Old Glasgow Pubs

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The County Bar

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Silverbanks, Bothwell Street, Cambuslang. Demolished.

Image of the County Bar Silverbanks Cambuslang
The County Bar.

The County Bar, Silverbanks, Bothwell Street, Cambuslang.

images from a wonderful website by Gordon Dinnie.

In 1915 the County Bar owned by W S Angus was broken into, the thieves smashed a plate glass window to gain access. The thugs Alexander Strachan and Joseph Marton, labourers, were both charged with breaking into the pub, stealing 3 bottles of whisky and 50 cheroots. They were both sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.

Image of the County Bar Silverbanks Cambuslang
The County Bar. 1950s.

Do you remember this old pub or any other pub in Cambuslang? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Counting House

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2 St Vincent Street, Glasgow. G1 2DH. Tel: 0141 225 0160.

Image of the Counting House St Vincent Street
Counting House.

A Wetherspoon pub, occupying the finest bank interior in the city. Formerly the Bank of Scotland hence the name of the pub.

The premises were previously owned by the Bank of Scotland. The building was designed for the bank by J T Ruchead, during 1867–1870. His design, in the Italian Renaissance style, set the tone for the west end of George Square.

Image of the Vault in Counting House
The Vault seating area.

The Vault has been transformed into a seating area. Think about the amount of money that used to be behind that steel door.

Counting House website.

Do you have any memories of the Counting House? If so please leave a comment.

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Mars Bar

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21 Howard Street, Glasgow.

Exterior view of the Count Down 21 Howard Street Glasgow 1979

The Count Down Bar.

This image was taken in 1979 shortly before demolition.

Thanks to James Green a Glasgow photographer in Glasgow 1979.

Mars Bar advert 1978

Mars Bar advert 1978.

Mars Bar advert 1978

Mars Bar advert 1978.

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After Mars threatened to take the pub to court for copying the name of one of the companies most famous chocolate snacks MARS BARS the pub had to change the name.

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In the NEWS 1979…

Pub Thief “Saved” By His Boss…

Melvin Mitchell has a chance of staying out of jail because he had a boss in a million. Today a court heard how gambling-mad Mitchell, a 27-year-old pub manager, found himself £5000 in debt and in trouble with loan sharks.

In desperation he helped himself to £3641 takings he should have put in the bank night safe, then he vanished.

But Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Mitchell’s boss, James Byrne, had given him the chance of a lifetime to make good. When Mitchell was caught and then freed on bail, Mr Byrne gave him a job in the bar of a hotel in which he also has an interest.

Instead of demanding his cash back he allowed Mitchell to pay off all his other debts. Mr James Friel, defending, said Mr Byrne was now putting Mitchell back into the same pub from which he embezzled the money, starting on Monday.

He will pay Mitchell £70 a week, but will keep £20 until the stolen money is repaid. Mitchell admitted embezzling the money from the Mars Public House, now the Countdown, in Howard Street in the centre of Glasgow.

FIRST OFFENCE

Sheriff Peter McNeill, who was told Mitchell was a first offender, deferred sentence for three weeks for a back-ground report and continued bail.

Mr Brian Logan, prosecuting, said Mitchell had been working at the Mars Bar for about five months before the offence which happened between October 22 and November 4 last year.

Mr Friel said in normal circumstances Mitchell should go to jail, but asked the Sheriff to give him a chance of freedom in view of Mr Byrne’s attitude.

Count Down advert 21 Howard Street Glasgow 1979

Advert from 1979.

Update 09/01/2014…

In the 1960s the Snaffle Bit changed its name to the Steering Wheel according to an email I got from Jimmy. Other names the pub has been known as : Count Down, Oyster Bar next door, Mars Bar.

Do you remember the pub as this name if so please get in touch.

Cottiers

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93 Hyndland Street, Glasgow. G11. Tel: 0141 357 5827.

Image of Cottiers Hyndland Street
Cottiers. 2015

Cottier’s is located in the hall of the former Dowanhill United Presbyterian Church.

A Genius of a Place in the West End of Glasgow

Once a church, now a concert venue established 25 years ago in architect William Leiper’s acoustically refined 1865 hammer beam interior.

Cottiers is a friendly place, community loved and community owned with internationally important stained glass and decoration by Daniel Cottier.

Cottiers contains a theatre and bar with outside stone flagged beer garden and exclusive Leiper’s Attic restaurant upstairs. It makes an enchanting and romantic wedding venue, a famous landmark in Glasgow’s West End.

To read the history of Cottiers click here.

Do you have any memories of Cottiers? If so please leave a comment.

The Southern Bar.

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60 Eglinton Street, corner of 2 Wallace Street, Glasgow. G5 9DE. Demolished.

Image of the Southern Bar Eglinton Street corner of Wallace Street 1930s
The Southern Bar. 1940.

The Southern Bar was situated at the corner of Eglinton Street and Wallace Street.

When a new tenement building was erected in 1873 at the corner of 60-62 Eglinton Street and 4 Wallace Street, William Craig was granted a licence to sell wine and spirits.

Mr Craig was already an established liquor merchant in Glasgow having premises at 52-54 West Street, Tradeston at the corner of Nelson Street; he also operated a licensed grocer’s (off sales) shop at 36 Pollok Street formerly owned by Thomas Bennett.
In 1889 he took over the pub at 15-17 Norfolk Street (Garry Owen) near to Gorbals Cross, at that time there were twelve pubs trading on Norfolk Street. William Craig came to Glasgow from Inchinan, Renfrew where he was born.

In 1881 he was living at Craigmiller, Nithsdale Road with his wife Janet and had a large family of three sons and three daughters. Also living with them was his father-in-law Robert Miller a retired Mercantile Clerk, along with his wife’s aunt Susan.

Image of Mr William Craig 1898
Mr William Craig. 1898.

Mr Craig was making enough money in the licensed trade and could afford two domestic servants. When the Mr and Mrs Craig took over a beautiful villa in Nithsdale Road they named it Craigmiller after their surnames.

When the family moved to St John’s Road, Pollokshields they renamed this villa “Craigmiller”.

William was born in Inchinan in 1842. He came to Glasgow in 1862 and identified himself with the retail Trade, entering the service of Mr John Aitken, of Dalmoak, Dumbartonshire, in his public house in High Street. Mr Aitken was at that time one of the best known and highly esteemed members of the Trade in the city. He was one of the founders of the Benevolent Institution and was its second president, filling the chair in 1870 until his death.

After a time Mr Craig left Aitken’s employment and joined the staff of George Robin, remaining with that gentleman until January 1868, when he started business on his own account in West Street, Tradeston. In 1873 William took over new premises at 60-62 Eglinton Street “The Station Bar” formerly owned by Mr Robin since 1842. Mr Craig then acquired the Pollok Street establishment which he made his head-quarters. He then took over premises at Norfolk Street in 1889.

William Craig was heavily involved in all trade matters including the Benevolent Institution in 1876 and a member of the Board of Directors since 1892. He then carried out important work in the Institution’s Committees. He was also involved in the Pension’s Committee and was appointed vice-president in 1896. He was fortunate in having the unique experience of being president during the year of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, and of seeing the pensioners of the Institution suitably looked after.

Mr Craig was a member of the Incorporation of Coopers and of the Incorporation of Wrights. Of the former Incorporation he had the honour of being elected Deacon in 1889, and one year he was also Trades’ House representative on the Board of Governors of the Victoria Infirmary. He was a member of the Grocer Company. He was an enthusiastic bowler and was a representative of the Queen’s Park club which carried off the Eglinton cup in 1895. In later years Mr Craig had deserted bowling for Golf and enjoyed playing at Troon or Pollok course. He was a great swimmer and won the life-saving certificate of the Humane Society for plunging into the Clyde and saving a drowning child.

William Craig’s public houses and the grocers business was demolished many years age, West Street was demolished in the 1960s, Norfolk Street followed in the 70s, then owned by Michael Joseph Heraghty the well-known Garry Owen Bar, the Southern Bar was the last to survive and was demolished shortly afterwards.

Image of the Cottage Bar Eglinton Street corner of Wallace Street 1970s
The Cottage Bar.

The Cottage at the corner of Eglinton Street and Wallace Street. 1970s.

Image of the Cottage Bar Eglinton Street corner of Wallace Street 1970s
The Cottage Bar.

The Cottage. Thanks to Norrie McNamee for the images.

Facts…
Other licensees …
M Reuben 1977.
Donald J Grant 1973-1966.
Frederick W Miller 1960.
J N Murdock 1945.
James W Smith 1937.
A Smith 1934.
J W Whittot 1933.
T Quin 1923.

Do you remember this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

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Artizan Vaults.

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3 Finnieston Street, Glasgow. Demolished.

Mr Robert C Kerr. 1897.

Wine and Spirit Merchant Robert C Kerr was born in Catrine, Ayrshire, Robert Burns country. Robert was educated at the village school. He started work very early in the cotton mills, cotton spinning being at that time one of the stable industries of Scotland.

Robert then went on to be a miner. What a change of occupation, from soft cotton to hard dark coal mining. Young Robert then can to Glasgow and worked in a large east end cotton factory. He then entered the spirit trade as an assistant in a pub owned by Mrs Armour, Stevenson Street, Calton.

Mr Kerr was very ambitious and mastered the trade, hoping to once own his own public houses. When the Anchor Tavern, 21 Argyle Street came on the market Robert jumped at the chance to be his own boss.

After acquiring the licence, business was good and seven years later opened the Artizan Vaults in Finnieston Street. Robert managed boss premises and was assisted by his son in the Anchor Bar. The Anchor Bar was located on the confines of the Trongate and in one of the busiest parts of Argyle Street.

Dick’s Bar, 3 Finnieston Street. 1966.

The history of the Anchor Bar dates back to 1788.

When Robert took over the Artizan Vaults in June 1895 the place was in great need of refurbishment. Robert installed incandescent light throughout the pub and the rooms were both comfortable and well ventilated. One neat little snuggery, known as the “Cosy Den”. A new gantry and spirit rack behind the bar was among the handsomest in the area, the walls were decorated with pictures and mirrors.

There was a large cellar underneath the premises from which beer was raised in cool and perfect condition by a Bruce beer engine. All the best whisky and liquor was stocked in the Artizan.

Robert became a licence holder in 1889, entered upon the Anchor on the 17th October 1889;m obtained the transfer on the 17th December; bought the “Artizan” on 17th June, 1895; and obtained the transfer 17th April, 1896. Seven is surely his lucky number.

Dick’s Bar. 3 Finnieston Street.

The history of the Artizan can be traced back to 1867 when Wine and Spirit Merchant James Taylor acquired a certificate to sell wines and spirits at 3 Finnieston Street. James was born in Rutherglen.

By 1880 James was living with his family at 5 Finnieston Street and purchased another public house The Royal Bar, 328 Scotland Street at the corner of Watt Street. Five years later we find his residing at 115 Dumbarton Road before moving to 16 Strone Terrace, Dowanhill, so business was very good.

In 1881 James was living with his wife Janet Colquhoun with seven daughters and one son.

When Mr James Taylor passed away in the early part of 1890s his wife took over the business until 1895.

Robert C Kerr then took over the pub. Robert was living at 91 North Hanover Street in the city centre. He gave up the Artizan Vaults in 1898.

David Burrell then took over the pub and continued to serve the locals until 1908.

Another well-known and respected Glasgow Publican to own the pub was James McCondach, who ran the pub until the 1950s. Many will still remember Raphael Issacs in the 1960s before Mr John Dick took over the pub and renamed it Dicks Bar.

In the 1950s this old pub was known as the Cosy Corner. Maybe someone was renovating the old bar and saw a sign the “Cosy Den” in the snug bar and renamed the pub the Cosy Corner.

Do you know anything about this pub? If so please leave a comment.

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