Tennent Caledonian Breweries

The Nairn.

May 14, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

16 Woodhill Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. G64 1JL. Tel: 0141 762 2262.

image of the Nairn Bar Woodhill Road — The Nairn. 1991

Opened in 1965 The Nairn was built to cater for weddings and functions in the area. It was equipped with three bars a function room and a large kitchen. Scandinavian decor was a feature of the lounge bar, a wall separated it from a small cocktail bar in broken wrought iron work with artificial climbing plants.

The ceiling of the cocktail bar was railed into sections by narrow black oak beams, the walls were panelled in elm intersected with ebony strip wood. The bar front was of elm wood with a black speckled bar counter.

Image of the main bar and cocktail bar in the Nairn Bar 1965 — Interior view of the main bar. 1965.

The attractive public bar which also has lounge cocktail bars and a large function room which can accommodate 150 people.

The walls were decorated with prints of vintage cars, the light fittings suspended from the ceiling were replicas of old oil lamps. On the upper floor was the function room with a brides room for weddings.

There was also a small stage at the end of the room. Adjacent to this was the large kitchen. Another feature of the Nairn was the stereophonic music system which was wired throughout the whole building.

Image of the cocktail bar at the Nairn 1965 — The Cocktail Bar at the Nairn. 1965.

The Nairn was owned by the West of Scotland Taverns part of J & R Tennent group and managed by John Middleton.

Image of manager of the Nairn John Middleton. 1965 — Mr John Middleton, manager of the Nairn. 1965.

Update 2008…

Passing through Auchinairn Road and noticed that the old Nairn bar has a new name “The Campsie.” Named after the Campsie hills which can be seen from this area. The Campsie still has the 1960s feel to it. This pub has always looked like a function suite than a pub, just the way they the owners intended it to be in 1965.

The Campsie bar sign 2008 — The Campsie sign in need of a new one. 2008.

Update 2010…

Image of the Campsie Woodhill Road 2010 — The Campsie. 2010.

The last time I seen this popular bar a new sign was needed above the door. Indeed they must have read this page, even though it took them two years to do it.

Update 2015…

Image of the Campsie bar Woodhill Road 2015 — The Campsie. 2015.

Again the last time I passed The Campsie bar it had a new sign and this time a sign and a different colour too. The interior has not changed that much since the 1960s, this is not a negative but a good thing that the owners have kept it so well.

Do you have any memories of this 1960s lounge bar? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Warsteiner.

March 27, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

59 Cambridge Street, Glasgow. G3 6QX. Tel: 0141 230 3248.

Warsteiner. 1991.

This popular Cambridge Street pub opened in 1966 built by Tennent Caledonian Breweries as the Waldorf. This busy pub occupied the site of a new multi storey office block near to Sauchiehall Street.

Thomas George Dick was licensee and manager Mr Jim F Claven was assisted by his wife Margaret D Claven. Other members of the family Ronnie and Helen Claven worked from time to time in the bar. Jim and Margaret and family immigrated in 1968 for a new life in Australia. Jim and Margaret once managed the Frying Pan Bar near Glasgow University.

Manager of the Waldorf Mr Jim F Claven and his wife Margaret D Claven . 1966.

In 1970 a new feature in Tennent’s pubs was the Ploughman’s Lunch, crusty bread and Scottish cheese, pickles, etc. was to be served in Lauder’s, Sauchiehall Street, The Kind Man’s, Pollokshaws Road, The Fotheringay, Nithsdale Road, The Horse Shoe Bar, Drury Street and the Waldorf, Cambridge Street.

Interior view of the Waldorf. 1966.

The Waldorf. 2008. This was the end of the Waldorf Bar.

The Cambridge. 2011.

To read the original Cambridge Bar click here.

Gulliver’s. 2016.

It seems that this 1960s pub changes its name every couple of years.

Update…2019.

It’s now called Maracas Cafe, a South American eatery.

Do you remember this 1960s Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Umbrella. Cactus. The Drayman’s Arms.

March 26, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

3 Dalmarnock Road, 13 Bridgeton Cross, Glasgow. G40. Closed.

Exterior view of The Umbrella Bar, Bridgeton Cross, 1991 — The Umbrella Bar, 1991.

Umbrella Bar. 1991.

This old Bridgeton landmark has been here since 1875. The owner William Hillcoat owned some of the best established pub in the city of Glasgow including premises on the Broomielaw, Anderston Quay, Trongate, Stockwell Street, Port Dundas Road and Pollokshaws Road.

One of the largest advertising mirrors in Glasgow hung on one of the walls in Hillcoat’s Bar, the cellars held 50 hogsheads of Younger’s and McEwan’s beers.

When William Hillcoat died his brother Archibald took over the running of the business, Archibald died shortly afterwards after a game of golf. The pubs were taken over by his nephew Robert Hutchison who during the First World War spent time in the army fighting in Egypt, as a result of him in the forces George Burden took over the establishments.

Interior view of the main bar in the Cactus Bar Bridgeton Cross 1962. — Main Bar in the Cactus, 1962.

In the 1930s the Graham family took over the pub at Bridgeton Cross then the Reilly’s before Teacher’s took over in 1951.

In 1962 Tennent Caledonian Breweries refurbished the premises and changed the name to The Cactus and Colorado, with a South American Aztec theme.

Interior view of the Cactus main Bar Bridgeton Cross 1962 — Cactus Main Bar, 1962.

Interior view of the Colorado lounge, Bridgeton Cross, 1962 — Colorado lounge, 1962.

Interior view of the Colorado lounge 1962 — Colorado lounge, 1962.

Over the years the licence fell into the hands of many publicans. The pub got a bad name as being a stab inn, as many fights and drug dealing went on within the walls of this old establishment, the Hillcoat family would be turning in their graves as to what happened to their Bridgeton pub. The pub over the years has been known as Hillcoat’s, Teacher’s, the Brig, The Cactus and Colorado, the Umbrella and Drayman’s Arms which closed down a few years ago and is still closed today.

Exterior view of the Drayman's Arms, Bridgeton Cross, 2005. — The Drayman’s Arms, August 2005.

Image of Mr M Armstrong, United Caledonian Breweries 1962 — Mr M Armstrong, 1962.

Mr Armstrong was the development Director of United Caledonian Breweries.

Image of Mr G R Milne interior design consultant for UCB 1962 — Mr G R Milne, 1962.

Mr Milne was the interior design consultant for United Caledonian Breweries.

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

END.

Danny Macs

January 8, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

1325 Duke Street, Glasgow. G31 5PN. Demolished.

Image of Danny Macs Duke Street, Glasgow 1991 — Danny Macs. 1991.

Named after the owner Daniel McGrain of Celtic F.C. fame.

Image of Alf Daniels at the opening of the Pippin Duke Street 1965 — Alf Daniels. 1965.

At the opening of the Pippin in 1965.

Members of Tennent Caledonian Breweries at the opening of the Pippin. 1965. left to right R Baxter, Glasgow Sales Manager, D H Scott, Managed houses Director, A Anderson, West Regional Sales Manager and Alf Daniels, Manager.

Originally known as the Pippin and opened by Tennent Caledonian Breweries in the summer of 1965. The interior consisted of the main public bar on ground level and a comfortable lounge on the upper level, the decor was finished in red cedar wood. Manager Alf Daniels was well known in the area having been invested with the chain of office of the Provost of Parkhead by the Lady Provost of the city, Mrs William Gray.

Group image with Alf Daniels 1972 — Alf Daniels. 1972.

Left to right Alf Daniels, Mrs Gray and David Aitken, controller for Tennent Caledonian Breweries.

The photograph above was taken on the occasion that more than 450 games, books, trucks and dolls were collected by staff and customers of the Pippin over three months and distributed among Glasgow’s less fortunate children at Belvidere Hospital, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and the Glasgow Welfare Dept.

In the NEWS 1972…

Image of nurses receiving toys from the Pippin Duke Street in 1972 — Nurses. 1972.

The Lady Provost, Mrs Gray (right), hands over toys for Belvidere Hospital to Nurse Margaret McAuley, five year old Diane Bell, and Nurse Patricia Duffy (left to right). Diane’s mother was a nurse at the hospital. 1972.

Pub gives toys for Children.

Hundreds of toys gathered by a Glasgow pub were handed over for city children today. More than 450 games, books, trucks and dolls were collected by the staff and customers of the Pippin, Duke Street, Parkhead, over the last three months.

And today the Lady Provost, Mrs William Gray, received the toys and presented them to Belvidere Hospital, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Glasgow Corporation’s Welfare Department, and mentally handicapped children.

Mr Alf Daniel, manager of the Pippin, said, “We were quite delighted at the number of toys we were able to hand over. Everyone did extremely well.” Most of the toys were bought as a result of various cash-raising ventures while others were made by customers and their friends.

Robert Skelton took over the licence in 1971.

Update 2005…

Image of The Pippin Duke Street, Glasgow 2005 — Pippin. 2005.

Image of The Pippin Duke Street 2005 — Pippin. 2005.

Update 2007…

The Pippin will soon be demolished to make way for a new tenement of flats. 2007.

The Pippin was demolished and a block of flats was erected in its place.

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

Caley Bar.

January 2, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

47 Caledonia Road corner of 370 Crown Street, Glasgow. G5. Demolished.

The Caley Bar, image taken from Caledonia Road looking up Crown Street. Thanks to Norrie McNamee.

There has been a public house on this site since 1859. The first licensee was spirit merchant Robert McCormick. He lived with his wife and family at nearby 287 Crown Street. Mr McCormick traded from here until 1872.

The next licensee was George Duncan, a wine & spirit merchant from Caledonia Road (Caley Road). 1873 to 1889.

George Fisher was next on the list of licensees 1889 to 1891.

Over the years many spirit dealers have come and gone including James Dunn 1892-1904, James paid an annul rent of £80.

William Hunter from 1905 to 1927.

William Davidson from 1927 to 1933.

And one of the most famous publicans was Thomas (Tommy) Milligan. Tommy Milligan was not just a great publican he was also a Champion Boxer. Tommy Milligan b02/03/1904 d17/12/1970, was born in Shieldmuir, Wishaw. He was the Scottish Professional Welter/middleweight boxer of the 1920s, who won the Scottish Area welterweight title, the British Empire welterweight title, European boxing British middleweight title.

Many of his fans frequented the pub which was known by the locals as Milligan’s Bar.

Young Thomas (Tommy) Milligan.

Tommy opened another pub at 236 Dalmarnock Road, The Gushet House at the corner of 123 Old Dalmarnock Road.

The Gushet House, corner of Dalmarnock and Old Dalmarnock Road. Thanks to Gordon Adams for the image.

After Tommy Milligan, James G Angus took over on behalf of the West of Scotland Taverns Ltd. He was also licensee of pubs at 382 Argyle Street (the Kendal), 641 London Road (the Station Bar) and 980 London Road (the Wee Ship).

In 1969 George Laird was licensee on behalf of Tennent Caledonian Breweries Ltd.

Do you remember this old east end local? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Curlers Tavern

January 2, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

256-260 Byres Road, Glasgow. G12 8SH. Tel: 0141 341 0737. Curlers Tavern website.

Curlers Tavern. 1991.

Believe it or not this very old public house has quite a few name changes over the years, including; “The Curlers”, “The Curlers Tavern”, “Curlers”, “The Curlers Rest” and “Sinclair’s Tavern.”

This is one of around ten pubs in Glasgow that claim to be the oldest in the city. I have never seen any evidence of this as being the oldest however it is one of the oldest in the west end of the city.

In 1858 the owner of the tavern was Mr James Sinclair he was also a coach hirer and manufacturer, when James died his wife took over the business. James Kay took over the licence soon afterwards, Mr Kay was born in Maryhill in 1838, he was married to Margaret and had a large family of seven daughters all living in Ruthven Street.

When John Green took over the pub in 1910 the rent for the premises was £55.00 per year. It stayed in the Green family for 60 years and was sold in 1970 for £160,000. Eric Green was the last of the Green family to own the pub.

Curlers. 1980s.

Curlers was bought by Tennents Caledonian Breweries in the summer of 1970, the interior was refurbished in 1972. The manager Vincent Paterson controlled staff of around 40.

According to local folklore, the Curlers Tavern was opened in the seventeenth century as a coffee house. Later a licensed bar was started. It is said that Charles II called in for a refreshment and, discovered that the licence did not permit Sunday opening, granted a special Royal Charter exempting it from the Scottish licensing laws. However there is no record of this charter or any other evidence of this story.

The public house took it’s name from the fact that a local curling pond which was in use until the end of the 19th century.

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