St. George's Bar and Restaurant.
316 St. George's Road, Glasgow.
Interior view of the St George's Bar with barman Alexander Strang. 1972.
In the News 1972...
After the blaze... Bar redecorated at a hot pace!
Glasgow's only lounge bar run by the Scottish Co-operative Retail Society reopened tonight, exactly two months after being damaged by fire.
The Co-op has trading on St George's Road since 1889.
STV personality Bill Tennent will be there to mark the occasion at around 7.30 and there should be some live entertainment to make things go with a swing.
Two months ago the day the lounge bar in St. George's Restaurant at 316 St George's Road, opposite the Metropole, was badly damaged by fire, and manager Mr Charles McQuillan and a team from the SCWS contractors had been hard at work to make the new bar.
The result is a bright and very up-to-date interior, extended to provide extra space. Special new fire precautionary ceiling tiles made of metal and finished in white have been installed. New panelling in cedar and knotted pine replaces the former dark panelling, and purple-patterned wallpaper blends nicely with other walls finished in plain orange.
With white woodwork and a new shortened bar counter and mirrored gantry, the effect is very pleasant. To complete it, a new pale-olive carpet has been put down, and all the seating is black upholstered benches. Circular woodgrain pedestal lighting illuminates the lounge.
The downstairs restaurant and bar, unaffected by the fire, provide an excellent venue for local business men to have a good a la carte lunch for only 35p, and high teas and dinners are also served.
The function room of the St George is popular for weddings, dinner dances, and other social occasions and business receptions are catered for during the day too. Manager Mr McQuillan trained with the society and for 11 years supplies at the old Grand Hotel in Sauchiehall Street before moving to the St Mungo Halls with the UCBS.
From there he came to manage the restaurant. "Most of the staff have been with me "and regular patrons will be pleased to know that Alex Strang, popular chargehand in the lounge will be there as usual."
In spite of the recent closure of the Metropole Theatre, Mr McQuillan looks forward to increasing business in the next few years when the redevelopment of the St George's Cross area will be complete.
End.
