Owner of historic pub speaks of 'big cultural change' in Glasgow

David Dennett, a presenter on Lomond Radio, officially took over Camerons on St George’s road this June. The 47-year-old has a long involvement with Glasgow’s nightlife as both a DJ and karaoke host, as well as performing his own music across the city.

David said that taking ownership of Camerons was the culmination of a lifelong dream.

“I’ve talked about opening my own place since I was 17,” he told the Glasgow Times. “I walked in, and I just fell in love with the place. I thought, ‘this is the one.’”

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Camerons bar on St George's road (Image: Newsquest)

Though Camerons has gone through several name changes over the years, there has been a pub on the site ever since 1872. The building is loaded with stories - as well as mysterious relics of its long forgotten past.

“The history here is brilliant,” said David. “This place has survived as a bar for a long time, in some shape or form.

“I’ve found loads of interesting stuff down in the cellar. There’s three massive safes down there that look at least 100 years old. Big old rusty things. I’d love to know more about them. They look like they’re straight out of the Titanic!”

David Dennett, new owner of Camerons (Image: Newsquest)

David said the bar’s “pride and joy” is a picture of Beatles legend Paul McCartney standing outside, taken by wife Linda in 1970 - a framed copy of which now hangs from the wall.

“People talk about omens and signs,” said David. “The day I signed the documents for this place, it was Paul McCartney’s birthday.”

The picture of Paul McCartney takes pride of place on Camerons wall (Image: Newsquest)

The photo, taken by Linda McCartney in 1970, shows Paul with a 'kerry-oot' in front of Camerons (Image: Newsquest)

The new owner also spoke about his plans for turning Camerons into a “music and comedy venue,” including a twist on the traditional open mic night.

“The comedian Susie McCabe is coming to taste out her Fringe show here,” he said. “And I’ve been quite pally with Judge Jules for years, so I’m going to get him to do a DJ set here next time he’s in Glasgow.

“I’m sick to death of every pub in Glasgow doing an open mic night. I’m determined to do something a wee bit different.

“We’re going to do an ‘Impressors night.’ It’s an open stage where anything goes - gymnastics, card tricks, f***ing anything. I just don’t want loads of guys turning up with acoustic guitars singing about girlfriends that have left them.”

Friendly bartender Lily ready to pull the pints (Image: Newsquest)

Besides many years of working in Glasgow’s bars and clubs - “I spent years hosting events at the Shanghai Shuffle, wearing a kilt in a room full of hen parties… I may as well have just worn the belt!” - David has also worked as a taxi driver in the city.

Drawing on his decades of experience, he said he has noticed several new trends emerge in Glasgow’s nightlife culture.

“There’s a generational change,” he said. “When I was 20, if a cab driver asked me and my pals what we were up to, we’d say: ‘we’re going here, we’re going to meet so and so, gonna do this, gonna do that’ etc.

“By the time I was a taxi driver, when I asked young people their plans, they’d all say: ‘getting full of it, getting mad with it, getting steaming.’

“The drinks became the night out, rather than the by-product of going for a night out. I think that’s what the big cultural change has been.”

Camerons as seen from Carnarvon street, 54 years after Paul McCartney posed in the same spot (Image: Newsquest)

He also thinks that, post-Covid, people have less appetite for staying out late.

“I think people’s attitude to going out and drinking late has changed. People in their 30s and older, they’re not really interested in going out until 3 o’ clock in the morning.

“But if you’re put on a disco in the afternoon, with old school dance tunes, they’re coming to it in droves.”