Old Glasgow Pubs.co.uk

[ skip to navigation ]
Old Glasgow Pubs by john gorevan

 

The Pot Still.

154 Hope Street, Glasgow. G2 2TH. Tel: 01413330908.

 

Pot Still

The Pot Still. 1991.

Glasgow born William McCall owned these premises away back in 1868. William died at an early age and left his wife Janet as licence holder and son James to run this popular city center bar. In the 1880s Janet was living with her son James daughter Isabella and young William in Renfrew Street, they were fortunate enough to have help around the house from domestic servant Janet Currie.

Mrs McCall and her son James opened another pub in Govan Road in the 1890s and disposed of it later on. McCall's bar on Hope Street sits on the corner of West Regent Lane, the pub was left to Alexander S Clelland as trustee of the McCall family during the 1930s. Mr Clelland also ran the Hayburn Vaults on Dumbarton Road at this time. Trustee's of the family ran McCall's Bar right up until the late 1960s, the last family member to hold the certificate was Mrs Isobel J L McCall Williams.

McCall's Old

McCall's Bar shortly after alterations in 1971.

The pub was sold to Tennent Caledonian Breweries who made extensive alterations and refurbished the pub which included a lounge bar at the back of the premises in 1971. Manager and manageress Mr & Mrs John Norton ran McCall's for a few years until 1973 when William McClure took over the running of the bar.

In 1981 John Waterston took over and made alterations to the pub and introduced the name Pot Still, with a vast range of over 300 malt whiskies. The Waterston family are still involved in the Scottish Licensed Trade today. With this amount of scotch whisky to choose from many travellers came as far as London to have a nip of one of the best whisky bars in the city of Glasgow. Americans, Japanese, Swedes and Canadians are just a few of the nationalities to be found at the bar counter.

McCall's Bar old1

Another view of McCall's Bar.

The pub had a name change to Cask & Still but was renamed back to The Pot Still.

Today over 500 whiskies from all over the country are stocked in this still famous whisky bar in Glasgow, good home made food is also available at lunch time at very reasonable prices. This is a must for all whisky lovers.

McCalls Bar with John Norton

Manager and Manageress Mr & Mrs John Norton. 1971.

The  Pot Still interior

Interior view of the Pot Still. 1980s.

Pot Still 2007

Pot Still. 2007.

--------------------------------------------------

The owners took over a pub across the road and called it the Cask and Still.

End.

Go to top of page