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The Courier
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
The pubs and landlords who were the heart and soul of Dundee's schemes in 1978
These Dundee landlords were pulling pints and calling last orders in the city's scheme pubs in 1978. The faces behind the bar will be familiar to a generation of drinkers. Local pubs have been the lifeblood of Dundee's housing estates for generations. They brought new neighbours and strangers together. Some of the boozers in 1978 included the Charleston Bar, the Claverhouse Bar, the Dolphin Bar in Fintry, the Planet in Lochee and The Rock in Menzieshill. Many of these names can still be found today. Some disappeared through the years. A pint of lager cost 39p in 1978. On tap you would have found the likes of Diamond Heavy, Harp Lager, Guinness, McEwan's Lager, McEwan's Export, Skol Lager and Tennent's Lager. What was your tipple? Pubs were open in Dundee from 11am to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm. They were also open on a Sunday following a change to licensing laws. The Sporting Post produced a weekly feature in 1978 called Mine Host, which gave the public the chance to get to know some of the publicans who were front of house. So who was serving up drinks and conversation at your local? Bill and Zena Wallace were running the Admiral Bar in Camperdown Road. The couple took over the Ardler pub in 1974. Bill ran the pub and Zena was in charge of the food. The menu ranged from pie and chips to a full meal including steak. The décor throughout the lounge and public bar was of a 'seafaring nature'. Even the couple's Labrador puppy was called Nelson. The 'most striking feature' was a ship's mast in the centre of the bar. Lighting was provided by a row of ship's lanterns. The lounge included a stage and room for dancing. The Esplin family had been performing at the Admiral for 13 years. They provided music and dancing. Customers were encouraged to join in at all musical events. Bill said it was the customers themselves who made up the character of the pub. 'Good customers make a good pub,' he said. Tommy Martin was mine host of the Amber Lounge in Lochee High Street. The footballer who played for Dundee, Dundee United, Forfar and Oxford United had turned his hand to a wide variety of careers after hanging up his boots. These included being a driving instructor and clock importer. He ran the adjacent Golden Egg restaurant and opened the pub in 1976. 'Former Dundee United boss Jerry Kerr suggested that I might consider opening up a pub in this development,' said Tommy. 'After some consideration, I realised it was a good idea. 'If you don't try something different, you'll never discover whether you'll be a success. 'The success of this, my latest venture, has been way above my expectations.' Tommy suggested the 'subtly-decorated elegance of the lounge' created the atmosphere of a private club 'where people can relax and feel at ease'. The Amber Lounge offered a comprehensive daily menu of 26 dishes. Top price was £1 for sirloin steak. Drinks were 25p during 6.30pm to 7.30pm happy hour. It was an effort to attract customers earlier. John McKenzie was serving at the Balmore Bar in Dura Street. He had been there since 1977. John started working in the licensed trade in 1942, before working for 20 years at the Dundee Caledon shipyard as a stager. He left in 1968 and returned to bar work at the Nine Maidens and the Downfield Hotel before becoming a manager with Scottish and Newcastle. John said the Stobswell boozer was one of the best he had worked at. 'It's basically a man's pub,' he said. 'Somewhere a chap can come for a good pint and a good blether.' The Balmore had just started bar meals in 1978 and John said the main topic of discussion over lunch was Scotland's prospects in the World Cup. The less said about that, the better… The team that had been given an open-top bus tour before they even left, came home from Argentina to an empty airport after a debacle of a tournament. Mine host at the Golden Pheasant in Ardler was John Conacher. The advertising feature described the boozer as 'friendly, lively and novel'. John and his wife Irene were relative newcomers to the licenced trade. The couple spent seven years in South Africa where John worked in the building trade. 'The weather was great,' he said. 'There were many good things about the way of life out there. 'We left because of the political situation – and, after all, there's no place like home.' They returned to Dundee and took over the Glengarry in August 1977. Customers like to see the same faces and good service,' Dundee pub landlord Jeff Stewart. It was John's brother, George, who suggested they start in pub management. George was manager of The Gaiety. They stayed three months at the Glengarry before moving to the Golden Pheasant. The pub was known for its skittle alley in the basement in the 1960s. Darts was now the main sport played in the pub. The Lochee Darts Associated hosted many events in the basement. A slimming club also used the lounge for afternoon exercise sessions. Jeff Stewart was landlord at The Three Barrels in Strathmartine Road. Jeff left Harris Academy and got a job in a lemonade factory, taking the tops off empty bottles, before serving his apprenticeship as an oil tanker navigator. He gave up the sea after failing an eye test. Despite having no family background in the licensed trade, he gained experience in several pubs, including the Occidental where he met his wife, Geraldine. Scottish and Newcastle loaned him £9,000 to buy the Hilltown boozer in 1967. Meals were served at lunchtime and in the evening. Jeff was a football fan and he travelled to Argentina in a pair of Stewart tartan trousers in June 1978 to watch Scotland's ill-fated World Cup campaign. It was a busy summer. A games room was built and the public bar was extended in July 1978. Two dart boards with electronic scoreboards and 10 tables for dominoes were added. A patio opened where you could enjoy a drink in good weather. Jeff's philosophy on running a good pub revolved around his staff. 'Customers like to see the same faces and good service,' he said. 'To get this you need happy and reliable staff.' There were so many pubs to visit in 1978. So which scheme boozer would you have decided to go to?
The Courier
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
These landlords were behind the bar at Dundee pubs in 1978 - how many do you remember?
Meet the Dundee pub landlords who were pulling pints in 1978. The boozers and the faces behind the bar will be familiar to a generation of drinkers. The pub scene in Dundee was thriving during the decade that gave us Blondie, Dire Straits, Led Zeppelin, Queen, the Sex Pistols and Thin Lizzy. Competition was fierce in Dundee in 1978. Some of the famous names included The Broadway Bar, The George, The Galleon Bar, The Ivanhoe Bar, The Robin Hood Bar, The Scout Bar and The Three Barrels. A pint of lager would cost 39p. On tap in 1978 you would have found Belhaven Heavy, Diamond Heavy, Harp Lager, McEwan's Lager, McEwan's Export, Skol Lager and Tennent's Lager. Nips included Otard Cognac, Vulcan Brandy and White Horse Whisky. Pubs were open in Dundee from 11am to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm. They were also open on a Sunday following a change to licensing laws. The Sporting Post produced a weekly feature in 1978 called Mine Host, which gave the public the chance to get to know some of the publicans. There was even a competition giving 15 readers the chance to win a case of Skol Lager by placing your favourite eight TV shows of 1978 in order of preference. So jump in the Chevrolet Blazer and head back to 1978 to meet the landlords who were serving up drinks and calling last orders in boozers across the city. Mine host of the Arctic Bar at New Inn Entry was Dundonian John Gilpin. The Sporting Post said the Arctic Bar had 'always been a popular meeting place for husbands who have been dragged into town to help with the shopping'. 'We like to think that we offer a good pint with pleasant service and apart from the drink, we rely on conversation as the main entertainment,' said John. 'In fact, we did at one point put in taped music – but nobody could hear it above the noise of everyone speaking.' There was also a 'cosy lounge' which attracted 'wives as well as husbands'. John lived in Ellengowan Drive and was treasurer of the St Francis Sporting Club. Frank Hendry was publican of the Commonwealth Bar in Victoria Road. He took over the premises in 1974 when it was known as The Oddfellows Bar. Frank was a founder member of St Francis Boxing Club. He went on to manage the British boxing team at the 1974 Commonwealth Games. Choosing a new name for his pub was no problem and Dundee captain Tommy Gemmell and Rangers striker Derek Johnstone attended the opening. The lounge was decorated with pictures of sports stars and framed jerseys which had been worn by some of the world's greatest footballers, including Eusebio. It was the perfect place to watch games during the 1978 World Cup. 'Big and bearded and pipe-smoking' Alan Doyle was publican at the Diving Bell Bar and Porthole Lounge in King Street. He thought the name would be perfect, having worked as a diver for 20 years. The pub used to be called the Blair Bar. The Mine Host feature said the pub felt like 'a sailor's homecoming' and was 'cosy and tastefully decorated' with a 'gleaming brass porthole' behind the bar. It was from a freighter that sank just off the coast of Auchmithie. There was live music in the Porthole Lounge every evening. Ray Martin was mine host of the Glass Bucket Lounge in St Andrews Street. He was a process engraver before training with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. The Dundee United supporter became the landlord in 1976. He replaced Fred Brady who retired. The pub was originally called the King's Bar. Dundee United matchday programmes were displayed in the pub. The Sporting Post said several United first-team players would 'pop in for a soft drink and a chat with their supporters' when they were not training. No. 10 Lounge Eddie Summerton was the publican at No. 10 Lounge in South Tay Street. The pub was a former dentist's and opened in June 1978. The advertising feature said it wouldn't have looked out of place in London's West End and was decorated with a dozen original paintings of Shakespeare characters. Eddie said: 'The idea is to try to provide a different type of place for people to come to for a few quiet drinks. 'After a day's work, couples can come along, enjoy the atmosphere and talk to each other without having to compete with the sounds from a jukebox or any other music.' Nobody wearing denim jeans would be admitted after 7pm. Jonathan Stewart was 24 and the youngest publican in Dundee. After leaving Harris Academy, he trained as a hairdresser. He had a salon in Broughty Ferry before buying the Ladywell Tavern. He had been mine host since the age of 19. His brother was Jeff who was publican at The Three Barrels in Hilltown. The Mine Host feature said: 'Jonathan has a four-point formula for a successful pub – cleanliness, variety, real ale and the serving of quarter gill measures. 'The variety in the Ladywell is shown by the array of more than 50 malt whiskies and over 20 continental lagers.' William Harper was mine host of The Quarter Gill on the corner of Allan Street. It was originally known as the Allan Bar. William was not your average publican, having previously worked as an electrical measurements engineer in Zambia and at a petrol station in Lochee. He took charge in 1975. William said: 'You meet many different types of people and it is interesting and sometimes funny learning about their day to day lives,' A wooden model of an old French sailing ship was a talking point in the pub. Ian Thomson was publican of the Speedwell Bar in the Perth Road. It is better known as Mennie's, after former landlady Isobel Mennie. She was his aunt. He took over the pub when she retired in 1975. 'The clientele is great and I get on well with them all,' he said. 'I've really enjoyed owning my own pub, though it has meant a lot of hard work.' He said he couldn't have made the pub a success without his wife, Connie. Jim Ross was mine host of The Toby Jug in Victoria Street. Jim was manager of Laing's Hotel in Roseangle before taking over in 1977. He would play music tapes brought in by regulars. Pub snacks included 'anything from filled rolls to picked eggs and toasted sandwiches'. The Toby Jug had a football team and two darts teams. 'I'm on show to the customers, with the bar as a stage,' he said. 'If they like what they see, they will come back.' There were so many pubs to visit in 1978. So which boozer would you have decided to go to?
