My heart skipped a beat today when I learned that an old Glasgow Pub favourite, which has been closed for a number of years, is due to open it's doors once again over the summer. However, my hopes were dashed when I soon discovered that it was opening but just not quite in the manner that I'd hoped for.
The Mitre Bar in Merchant City first opened in 1927 and served generations of thirsty Glaswegians until the key was finally put in the door for the last time around a decade ago. The pub now lies a graffitied mess in a street that has seen better days. It's probably no different from the countless thousands of other pubs around the country that have had to pull their last pint and bid their farewells as they go to the wall.
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| the bar at night 1995 |
However, news that reached me today seemed to indicate that The Mitre Bar was re-opening. Hurrah, I thought as the one thing Glasgow city centre does need is more quality drinking establishments that serve up a wide selection of nice, refreshing beer.
Alas, I was to be disappointed. It is opening but only as an exhibit in the £75 million Riverside Transport Museum on the Clyde. The entire pub; fixtures, fittings, lock, stock and beer barrel has been removed and relocated to become part of the Museum's Flagship exhibit - a typical Glasgow High St from the early twentieth century complete with a grocery store, butcher, cobbler and even The Rendevous Cafe from Glasgow's Duke St that has also been given the Mitre treatment and been moved brick by brick to the museum.
At the moment I don't know whether The Mitre Bar will be a working exhibit with real people pulling real pints. That would be quite cool, especially if some of the beers were made according to the styles of the period.
However, the news also filled me with a tinge of melancholy. Are we witnessing the future for pubs? Given the rate of pub closures, in years to come will the only places where we can experience a proper nice traditional pub is in a museum as an exhibition piece?
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i remember the mitre very well. it was a nice pub. its a bit of a shame really that it is now a museum exhibit. hope it is a working pub, though at the new transport museum
ReplyDeleteHi there, imagine going into the museum with your kids and saying "i used to drink in here". Any news on the Fox and hound next door.
ReplyDeleteI spent the day filming in the Mitre today at the new museum - sad to say it's not a working pub, it's a very scaled down bar to walk in. All the new shops have audio visual presentations on screen panels, we were in acting out pub scenes which will be shown as you walk round it. It doesn't really capture the spirit of the old bar at all, it's all very new feeling and very few of the fixtures have made it across to the recreation. The cafe across the road is a similar scenario, about two or three booths with their original glass in them are all that make up the mock shop.
ReplyDelete@anonymous
ReplyDeleteThat's sad to hear about it not being a working pub and it not capturing the spirit and essence of the old Mitre bar. I was hoping that it would be as I remembered it. Thanks for the info mr anon. How is the transport museum looking from the inside? Nearly finished?
Anyone remember the Friday & Saturday night discos around 1980 in the Mitre? They were great nights!!
ReplyDelete@anon
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I was only 13 years old in 1980 but i do remember some great nights spent in the Mitre around 1985/86 before heading up to Glasgow Tech.
Remember the Mitre well - John the Barman, Eddie and Ben, the Desert Rat, great wee pub where I used to hide round the corner (under age) having a pint and chuckin darts!
ReplyDeleteThink a fella named Graham took it over around 1976-77 and brought in a whole heap of top shelf spirits no-one had heard of. Also seem to remembe ra guitarist called John who used to play upstairs on Friday or Saturdays. I live in Tasmania now but remeber the pub fondly. Can anyone remeber the name of the wee pub next door?