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New City Road

Queen’s Cross Vaults

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866 New City Road, corner of Garscube Road.

Queens Cross Vaults Garscube Road

Queens’ Cross Vaults. 1960s.

This old Pub dates back to 1888, the first licensee was a spirit merchant Archibald McLeish, he was also a house factor and had property in the area, he also let the houses above the premises. The following year William Frederick Russell a wine and spirit merchant took over the pub.

William Frederick Russell

Mr Russell also had premises at 251-53 Saracen Street at the corner of Balmore Road now the Balmore Bar. William Frederick Russell was born in Gonerbyhill, Grantham, Linconshire, he came to Glasgow for a holiday and fell in love with the city and made it his home. He was employed by John MacLachlan of G & J MacLachlan Ltd as a barman, he soon made it to general manager of the firm. He left to start business on his own at the Balmore Bar in 1880 and took over the Gushet House in New City Road in 1889, this pub became well known as the Queens Cross, situated at the gushet of Maryhill road and Garscube Road. During his stay he only had 2 managers George Barnet and after his death John Grant took his position. William Russell died in 1911 leaving an estate valued at £12,839, 10 shillings and 1 pence.

Queens Cross Vaults New City Road

W F Russell, also known as the Gushet and the Queens’ Cross Vaults, then the Double J.

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In the NEWS 1977…

Revenge youth went wild in City Bar…

A teenager wrecked a pub and seriously assaulted a barman the night he went seeking revenge for a pal’s mother who had been banned by the publican.

Joseph Reilly (19) leaned over the bar and tried to pull barman James Hosey over the counter of the Queen’s Cross Vaults in Maryhill Road, Glasgow.

Then he vaulted the bar, scattered glasses and knocked Mr Hosey to the ground. “He proceeded to punch and kick him and then deliberately kicked pieces of broken glass into his body and arms,” said Barry Heywood, prosecuting at Glasgow Sheriff Court today.

BOTTLES

“At hospital 13 stitches were put in cuts in Mr Hosey’s arm, and another four in wounds in his back, all caused by the glass being kicked into him,” the fiscal added. The Reilly started throwing bottles at the gantry, smashing bottles of spirits and wine, causing damage of over £80.

Reilly, of 543 Maryhill Road, Glasgow, admitted threatening to kill Mr Hosey, of 26 Hayburn Street, Partick, Glasgow, in the pub on August 21 last year. He also admitted punching and kicking him on the body, arms and legs, and kicking pieces of glass into his arms and body to his severe injury, and a third charge of maliciously damaging the gantry.

Sheriff John Peterson fined him a total of £300. Mr Heywood said Reilly was drinking in the pub with a friend who told him his mother had been barred the week before.

Without any provocation he grabbed Mr Hosey, the son of the owner, who was serving, proceeded to punch and kicked him and deliberately kicked broken glass into him.

“All the time this was going on in the crowed pub, Reilly was shouting and threatening to kill everybody in the bar and Mr Hosey in particular,” Mr Heywood said.

The fiscal added that Reilly ran out and then returned moments late, and began flinging bottles and glasses at the gantry.

George Kavanagh, defending, said Reilly claimed that Mr Hosey had called his mother a cow and he went to the bar to remonstrate with him.

Buchanan, John M.

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216-18 Hope Street, 200-202 New City Road, Glasgow. Demolished.

Mr John M Buchanan. 1893.

John M Buchanan was a native of Dunfermline, when still an infant his parents removed to Carnoustie, in Forfarshire and there under the late Mr Gray (afterwards of Townhead, Glasgow,) a well-known and respected dominie of the old Scottish type, he received a thoroughly sound elementary education. On leaving school young John was apprenticed to the grocery trade with the largest concern in the district, the Co-operative Company’s store, where he served for four years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the directors. Determined to seek a wider field, he came to Glasgow and engaged in the same line of business, the grocery and provision trade, with a firm in Bridgeton.

Ever anxious to better himself and gain experience, he was employed with John Ewing, grocer and wine merchant, Argyle Street, and so faithfully did he perform his duties that in a short time he was promoted to the responsible position of manager. After four years, Mr Buchanan purchased from Mr Miller the licensed premises, hope Street in 1880, and retained as his headquarters, and which he carried on under the style of Buchanan Brothers.

Still ambitious and enterprising he acquired a pub at 200-202 New City Road, which by judicious alterations, he had improved beyond recognition. His manager Mr Alexander Robertson, who has held the reins of government since the opening of the concern by its present proprietor. Fond of art, and a generous patron of its votaries, Mr Buchanan’s premises were decorated by unique, well-selected, and valuable, paintings, giving abundant evidence of his refined taste and appreciation.

The Hope Street business was sold to wine and spirit merchant George Shields Peat in 1901, Mr Peat redecorated the premises and renamed the pub to Peat’s Pavilion Bar.

In 1913 this old pub closed down for good. It was located at the corner of Renfrew Lane next to Molly Malone’s.

Do you remember any of the old pubs in Hope Street? If so please leave a comment.

END.

MacMillan’s

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419 Maryhill Road, Glasgow.

MacMillan’s bar sat on Maryhill Road between Dalmally Street and Wilton Street.

This part of Maryhill Road was once called New City Road. Many will still remember this old pub as Mason’s Bar, named after the licensee Andrew Mason in the 1950s to 1970s.

In 1888 Alexander Stewart opened two public houses in New City Road, one at 733 the site of MacMillan’s bar and the other at 641 at the corner of 2 Raeberry Street. Both his premises stocked the best of very liquor available including Reid’s, Barclay Perkin’s and Guinness stouts, Salt’s, Bass and Allsopp’s, McEwan’s on draught. He also stock 1875 Brandy in wood, also old port and sherries and his owned blend of 20 year old whisky called Cream of Whiskies.

Mr Stewart was born in Pitlochry the son of a farmer and distiller, young Stewart fled to Glasgow at an early age and found his way into Matthew Robin’s establishment now the Scotia Bar, Stockwell Street. Highlander’s were very popular in our Glasgow pubs and most of them were Gaelic spoken just like Alexander.

Alexander Stewart’s pub at 641 New City Road, corner of Raeberry Street. 1888.

Mr Stewart’s other premises at the corner of Raeberry Street had massive plate glass windows with fresh plants and flowers displayed in the window. The interior of the bar was bright, large barrels on the gantry selling top quality liquor was a prominent feature in the bar, the shelving was beautifully plastered with slim columns and the back panelled with silvered glass. The supporting columns along the bar were tinted with a shade of blue, all surmounted by broad capitals richly gilted. Even the seating was elaborately detailed. Alexander may have had a partner in business as when he died in 1899 Matthew MacMillan was granted a transfer of the licence and traded under the name of Stewart & MacMillan. Alexander Stewart’s bar stocked good quality liquor, including Reid’s, Barclay Perkins’ and Guinness’s stouts, his ales were Salt’s, Bass’s and Allsopp’s and McEwan’s on draught. The cellars were stocked full of brandies of 1877 vintage, old ports, sherries and fine whiskies from all over Scotland, his own blend “Cratur” was a twenty year old Scotch which he called the cream of whiskies.

His other premises were then rented out to Malcolm McCormack.

Over the years the locals called the pub MacMillan’s and the name appeared above the door. This was not unusual for pubs to be called after the owner, even although there may have been a different name above the door. The licence stayed in Matthew’s name until the end of WW2.

William David Anderson then acquired the licence and continued in the pub until 1958. The pub was renamed to Mason’s Bar from then on until it was demolished 30 years later. The new owner was Andrew Mason.

Raeberry Street from New City Road. the pub on the right is Alexander Stewart’s Vaults.

Alexander Stewart in highland dress. 1888.

Alexander Stewart 1893.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1976-1958 Andrew Mason.
1953-1947 William David Anderson.
1945-1900 Matthew MacMillan.
1899-1888 Alexander Stewart.

END.

The Cross Keys

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30 St. Peter’s Street, Glasgow. G4 9PW. Demolished.

Image of an advert for the Cross Keys 30 St. Peter's Street corner of Grove Street
The Cross Keys advert.

Before the Show, the Cross Keys, Comfortable Bar and Lounge, Personal Supervision, opposite this Theatre, 30 St. Peter’s Street, After the show.

The theatre in question was the Metropole run by the Logan family.

The Cross Keys stood at the corner of St. Peter’s Street and Grove Street. off New City Road. St. Peter’s Street was formerly known as Gardner Street.

The history of the Cross Keys can be traced back to 1882 when landlord Andrew Christie Hutcheson acquired then premises. By 1897 he was trading as a Wine and Spirit Merchant having premises at 115-17 New City Road, 30 Gardner Street, 599 Garscube Road and he was living at 3 Queen Margaret Drive, Kelvinside.

The property where The Cross Keys was situated was owned by Reverend John W Kidston, Rockbank, Helensburgh, he leased the pub out to Mr Hutcheson with an annul rent of £67 10 shillings.

In 1908 a new landlord was trading from the premises, a Mr James S Lindsay, who served the locals here until after World War 1. During the 1930s John L Jones acquired the pub he also owned pubs at 84 Caledonia Road and 260 London Road.

The last licensee to run the Cross Keys was Neville L Jones during the 1960s before it was demolished. During this time John L Jones was still running the London Road premises.

Image of the Cowdaddens Ward Publicans 1962
Cowcaddens Ward. 1962.

Here are some principal personalities who attended the smoker dinner held at Belmont House, Glasgow, by the Cowcaddens Ward of the Glasgow Association in 1962. Left to right: Mr G Ramster, Glasgow Association Office; Mr H Doherty, Symposium Bar, Cowcaddens Street; Mr N Jones, Cross Keys, St. Peter’s Street; Mr J Dougan, Dougan’s Bar, Springburn Road; Mr R Lemon, Lemon Tree, Parliamentary Road (Ward Convener); Mr W J Bennet, Port Dundas Road; Mr W B Gow, Bristol Bar, Cowcaddens; Mr J Lanagan, Maitland Street; Mr T F Flynn who succeeded Mr Gow as president of the Glasgow Association; Mr D McNiven, Argyle Arms, Kennedy Street; and Mr W J McDowall, Secretary, Glasgow Association.

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

END.

The City Bar

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100 New City Road, Glasgow.

There has been a pub on this site since 1853. The first licensee was spirit dealer Mr James Steel. The following year wine and spirit merchant Matthew Henderson took over the business, he continued as licensee until 1869. In 1870 Francis Crumlish took over the licensee, spirit merchant Francis also had a public house at 124 Garscube Road, however he left his New City Road premises the following year to concentrate on his other pub in Garscube Road.

William Sutherland then took over in 1872 until 1881. George Galloway tried his hand at this pub for a few years and gave it up two years later.

It wasn’t until William Imrie a well-known wine and spirit merchant took over and turned this pub into a very good business. Mr Imrie also had public houses at West Nile Street, and Marlborough Street.

In 1895 alterations of an unusually extensive description has been going on in the premises of William Imrie at 100 New City Road, for some time. These were considered necessary for several reasons, not the least of which was a laudable desire on the part of Mr Imrie that his establishment should rank second to none in the West End of Glasgow, and those who had visited the new City Bar during the last few weeks will readily agree that this desire is now un fait accompli. The inauguration or to use a good old Scotch term “house warming,” took place, when, on the invitation of mine host, a select number of friends met to honour the occasion.

The chair was occupied by Mr W J Davidson, writer (lawyer), while Mr R C Cowan discharged the duties of croupier. The following gentlemen took part in the proceedings.. Messrs Thomas Brown, John Dove, Robert Dunn, William McKean, T Y Paterson, William Imrie, William Imrie jun., H S Donald, John James, J C Turnbull and Thomas Gillespie. Among others, apologies for absence were received from Messrs Gemmell, Croall and Aitken.

The chairman proposing the health of Mr Imrie and success to the City Bar, paid a high tribute to his sterling character as a good citizen and esteemed member of the trade. Speaking as a representative of the trustees under whom Mr Imrie had now for a long number of years been a valued tenant, he referred to the harmonious and satisfactory nature of all their business transactions. Other toasts were from the Brewing and Distilling Trades. Songs were sung at intervals by Messrs Dunn, Brown, Donald, Imrie jun., and other. A liberal supply of cakes, wine and fruit added to” a wee drap o’ the Auld Kirk” was provided for the guests.

The City Bar was one of the most elegant and commodious pubs in the area at that time, situated on the tramway lines on New City Road and occupied an important and enviable position. It was advertised that the bar was a quiet and steady one and there is an entire absence of the rowdy element. Since Mr Imrie disposed of his other premises on West Nile Street,so successfully conducted for a number of years in the City Bar.

The internal fittings had been renewed after the alterations with a modern fashion. To the left a long range of counter, solid mahogany, extended the whole length of the bar, and, as a background, a uniform row of barrels on which were displayed the various blends of whisky and other liquors in stock. The decorative work here, and, indeed, all over the premises, reflects the greatest credit upon Mr John James, of Wellington Street, H S Donald, Rutherglen Road was responsible for the stained glass work which was of high class and beautifully designed. Passing into the large room seated for about forty, further evidence of artistic skill was apparent. The floor was laid with linoleum and the walls decorated with beautiful colonial engravings.

The family department was entered from Abercorn Street which was thoroughly isolated from the main bar. Snugs were available for the gents who wished for a quiet drink. The beer was raised from the cool cellar from a Harris Beer engine. The beer was supplied by Messrs J & J Brown, East Wemyss, Fife. Mr Imrie’s son was learning the mysteries of brewing.

William Imrie continued to serve the locals here until the end of WW1.

There are no records from 1922 to 1934 as to these premises then in 1935 Neil B Rintoul occupied the premises. Mr Rintoul also have a public house at 1042 Argyle Street but gave up the following year to concentrate on the Argyle Street premises. Many will remember publican Mr James Marshall who ran this pub from 1937 to the 1950s. One of the last publicans to have this pub was John Hastie. The pub was demolished in the 1960s.

Do you remember any of the old Pubs on New City Road? If so please leave a comment.