Old Glasgow Pubs

You are here: Home / Latest Posts

Latest Posts

Carnegie’s.

by 2 Comments

142a St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. G2 5LQ. Tel: 0141 248 9771.

Carnegie’s. 1991.

Carnegie’s chain of pubs were so popular in the city fifteen years ago, there was also Carnegie’s in West George Street, Waterloo Street and Cambridge Street.

Over the years this place has been known under different names. In 1970 it was called The Cellar, Midas.

The Cellar Advert 1970.

In the NEWS 1979…

The Midas Touch…

The Midas advert. 1979.

On March 15 1979 two Scots businessmen, Brian McVey and Andrew Hamilton, opened the Midas pub at 142a St. Vincent Street, near Hope Street.

And in two short weeks the city centre pub has become popular not only with workers from surrounding offices but also with shoppers looking for a quiet spot to relax in.

As you would expect with a name like Midas, there’s quite a bit of gold about in the pub. The huge bar is brass, the bar stools are gold plated and the waitresses all wear gold waistcoats.

Interior designer George Flett chose green as the other main colour, the walls are green, the angular seating is in green velvet and the carpeting is green.

NATURAL

The Midas is one of the most relaxing pubs I’ve ever been in, partly due to the beautiful pot plants and vases of fresh daffodils dotted throughout. It is also very spacious.

Although the Midas serves food, Brian McVey, whose wife Eileen is licensee, is insistent that it isn’t a restaurant. “We don’t serve steaks in exotic sauces. Our food is good natural food,” he said.

Fish plays an important part in the menu. Dishes vary from pickled herring to fresh salmon. Other dishes include pates,roast beef and quiches. There is also a lunch platter which comprises a side salad, baked potato with butter and hot French bread, all for the pricely sum of 50p.

“Our menu is priced in such a way that customers can spend only 50p on the platter or £4 for a half lobster,” Mr McVey said. The lobster comes fresh from the pots off Arran. Andrew Hamilton also owns the well-known Lagg Hotel on the holiday island and he sets them.

“At the moment we are serving meals up until 3 p.m. but this is purely an experiment and if necessary we will extend this,” said Mr McVey.

Advert from 1979.

Update…2019.

This 1970s venue is now called Martha’s Hearty Healthy & Fast.

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

END.

The Caravel.

by 6 Comments

Hallhill Road, Glasgow. G 32 0HW. Demolished.

The Caravel. 1991.

This was Tam McGraw’s old pub the notorious Caravel. It is believed that a bomb was thrown into the bar one day. It is now demolished, a new housing estate now occupies the site.

In the NEWS…

In 1998, he was charged along with a number of others, including his brother-in-law, John Healy, after police seized cannabis worth 260,000 hidden on board a boys’ football team bus.

McGraw stood trial but walked on a not-proven verdict. Healy was not so lucky and was jailed for 10 years, prompting a feud which lasted until the day McGraw died.

One of McGraw’s most ardent critics has been Paul Ferris, perhaps the most infamous criminal character in Scotland since Thompson snr.

The Caravel.

A one-time heavy for Thompson, he stood trial for the murder of the Godfather’s son, Arthur jnr, known to everyone as “Fatboy”, who was shot dead in 1991.

The night before Arthur jnr’s funeral, two of Ferris’ pals, Joe “Bananas” Hanlon and Bobby Glover, were shot dead in an apparent revenge attack.

According to underworld sources, the victims’ bodies were personally mutilated by Thompson snr at The Caravel bar in Barlanark – owned and run by McGraw. Within hours of the desecrations taking place, the pub had mysteriously burned to the ground.

The Caravel was mysteriously burned to the ground

In 2011 there were plans to build a new pub in this Dry Area of Glasgow  ran in to oppositions from Co-operative housing, Churches and Schools in the area. But other residents in the area are determined to have a pub. Over 350 locals have signed a petition not to have a public house. However in 2019 there is no sign of a pub being built.

Do you remember this notorious bar? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Captains Rest.

by 1 Comment

185-189 Great Western Road, Glasgow. G4 9EB.

The Captains Rest, 1980s.

Munro Motors occupied this site in the early 1960s.

The pub is now known as the Captains Rest. It was also known as the Barracuda Bar.

Pharaohs 1991.

The Captains Rest 2005.

Alfie Conn Celtic fame once owned this pub.

In the NEWS 1977…

Tang of the sea at the Captains Rest.

This advert from 1977 says The whole premises have been redecorated and now assume a new character and comfortable atmosphere. “Rent a Pub.” A Comfortable lounge bar is available for private functions and a free Buffet will be provided for bookings over 40 people. For further information telephone 041-332 8657. The Captains Rest is open Monday – Saturday 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Owner of the new Captains Rest at 185 Great Western Road just over the flyover from Glasgow’s city centre is 32 years old Desmond Roy Le Marquand. The man from a seafaring family in Jersey puts a very great accent on boats, ships, and all floating crafts.

The former Barracuda Bar has as many ships’ instruments in brass decorating the bar and lounges. One of Le Marquand’s gimmicks is even to have his female staff wear sailor jerseys with a steering-wheel emblem.

There are literally hundreds of pictures of all kinds of shipping, and there’s even a genuine ship’s bell to help clear the pub at closing time.

SPECIAL OFFER

Within the next few days the Captains Rest will have a real steering wheel in the gantry of the public bar. Le Marquand seeks all the time something new to attract the customers but what better than to have his spirits on sale at 28p for a fifth of a gill.

The Captains Rest also has a lounge bar and a cocktail bar, both of which give you the impression that it’s time to shove off for foreign parts.

The new boss realises he has staff opposition in the area but is already well holding his own. He makes this offer to parties of 40 and over- as well as the best of service there is a FREE buffet.

The Captain’s Rest has a sea-type communication which links one bar to another through the “blower” system. There aim is to make the Captain’s Rest a sanctuary for the customers. He says: “We want to create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with something to look at. After all the customers are entitled to it.”

The Captains Rest is a place to visit. But don’t get seasick.

Update 2014…

The Captains Rest has changed to Munro’s.

Munro’s. 2016.

Do you have any memories of this West End Bar? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Cambridge Bar.

by Leave a Comment

78 Cambridge Street, Glasgow. G2 3HN. Demolished.

The Cambridge Bar was situated at the corner of Cambridge Street and Wemyss Place. 1960s.

In the 1890s Councillor Alexander McLaren ran this popular howff, the McLaren family of publican’s owned licensed premises in the city since the 1840s. Alexander owned pubs on the Gallowgate, Candleriggs the old Riggs Bar, Spoutmouth, Main Street, Bridgeton, Cowcaddens and Wellington Street.

To read more on the history of Alexander McLaren and his public houses in the city, check back soon for my second book.

The Cambridge Bar shortly before demolition. 1960s.

A large neon illuminated advertising sign, Murray’s Ales was a permanent feature on the side of the old tenement for years.

Exterior view of the Cambridge Bar. 1960’s.

The is a newer pub on Cambridge Street called “The Cambridge Bar.”

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

END.

The Weavers Inn.

by 2 Comments

415 London Road. Calton, Glasgow G 40 1AG. Tel: 0141 554 1573.

Weavers Inn. 1991.

The Weavers Inn was situated at the corner of 415 London Road and 131 Green Street. Land-lady and well-known author, Actress, Comedian, Janey Godley renamed the pub “The Weavers Inn” as a reminder of the Calton Weavers. In 1787, a meeting of the weavers was held on Glasgow Green. Their wages had dropped because of the increased importing of cheaper textiles from abroad and most of the workers decided to strike, although some weavers accepted the lower wages and carried on working.

This was a desperate situation for many of the people. To be without employment and wages resulted in them being evicted from their homes and seeing their families go hungry. Yet the striking weavers stood strong and took on the might of the authorities.

The dispute eventually came to a head on 3 September, 1787: violence erupted after the strikers tried to seize materials from the weavers who had carried on working despite the low wages. The military were called in and a detachment of the 39th Regiment of Foot opened fire on the demonstrators.

The strike was broken.

Six of the men killed at the scene were considered martyrs and some of them were buried in the Calton Cemetery. The families of the men were so poor that they could not afford a headstone, although a century later a memorial was raised to commemorate their actions.

A group of local people are currently fighting to preserve the graveyard, to cherish the memory of the martyrs and also to educate the local youngsters in their historical roots.

The Calton Bar. 2005.

An old hostelry dating back to the year 1776 sat on this site, it was called the “Old Herb Beer House,” and was famous all over the city as the house where herb beer was first retailed along with alcoholic drinks.

In 1837 a licence was granted to a gentleman called Robert Marshall to sell porter & spirits. Mr Marshall was born and bred in the Calton and also stayed in the premises. In 1839 the licence was transferred to Mrs Marshall, the family ran this pub until 1847.

In 1893 a Mr Robert Cumming owned the premises and was a very successful businessman, he owned three other public houses in Glasgow one at 56 West Street, south side, 63 Stobcross Street and one at 15 Catherine Street, Anderston. Mr Cumming travelled daily from his home at 395 Eglinton Street by horse and cart and visited all four premises to make sure business was good, his daughter took over the licence in 1896.

In 1897 the licence was transferred to Mr Timothy Joseph Walls. These old premises were demolished around 1898 and a red sandstone building was erected on the same site with a tenement of flats above and a public house on the ground floor. Mr Walls continued business here in his new public house.

The Calton Bar. 2005.

In the early 1900s the licence holder was a Mr Patrick Cassidy who also owned the Weeman’s on the Gallowgate, he resided at 6 Montgomery Street, Bridgeton. In 1927 the address changed from 161 Great Hamilton Street to 415 London Road.

On 21/10/1969 Mrs Mary Birnie Storrie took over the licence, the Storrie’s continued in the pub for many years. Many will remember this old pub as the Nationalist Bar, in the 1950s it was known as the Crystal Bar owned by Thomas O’Kane. Mr O’Kane sold the pub in the early 50s and took over a pub on Westmuir Street and renamed it O’Kane’s Bar.The pub was then really small, he bought the adjacent shop to make a new lounge.

Calton Bar. 2012.

Calton Bar. 2013.

Facts…
In 1899 the rent for the premises was £120.00 per annum and a gill of 10 year old Scotch whisky was 10d, in 1920 a gill of whisky was 1/8 and rum 2/1, 1929 a pint of draught beer was 6d, 1976 a pint of lager was 30p, heavy 28p and a quarter gill of whisky was 33p.

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

END.