The oldest pub in town is well loved
The Old Swan is the oldest Pub in Paisley, but it’s not really known for its age and its history.
It is known for the live music that happens there every week. So how did it become the music venue that it is today?
It goes back 20 years when Lorraine Corrigan worked as an engraver for McLeans the Engravers, in George Place.
Her sister-in-law at the time, Shona, was a charge hand at the pub and offered Lorraine a couple of shifts just to help her out and it lasted two years.
Lorraine liked meeting people and liked this new environment she found herself in.
An opportunity came up when the owners wanted to move from managing pubs to having tenants.
Lorraine had very little money, but the company saw she had the passion and hard work ethic to make a go of running the bar.
Going from engraver to bar owner happened so quickly and there was work to be done to sort out the clientele.
Lorraine remembers refusing to serve some that were too drunk and getting a pint glass thrown at her.
She said: “It was a bit of a free for all. It took a while, but slowly the new regular customers who started to come in to The Swan saw a difference and they liked it.”
Local musicians, such as Alan
McLure, Alan McAulay and Craig Mackie, suggested trying live music, so Waterloo Sunset, Underwood Lane and Blind Panik started to play there regularly.
Lorraine’s daughter, Jackie McCaig, worked at Dusty Millers, in Causeyside Street, and was asked to help out.
She ended up hanging around and ten years ago her mum asked her to take over.
Looking back, Jackie is most proud of Winning Best Bar None Gold Awards and the People’s Choice Awards.
The latter was emotional and important to Jackie because the regulars supported the pub.
Manager Euan Tosh started in 2003 when he was a student at Paisley
University studying media. The JobCentre sent him along to get an interview for part time work while he was still studying.
He was interviewed by Lorraine, who chatted with him for ten minutes and told him to start on the Monday.
Paul Corrigan was also studying at Paisley University and working at the Students Union.
He was asked to help out at The Swan and he never left.
Looking back, Paul is most proud of the fact that the pub is at the heart of the community.
The Old Swan has six live events every week. They have raised thousands of pounds for charity.
The staff organise pensioners’ parties and children’s parties, as well as working with Paisley events, such as The Spree, Maggie’s Day and Paisley Music Week.
Their all-day festivals are legendary.