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Old Glasgow Pubs by john gorevan

 

Welcome to George Square.

6 Pub found.
Clarence Hotel.
Crow Hotel.
James Watt Tavern. 19
Royal Hotel.
Sir John Moore Tavern. 7
Waverley Hotel.

All the fashionable hotels were mainly centered in George Square. The Wellington, Star, Caledonia, Royal Horse, Franklin, James Watt, Sir John Moore, Old Royal Hotel and McDonalds' Private Hotel , the Waverley, Crow, Clarence, Globe, Imperial (which became the L & N.E. Parcel Office), Queen's, Royal and George, while at no. 16 there was a somewhat unpretentious hostel named "The Noddy Drivers' Eating House."

When the bank of Scotland was being erected, part of the Crow was taken down, but the landlord, with a petty wit, put up a placard, "A wing of the Crow still open." On either side of the entrance was a large zinc plate, with a crow with outspread wings. The George stood at the south east corner of the square which became part of the Municipal Buildings, and the soubriquet of the proprietor, Mr MacLachlan, was Toddy Mixture, from his well-known advertisement.

In June, 1877, Saint Ninian's Episcopal Church was consecrated, and it was stated in the Vestry Record That "The whole congregation present adjourned to the George Hotel after the Consecration Service, where lunch was served and many witty and happy speeches were made."

The Clarence. Miss Cranston ( now Mrs Cochrane), of tearoom fame, was born in the "Clarence," and is now resident in the N.B. Railway Hotel, the old Queen's. Lord Young, when on circuit, lived at the Queen's, and as custom was, dined with the Magistrates there. It was a painfully solemn function, and there was only one toast, The Queen. This given, he retired, and the youngest member of the bar indulged in high jinks. One sprightly counsel, now the esteemed Sheriff of a principal county, offered to race any of his legal brethren round the table, with someone on his back. Suiting the action to the word he picked up a prominent Bailie, weighing at least 14 stones, and ran with him twice round the table. Except the old Queen's, the hostels in the Square.

End.

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