Hope Street pubs

183a Hope Street, Glasgow. G2 2UL. 

Austins Lounge Bar, 1991.

This may not look like an old established pub but it has been around for a long time.  Austin’s was a well known gay bar during the 1980s and 90s. Named after Robert Austin who had previously owned the Tropics Bar, Argyle Street, under the bridge of Central Station, a fantastic bar in it’s day.

After a few years of the premises being closed down it became known as the Crow Bar.

The Crow Bar, 2007.

Became known as the Swing 2008.

The Swing 2018.

The Liquor Shack.

183 Hope Street, Glasgow.

The Liquor Shack, 1991.

Many will remember these old premises as the Strand back in the 70s.

The Strand, a haunt for many of the gay men and woman in Glasgow during the 1970s.

In the News 1971…

Strand’s bill-topper

Benny Garcia, the black and white Minstrel man, and attractive singer Jan Douglas, recently returned from a tour of South Africa, top the bill in the Strand in Hope Street, Glasgow, next week.

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In the News 1971…

A new act to Scotland, the Wagner Brothers, top the cabaret bill at the Strand, Hope Street, Glasgow, next week. Appearing with them is popular singer Alf Freeman.

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In the News 1971…

Search for a star.

The Strand in Hope Street, Glasgow, are running their second Search for a Star contest in their cabaret room on the week starting December 6 1971. This is a repeat of the last year’s show, which, with the backing of this column, was such a tremendous success. It is not so much a contest as a search for acts which can be used in cabaret in the future.

Nevertheless prize money is valued at more than £100 and the winner will be booked in at the Strand for a week’s cabaret, for money. There will be six heats running from Monday till Thursday with semi final on Friday and the final on Saturday.

The man who is organising things is Peter de Rance who books many clubs throughout Scotland and produced the tremendous popular Glen Daly show which is currently running at the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow.

Peter will be holding auditions for the Search for a Star show on Sunday, November 28. Those who want to enter can write to him at Chalmers Wood Ltd., entertainment agents, 79 West Regent Street, Glasgow, giving details of type of act and experience and he will arrange a time for the audition.

He is looking for all types of acts, except, sorry to say, groups. It is not that he has anything against groups, but the stage at the Strand is not suited to them. However, he will welcome two or three handed acts.

However, all types of acts will be welcome, particularly comedy. Peter tells me “That was the only disappointment in last years show. I had hoped it might have produced one or two comedians, but it wasn’t to be. Comedy seems to be the scarcest commodity on the Scottish scene these days.”

Compere for the week will be comedian Ray Jeffrys and for the semi and final stages there will be well-known judges. many competitions really don’t mean a great deal to the winner, if you don’t count the prize money, but this could mean work and consideration for television and recording work.

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In the News 1973…

The Strand in business again

Glasgow’s night life suffered a severe blow when fire destroyed the Stars and Garters room of the Strand in Hope Street last April.

But the good news is that the Strand has now been given a £50,000 face-lift and will be back in business with music, food, and drink from tonight. (Monday 26 November 1973)

Manager Ronnie Patterson tells me, “We have attempted to give the restaurant a night club atmosphere, and not just that of a cabaret room. We will be able to seat about 120 people and meals will range from a minimum 50p to £1.65 for a four course meal.

“We are trying to keep prices as reasonable as possible and give people value for money.” Name of the night club room is Outside Inn, and the effect is that of a French market place, with split-level floor in Portuguese tile and clouds and sky on the ceiling.

Resident band

The restaurant side of the room won’t be fully operational until well into next month, so that will give people a chance to rubberneck before going in to eat in earnest. On stage they will have a four piece resident band, in the meantime called The Strand Band, until they come up with something more original.

The band which will be fronted by Bill McNabb, who is well-known in club circles, is more of a showband than a normal backing group. Ronnie Patterson tells me, “We hope to create something novel in Glasgow by featuring different acts every night in the week.”

They start with a strong bill for their opening tonight, when they have Dutchman Wout Steenhouse, vocalist and guitarist on stage with comedian Les Melville. Les was one of the acts in the television show “New Faces” a couple of weeks ago.

Festive bookings

On Tuesday they have a showband, Anita and the Turnstiles; on Wednesday, Bob Stafford and Annie west, who were on the Australian cabaret circuit for two years; on Thursday, Clive Conway from Newcastle, on Friday a double comedy-impressionist act called Sinclair and Young, and on Saturday they have Les Brians who has been featured on the television programme “The Comedians.”

The Strand are now accepting bookings for Christmas night itself they will be introducing a showband called The Laurels. The Strand was always known for its excellent business lunches, and they will be continuing with them. So, as the old music hall song goes, Let’s all go down the Strand.

The Strand advert. 1973.

1973 advert.

Misty’s Lounge Bar now open July 1979.

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Do you know anything about these bars? If so please get in touch.

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