510 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G2 3LW. Closed.
Cabaret turns at city’s newest pub / restaurant.
I first heard about Crazy Daisy about three weeks ago, and my immediate reaction was wonderment about the zany bird with the off-beat name. It was just as well I didn’t give voice to the thought because it turns out that the Crazy Daisy is the newest pub and musical restaurant to open in Glasgow.
It is sited at Charing Cross, in the old Locarno Club premises. Although it has been opened for only about three weeks, they have feature singer Neville Taylor in cabaret and this week singer Ruby Carter is on stage. The place is owned by Mike and Kathy Kenna, who used to run the Dunny discotheque next door to the Metropole Theatre.
Open to the public
Mike tells me that he intends making the Crazy Daisy into one of the most swinging place in Glasgow. At the moment he is slightly afraid that people might think it is a club because of his association with the Dunny. “I would like everyone to know there is no membership here, and the place is open to the general public.”
Mike is obviously keeping his future plans closely under wraps at the moment, but he has already dinner-dance-cabaret nights running on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. From Monday he is starting to cater for business lunches. Next week Maggie Mercer is on stage. Maggie has been resident singer at the Bruce Hotel, East Kilbride, for several years, and is a great favourite.
Incidentally, the vivacious curvaceous singer Lee Anthony will be at the Crazy Daisy every lunch time, but not as a singer. Lee will be helping out behind the bar.
In the News 1972…
The singers will be appearing in cabaret at the recently opened Crazy Daisy at Charing Cross, Glasgow, tonight and tomorrow. Since he appeared in Glasgow, Stephen has toured extensively throughout the Continent, in London, and on the club circuit in the north of England.
Incidentally the Crazy Daisy have started up a Saturday morning jazz session and this week they are featuring George McGowan and the City Centre Sound. They are also throwing in what they describe as a “pub nosh” which I understand is bits and pieces of this and that, if I make myself clear!
Do you remember this old venue? If so please leave a comment.
I was the resident DJ 1974 to 1976. I can’t remember the exact dates. It was Mike that auditioned me for the job. Cathy managed the club. A great place to work in. We all worked as a team and would often enjoy a drink at the end of the evening. We also would go to the Indian restaurant next door on Thursday nights.
I remember one night I was playing background music while the meals were served (typically chicken in the basket) before the cabaret would start when a mouse strolled across the dance floor. I calmly left the DJ booth and approached the dance floor carefully not drawing attention to myself and casually crouched down, grabbed the timorous beastie and headed to the cellar and handed it to Jackie the bar manager who took care of it. I think I got away with it as nobody noticed.
Another thing I remember was when we had a staff party. Family and friends of staff invited too.
Chic Murray was a regular. I had invited my parents and was mortified when my mother said that she loved his radio show. She thought he was Frank Skerrit. She was so embarrassed when she realised her mistake as she also loved his work.
I was impressed that they had a Millbank mixer and Goldring turntables. The industry standard at the time before Technics Sl1200s were on the scene, however the sound system was let down by the 100v line system making it sound a bit flat.
Latterly I also worked a club night during the week when would incorporate my own sound system to create a better sound.
I also did a few appearances when it became Diamond Lil’s.
Colin Ashby