; Mr D M Ferguson and Mr John Murray sen. 1961.

Mrs Murray, pulling the first pint at the new Fairway Bar. 1961.

Left to right Mr A V Hanlon, director of Kilglas, Mr J Murray, Mrs McDeveney, Mr John A Murray, Murray’s Bar’s Gallowgate and Dalmarnock Road.

A day’s outing at the golf course, left to right W Jenkins, Govan Arms, J J Murray, Fairway, A Ford of Usher’s. 1967.

Update… November 2009.

Burnhill Bar. November 2009.

The Fairways is now called The Burnhill. Thanks to Norrie McNamee.

Burnhill Bar. 2012.

Burnhill Bar. 2012.

Do you remember this old pub? If so please leave a comment and we will post your views.

In the NEWS… 2018.

Still Game fans are delighted that the hit TV show is coming back – and a Rutherglen pub will be the new boozer for Jack, Victor and pals. Last year the Reformer revealed how the Fairways Bar on Chapel Street had been filmed for scenes in the new series of the smash hit TV programme.

And the popular watering hole will take centre stage in the first episode of the programme’s latest series, that returns to TV screens in a fortnight. The plot sees Jack and Victor head to The Clansman – where they encounter a flustered Tam.

To their dismay, they discover barman Boaby now has trendy ambitions for the pub which means their sort aren’t welcome anymore. Meanwhile Winston is looking for new digs – after asbestos forces him out of his flat.

The quartet then try out a new boozer, the Coral, which in reality is the Fairways. And with The Clansman regulars turfed out and Winston in need of a roof over his head, a new hangout is soon discover – with perks for all the pensioner pals.

Colette McAllister, landlady at the Fairways, previously told the Reformer how much she’d enjoyed the experience.

She said: “I was in a tent watching it being filmed. They treated me like royalty. “The cast were gentlemen, they were asking all about the pub — they were lovely. “Once people realised it was happening, people were hanging out of their windows getting pictures. The cast stayed and got photos with everyone.”

Colette added that the experience could be a big boost for the area as a whole. She said: “Watching it was amazing, I was on a pure high. “It’s the biggest show in Scotland and it came to Rutherglen and my pub.

Update…2019.

The Rutherglen Local is still called The Fairway. If the locals in Rutherglen are like the locals in Glasgow then if the pub was changed to the Burnhill the locals will still call it “The Fairway.”

END.