Something about this 'ordinary' Glasgow pub makes it a gem

On paper, the Gartocher could be like any other ordinary bar in Glasgow. But there is something very special about itS history that makes it something of a gem.

Its original architecture is something entirely apart - the East End boozer dates back to 1937 and was famed for its stunning Art Deco design.

(Image: Archive image. Newsquest.)

It was built on the site of the old Barrowman’s pub, which had been pulled down by the owner William Ralston. He decided to reconstruct the pub when the city council confirmed plans to widen Shettleston Road, and the pub was ‘in the way’.

With such a change came such an opportunity. The site was set back five feet to increase its size, add ladies’ toilets for the first time and serve meals. Its defining features though, were its exterior.

READ MORE: Art Deco wowed Glasgow - and its legacy prevails

The brick façade and stained-glass windows were typical of the Art Deco style, which had sprung up in buildings across Glasgow and beyond.

Beresford (Image: Newsquest)

Taking off in Paris in the 1910s and then spreading to Europe in the 1920s and 30s, Art Deco was more than a style inspiration; it was a movement. It influenced buildings, statues, art, homeware, jewellery and cinema among many others.

It managed to look classic and timeless while keeping up with the modern ‘trends’ of the eras it defined. Think clean, geometric shapes, convex windows, and long ‘streamlined’ lines often built with humble man-made materials such as plastic and glass.

READ MORE: Glasgow’s stunning Art Deco treasures revisited

So many famous buildings and sites have been inspired by the Art Deco movement: the Chrysler building in New York City, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, and the one that arguably started it all – the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris.

And in the ever-changing landscape that is Glasgow, many of the city’s Art Deco buildings have come and gone.

They were built in Glasgow at a time when the industrial city was flooded with crowded tenements; the suave new streamlined designs impressed Glaswegians and added a touch of glamour to something simple like seeing the newest picture at the Lyceum or going to the dancing at Dennistoun Palais.

Lyceum (Image: Archive image. Newsquest.)

Some Art Deco gems remain, standing proud among modern skyscrapers and flash new flats.

Sadly no longer in use as Marks and Spencer, the Sauchiehall Street department store is a striking example, as is the former C&A store.

(Image: Glasgow City Archives)

But one of the most famous examples is the Beresford. A cut above the rest, quite literally, the seven-storey masterpiece is a prime example of the streamline moderne architecture, a branch of Art Deco characterised by its long shapes, windows and

The protected site opened in 1938 and was used as accommodation for guests visiting the city for the Empire Exhibition. At the time, it was the tallest erected building in Glasgow.

What is your favourite?

Beresford (Image: Newsquest)