Andrew McPherson.
218 Crookston Street, Glasgow, and The Royal George Hotel, Rothesay.
Mr Andrew MacPherson. 1888.
Andrew MacPherson a native of Kilbirnie, his grandfather coming from Badenoch settled there in the early 1800s. In 1857 Andrew and his father Charles took over a pub at 218 Crookston Street, the street then had seven pubs and a licensed grocers shop. There was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen in the Crookston Street pub except perhaps a whisky barrel showing all the signs of old age. It lies straight across the counter and contained the genuine and pure Islay whisky from Ramsay's distillery. Andrew stocked some of the best liquors in the area, his favourite being Long John’s Dew of Ben Nevis. They also stocked high class ports, sherries, Moet & Chandon’s champagne, Moselles, Hock and clarets, rums, brandies and gins, Reid’s, Bass and Allsopp's beers.
In 1888 Andrew took over the Royal George Hotel in Millport, Millport then was as popular as it is today. For recreation purposes Mr MacPherson had two bowling greens on the grounds of the hotel, a golf course was near by, annual subscription 10s 6d, monthly 5s, weekly 2s 6d, daily 1s the ladies annual subscription was 2s 6d. One could get a coach ride around the island for one shilling. A weekly charge at the hotel with meals would set you back £2.2 shillings, from Saturday to Monday a charge of 15 shillings would secure you a good room and a slap up meal.
The Royal George Hotel in Millport had magnificent views, Eastwards, the Ayrshire coast, Westwards the mighty hills of Arran and Southwards the open sea. Roads were opened up to take you right round the Island, a bus ride of ten miles cost one shilling.
Crookston Street had a name change, in the 1930s it was called Carnoustie Street.
End.
