Old Glasgow Pubs

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Connell’s

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92 MacLean Street, Glasgow. G51 1TB. Demolished.

Connell’s Bar. 1935.

Note the four square Art Deco window’s in Connell’s Bar.

Connell’s bar was situated at the corner of McLean Street and Craigiehall Street, Plantation off Paisley Road West. Mr J F Connell the licensee obtained a certificate from 1929 until 1935, he also had a public house at no 54 Blackburn Street, Plantation.

Group image at the Royalty Burns Club function. Left to right J F Connell, A C Dickson, W Cosgrove, J W Macfarlane, T B Noble, A Pearson, president; J Burns and W McCaskill, vice-president. 1946

In 1874 James Lindsay acquired a licence for this old pub, James was one of Glasgow’s well known publicans, he owned the Sou Wester Vaults on Bridge Street, and another on Blackburn Street, and the Arlington Bar, 130 Woodlands Road. James Lindsay was also an agent for the “The Palace” which was a brewery company in Edinburgh. United Breweries was registered as a limited company on 14th December 1889 and took over four Edinburgh brewing businesses, Robert Disher & Co, Edinburgh & Leith Brewery, Ritchie & Son Bell’s Brewery, Robin MacMillan & Co Summerhall Brewery and David Nicolson Palace Brewery at a purchase price of £320.000.United Breweries went into Liquidation around 1934.

There is a large advertising mirror in the Sou Wester for The Palace Brewery, with James Lindsay as agent.

James Lindsay started out in a measurer’s office with the firm of W S K Wemyss, he later became associated with James Neil, who was representing United Breweries Ltd, James acted as indoor manager in addition to travelling in Glasgow and Ayrshire, it was due to ill health that he entered into the retail trade. James died in 1902, his son then took control of the business. Mr Lindsay continued as licensee until the late 1930s.

In 1937 Alexander Palfrey took over the pub, he also had licensed premises at 2 Cornwall Street. Robert Palfrey was licensee in the 1950s and continued so until the 60s. The pub was demolished in the early 1960s.

Facts…

Licence Holders.

1960-1950 Robert Bell Palfrey.

1947-1936 Alexander Palfrey.

1935-1929 J Connell.

1928-1925 James Lindsay.

1919-1902 Mary Lindsay.

1902-1874 James Lindsay.

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

The Commercial Bar

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320-22 Ballater Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Demolished.

The Commercial bar with owner William Byrne and head barman 1955.

The Commercial Bar was situated at the corner of Ballater Street and 49 Commercial Road hence the name of the pub. This photograph was taken with Mr Byrne the licensee outside the premises shortly before the pub was demolished in 1955.

Ballater Street was originally called Govan Street.

The history of this old bar can be traced back to 1839 when spirit dealer and grocer William Stewart acquired a licence for the premises. William continued to run this pub until 1869.

In 1870 George Robin took over the pub. George had a partner in this business and traded under the title of Robin & Hutcheson. His business partner was Thomas Hutcheson who resided at 1 Houldsworth Street, Dumbarton Road.

The firm comprised of wholesale and retail premises including 49 Commercial Road, 49 Great Eastern Road now the Gallowgate, 15-45 Princes Street and 79 Sandyfaulds Street. The first pub they had was in Main Street, Anderston.

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The Commercial Bar. 1955. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

George also had his own businesses which included 19 Norfolk Street, 21-23 Main Street Anderston, 437 Argyle Street (Ramshorn Bar). George was living with his family at 45 St Vincent Crescent.

In 1875 George was trading at 464 Gallowgate (Royal Bar), 15 Dundas Street, 19 Norfolk Street. His other businesses with partner Thomas Hutcheson included Wholesale & Retail Wine & Spirit and Malt Whisky Merchants, 15-45 Princes Street, 49 Commercial Road, 117 Great Eastern Road (Celtic Bar) and 79 Sandyfaulds Street.

George Robin continued to run this pub until 1887, he probably passed away and his son William Robin then took over the pub, William also inherited 15-45 Princes Street, 69 Norfolk Street (Robin’s Bar) and was living at 30 Corunna Street.

William continued in these premises until his death in 1912. His wife Edith took over the pub until the early 1920s.

Other licensees for this old pub were Samuel Leckie 1925, Peter Murphy 1930, Thomas Scott 1937. Mr Scott was also licensee at 2493 Dumbarton Road, Yoker, and 203 Wallace Street, Glasgow.

The last licensee was William Byrne.

Facts on this pub…

When publican Thomas Scott ran this pub the locals called the pub Tommy Scott’s.

The Robin family took over this popular bar in 1888. The founder of the business was Peter Robin who had pubs on Great Eastern Road now the Gallowgate from as early as the 1840s. His son George Robin occupied premises in Gallowgate, Dundas Street, Princes Street and Norfolk Street.

In 1888 the Govan Street ( Ballater Street ) premises were taken over by William Robin, he also own extensive premises at the corner of Norfolk Street and Warwick Street, known as William Robin’s spirit vaults. When he died in 1912 his wife Edith took control of the business.

Charge-hand Mr P C Masterton was employed with William Robin from 1890.

Mr P C Masterton. 1892.

During the 1930s Thomas Scott was running this pub, he continued to hold the licence until after WW2.

The last licensee was William Byrne, he was forced to leave the premises in 1955 as a result in the City Council’s major redevelopment scheme that saw the Gorbals old businesses and tenements being demolished. The Commercial Bar was one of the first pubs in the area to be flattened by the bulldozer’s.

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

END.

The Comet

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773 Bilsland Drive, Glasgow. G20 9PA. Demolished.

The Comet. 1991.

This notorious bar has now been closed for years, it now lies derelict while a new housing estate is being developed around it. This pub was opened in 1972 by Gavin Allan.

The Comet Bar. Thanks to Sean Daleer.

Update May 2009…

This eye-sore has now been completely demolished.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1990 Sarah McLaughlan.

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

END.

The Comet Bar

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212-214 Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow. G3. Demolished.

The Comet Bar. 1963. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

The Comet Bar was situated at the corner of Kelvinhaugh Street and Sandyford Street.

In the 1870s Mrs Jessie Kean was proprietor of this old pub. Kelvinhaugh Street was once a thriving thoroughfare, the Anderston Docks were close by as well as the Stobcross Station, the Timber depot, the Govan Ferry and the Art Galleries.

The Comet Bar was the meeting place for many of the worker in the area, this was the first pub you came to after work, if it was to busy in here you had the choice of another five on Kelvinhaugh Street or a licensed grocers shop if you just wanted to carry you drink home with you.

Next to the Comet Bar you had Ross’s Kelvinhaugh Vaults, The Loch Sloy, Dawson’s then the Anchor Bar near the corner of Argyle Street the on the opposite side of the Anchor Bar you had Sutherland’s Bar.

Moses Forsyth acquired the licence for the Comet Bar in 1883, he continued as licensee until WW1.

Daniel M Gordon then took over the pub, he served the locals here until the 1950s.

Tennent Caledonian Brewery then acquired the pub, Alexander McEwan was then licensee, he also ran the Grapes, Paisley Road West, Stewart’s, Cathedral Street and the Cot Bar, Castle Street.

The Comet Bar was finally demolished in the 1960s along with the rest of the pub, the only pub that survived was the old Anchor Bar, now Murphs Barrel House.

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

The Old College Bar.

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221 High Street, Glasgow. G1 1PP. Tel: 0141 572 5345.

Old College Bar. 1991.

This is the oldest pub in Glasgow. To read the full history of this historic bar click here.

The Old College Bar with the date 1810.

Note the old windows above the pub have been plastered over.

In this image the old windows can be seen and is still a two storey building. 1980s.

In this image of the Old College Bar you can see there is four storey’s above the pub.

This old painting is dated 1891. The Old College Bar on the right hand side.

In the News 1974…

The bride is pictured arriving at Netherlee Church, Glasgow, on the arm of father, Mr. O. G. Prosser. 1974.

Glasgow Licensee’s daughter weds.

Miss Louise E. Prosser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Prosser, who are well known in Glasgow licensed trade circles, was married recently to Mr. Colin Kerr, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.

Mr. Prosser is a director of the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Association and vice-president of the Royalty Burns Club. Mrs. Prosser is immediate past president of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Women’s Auxiliary Group.

The groom is the eldest son of Mr. Archibald Kerr, formerly a licensed grocer in Girvan, Ayrshire, and Mrs. Kerr.

Up-to-date NEWS 26th March 2013…

The news that the oldest pub in Glasgow is to be demolished. Owner Colin Beattie, say’s he will rebuild another Old College Bar on the site of the old one. Apart from being the oldest pub in Glasgow there is nothing of historic interest in the pub.

The pub is to be demolished despite the building is not dangerous, in fact the building is very strong and well built, the walls are over a foot deep. It will be a shame to see it go.

Up-to-date News 15th April 2014…

I phoned the secretary of the owner of the Old College Bar Colin Beattie the other day, the reason for this phone call was to see if I could get access to the closed Old College Bar. I was stunned to say the least to learn that the Old College Bar was still open.

A well-known Glasgow Newspaper reported that the Old College Bar was closed for good and will not open again after the owners who least the pub got into financial difficulty owing a lot of money to Sky for not paying for the rights to view Sky programs.

However Colin Beattie reopened the Old College Bar with a new manager.

I visited the Old College Bar the other day and got some great images of the interior and exterior. Images coming soon…..

For all you drinkers and historians out there, please take this opportunity to visit the Old College Bar before it is completely demolished. Please Please support your local.

Update 18th August 2014…

We all know that the Old College Bar is the oldest pub in Glasgow, but did you know there is an old pre Victorian Street in the cellar of this old establishment?
This antique pub was built in 1810 and had its first licence in 1812.
When John Gorevan started his search for Glasgow’s oldest pub, he was talking to the manager of the Old College Bar. John took some photos of the interior and exterior and was invited to have a look downstairs.
The trap door behind the bar, leading to the cellar adds to the fantastic aged feel to the pub.
When you come down the wooden steps, you are transported into a time before the Victorian Era.
There is a cobbled street starting at the rear wall, curving around the cellar heading towards the St Mungo’s Cathedral. You must watch your step as you might trip over the kerb while you imagine what it would have been like to walk along this street in the Napoleonic Era.
Unfortunately back then, the camera equipment available was very poor. The poor lighting in the cellar meant that we couldn’t get any proper photographs of the street.
The Old College Bar is now soon to be demolished! I couldn’t live with myself if we weren’t able to document this hidden gem for everyone else to see.
We were given permission to access the cellar again this year to document this wonderful street only to be quite disappointed.
We also tried to figure out where the room would have been for the Professor’s and Student’s for their private parties when the old Glasgow College was thriving across the Street.
The street had been given a DIY cement job to make it easier to walk on for the staff as this is where they kept their supplies. HOWEVER there was still some of the cobbles from the street visible from the surface of the cement that we documented. The kerb was also slightly visible with a very noticeable curve up to the Cathedral.

Written by John Gorevan jun.

I would like to thank the manager of the Old College Bar and would recommend popping in before it’s too late!

Here are some images of the cellars floor …

Cobbles from an old Street, most of the cobbles have been cemented over since the first time I visited the cellar over 24 years ago.

Another image of the cellar floor.

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

Update 04-05-2021…

The building next to the Old College Bar was suspiciously set on fire in the early hours in the morning in a very very wet night. The building and the Old College Bar is set to be demolished to make way for student accommodation. In the years I have researched Old Glasgow Pubs I have seen many of our city pubs being set on fire or the buildings surrounding the pubs mysteriously catching fire in the early hours. Most of these pubs were in the way of the developers. It’s an old trick that’s been going on for decades. Isn’t it ironic that these pubs go on fire in the middle of the night when we are fast asleep. What do you think? Please leave a comment and tell us what you think.

What is the Oldest Pub in Glasgow?

The Old College Bar is the oldest pub in Glasgow.

Where is the Old College Bar in Glasgow?

The Old College Bar is on High Street, Glasgow.

Is there an old street under the Old College Bar?

There was a possibility that there was an old street under the Old College Bar. Unfortunately the cobbled street has been concreted over, but you can still see some remains.

The New Coffin Bar.

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88 Whitevale Street, Glasgow.

The New Coffin Bar, Whitevale Street has a fascinating history to tell. Click here to read more.

The Ring Bar.

After many years the bar became in desperate need of attention especially the building itself, the need for repair and a total refurbishment was needed, however the City Council had other idea’s and was demolished in the 1960s.

The New Coffin had a name change in the late 1950s and was known as The Ring Bar. The photograph above was taken in the 1960s and the pub was already closed down by this time.

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

END.