The Heather Bar.
561 Scotland Street, Glasgow.
This old Glasgow howff dates back to 1877 when James McLauchlan acquired it. The address of the premises was then 157-59 West Scotland Street. As West Scotland Street expanded with new tenement buildings and shop the address changed to 161-63 West Scotland Street. James McLauchlan continued to serve the locals here until 1903.
James Smith then acquired the pub on on 29th June 1903. Mr Smith paid an annual rent of £49. The pub was situated at the corner of Broomhall Street.
The address was changed once again when Kinning Park became part of Glasgow and the whole of West Scotland Street became known as Scotland Street. The name of Broomhall Street also changed and became known as Heather Street, hence the name of the pub.
During the early 1930s John Sutherland was the owner, then Peter Forbes. In 1950 Duncan Campbell Spiers was the new owner. Many will still remember Breata Corr who ran the pub in 1960. By 1973 the pub was closed down.
In the News 1971...
Alcoholic boss spent £350 a week.
When £800 went missing from a Glasgow public house suspicion fell on the new chargehand, who was found to be an alcoholic with a police record. The chargehand had taken the money to London, where he enjoyed a seven-day spending spree in which he got through 3350 before being arrested.
Glasgow Sheriff Court was told this today when John McSherry was jailed for two years. He admitted that between January 25 and February 9 this year, while employed as chargehand in the Heather Bar, 561 Scotland Street, Tradeston, Glasgow, he embezzled £800.
Referring to McSherry's record of four previous convictions for housebreaking, Sheriff T. A. U. Wood described it as extraordinary that he should be given a job as a public house chargehand. The Sheriff remarked, "He must have been living fairly well in London when he spent £350 in a week."
"Very Lucky"
The Sheriff told McSherry "Anyone with a record like this, who is in charge of a public house for two or three weeks and takes £800 would normally go to the High Court. I will send you to prison for two years, and you can think yourself very lucky indeed."
Fiscal William Carmichael said McSherry failed to open the public house on February 10 and the owners were contacted by customers. The £800 was missing and it was discovered that McSherry had done no banking since January 29. Police inquiries revealed he had not been at his lodgings at 8 Swindon Street, Dalmuir, for several days.
£450 Left
On February 17 London police heard about a man had been living in various hotels in the West End of London under different names, and their inquiries led to the arrest of McSherry in the Shaftesbury Hotel. He had £450 left. Solicitor Mr Raymond Bainbriggs said McSherry was 35 and separated from his wife and two children. He earned £20 a week as chargehand.
He had received treatment as an alcoholic, but recovered sufficiently to get a job in a public house in London. He was given a reference which enabled him to get the job in the Heather Bar.
End.
