'Forgotten' Glasgow guides reveal city's best nightspots

Glasgow Times

21-06-2025

Legendary institutions frequently mentioned include La Scala cinema, the Alhambra music hall and the Locarno ballroom.
While nothing beats personal anecdotes from the people who frequented these places, it's still great fun to look through the city guides held within the city archives.
(Image: Newsquest)
Many are clearly targeted at tourists, but a number seem to have been produced for citizens and give detailed insight into the variety of places where the people of Glasgow could go to entertain themselves.
Glasgow Illustrated Guide by George Eyre-Todd, author and historian, was published around 1930.
This guide caught my attention thanks to the level of detail and evocative language Eyre-Todd uses when describing different institutions.
He writes that the Grosvenor restaurant is 'busy with dances and dinners all winter through' and 'rivals the Grand Hotel as a resort of the city's gilded youth."
Meanwhile, the King's Theatre is pronounced the premier theatre in Glasgow thanks to the calibre of actors who appear on its stage as well as its musical comedy and revue performances put on throughout the winter.
Amongst the growing number of 'sumptuous' cinemas in the city he highlights the New Savoy and La Scala as notable for the fine music which accompanies their performances.
(Image: Glasgow City Archives)
My favourite section of the guide, however, has to be the feature on 'Palais de Danse' which highlights the Ritz on Berkeley Street, the Dennistoun Palais de Danse and La Plaza near Eglinton Toll.
(Image: Newsquest)
Indicating changing tastes amongst the dancers, he notes that 'at all of these, dancing is of the fox-trot, one-step and jazz pattern. No reels, strathspeys or country dances."
And if you didn't have a partner to dance with, not to worry - professional dancers were retained at each place and could be relied on to whirl you about for the moderate fee of sixpence per dance.
Glasgow Through a Drinking Glass, another insightful publication, was produced by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1973.
This features an introduction from writer and broadcaster Jack House, who quips that as a former teetotaller passing a pub 'I used to hold my breath because of the smell. Now pubs hold their breath if I pass them."
As well as noting the general improvement in atmosphere of Glasgow pubs since the 1920s, he also gives contextualising details about different drinking establishments.
Rogano's is described as a high-class bar thanks to the cigar cutters attached to every table, while many aspiring stage artists hung out at Lauder's Bar, hoping its proximity to the nearby Pavilion and Theatre Royal might get them some work.
Lauders, June 1930 (Image: Glasgow City Archives)
In total, more than 80 pubs are featured in the guide. Just like Lauder's Bar (now called The Lauders), there are a number of pubs that still exist today.
The Griffin is described as modern and bright with trendy clientele from the nearby King's theatre.
The Saracen Head is also mentioned, although the popularity of the champagne cider, which he describes as a favourite of the locals, seems to have fizzled out.
The legendary Horse Shoe bar is also featured, described as deserving its long-held reputation as 'one of the finest drinking places in the city centre.' As a pun-lover, however, my favourite pub in the guide has to be The Muscular Arms.
(Image: Glasgow City Archives)
Beyond nightlife, there are plenty of guides which cover activities for all to enjoy. Tourist guides from the 1950s list the city's pools, baths, billiard rooms, art galleries, museums and sports grounds.
Visitors are encouraged to visit golf courses outside of the city or to take day trips on the Clyde coast steamers.
There is also a very useful publication named Glasgow Official Guide: Historical, marketing and industrial survey, published in around 1938 and again in 1947. These read almost like handbooks for new citizens, featuring adverts for apartments and providing information on the development of schools and public health in the city.
Bursting with ideas, these guides confirm Glasgow's long-held reputation as both a popular tourist destination and a great place for a night out.