Ramsay’s Bar

402 Duke Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow. Tel: 01415540710.

Ramsay’s. 1991.

There has been a pub on this site since 1875, landlady Mrs Mary McDonald sold the pub to Gallowgate publican John Ramsay who ran a small pub on the site of the Drover’s, Gallowgate.

John Ramsay was born in 1828 in Stewarton, Ayrshire, he followed the occupation of a farmer until the age of 31, when he came to Glasgow with his wife Margaret also from Stewarton. For ten years Mr Ramsay successfully ran a dairy business in the city supplying public institutions with milk, including the Royal Infirmary. Retiring from the dairy trade he entered into the licensed trade in the Gallowgate, occupying small premises at the corner of Graham’s Square, the Drover’s bar now stands on the site of his old pub.

Etch of John Ramsay’s bar, 402 Duke Street. circa 1895.

In 1880 Mr Ramsay took over from Mrs McDonald a public house at 402 Duke Street at the corner of Slatefield Street giving up the Gallowgate pub shortly afterwards to concentrate on one pub, his motto was one man one licence. John and his wife Margaret lived with their daughter Mary Anne at 190 Slatefield Street a good move as they could always keep an eye on their business as it was just a stones throw away.

Ramsay’s bar was one of the best on Duke Street, he kept a smooth running shop with no drunks allowed. All the best liquor was stocked at Ramsay’s including his own blends of old scotch whisky. All the bottling and blending was done on the premises in the large cellar underneath the shop which was divided into three chambers. His stock also included John Daluaine, Kirker Greer’s five year old whisky, Bass, Guinness, Knox (Alloa), Tennents lager, Maclay’s old malt stout, Loopuyt’s Holland gin and Brown’s mineral waters. The manager in Ramsay’s in 1897 was a gentleman called Donald McDonald possibly a relation to the first owner.

John Ramsay died in 1898 age 70, his daughter’s husband William Buchanan then took over the licence paying and annul rent of £120.00. William and Mary Anne lived at Elmknow, Kirkintilloch. Mr Buchanan also ran a pub in Castle Street at the corner of Tennant Street, when he died in 1918 Mary Anne took over the licensed premises. The pub stayed in the family right up until the late 1960’s.

Ramsay’s Bar has now been closed for some time, the last time I walked by August 2005 there was a TO LET sign above the door. It is in need of a total refurbishment, a lot of money will need to be spent on the pub to bring it back to the standards that the customers in Duke Street are used to.

2007 travelling along Duke Street early this year 2007 I noticed that Ramsay’s Bar has now opened. Good luck to the proprietor.

Ramsay’s Bar. 2007.