My Kind Of Town: Do you remember Sinatra’s bar in Dundee?

SINATRA’S Bar in King Street opened 40 years ago and was popular with Dundee revellers for three decades.

Local businessman Ian Hindmarsh’s plan was to provide an “outstandingly comfortable and stylish lounge bar”.

Mr Hindmarsh was on holiday on the Costa Del Sol when he saw a place called Sinatra’s bar and thought it would be a great name for a pub.

The image of Sinatra adorned virtually every wall in the Dundee pub, and there was a choice of cocktails with such titles as My Way and Strangers in the Night.

A two-page advertising feature in The Evening Telegraph in March 1981 said Dundee’s latest city centre bar was in the superstar class.

It read: “The very name ‘Sinatra’ immediately brings to mind a man who has been at the top of his field of entertainment for just about as long as anybody can remember.

“And that is probably because he has more of what is essential to superstardom than most of his rivals.

“Indeed, his rendering of the song which includes the line ‘You either got or you haven’t got style’ is undoubtedly better known than any other version.

“And when it comes to style and class, Dundee’s latest lounge bar, Sinatra’s in King Street, is all set to follow the superstar’s lead.”

The advert made it clear the Dundee pub was not owned by the legendary crooner just in case anyone thought the Chairman of the Board had added to a property portfolio which included real estate on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Palm Springs.

“From the moment you walk in through the main entrance at the bottom of King Street, you have a feeling of being somewhere just that bit out the ordinary,” it said.

“At the top of a flight of stone steps leading up from the street is a large porch, fronted by a magnificent polished wooden door flanked by ornamental trees.”

The advert highlighted the fact that the furthest away you could sit from the distinctive central bar area was only about 20ft, which meant there was “less chance of spillage in the journey from bar to resting place”.

The opening came when there was a record number of licensed premises, with 152 pubs and 112 clubs operating in Dundee.

Established publicans were concerned for their livelihood, which led to the Scottish Licensed Trade Association asking the Scottish Secretary to intervene.

Sinatra’s remained popular for almost three decades before closing in 2011.

Plans were approved in 2016 to turn it into 12 high-end flats. It kept its old tag, though.

The bus stop outside the building is still known by Dundonians as Sinatra’s.

Frank Sinatra never did pop by for a drink in the pub which was named after him.

However, he did perform two shows in Dundee in 1953. Bitten by the golf bug, he was lured across the Atlantic to watch Ben Hogan at the Open at Carnoustie and did a few gigs at the Caird Hall to earn some pocket money.

Fewer than 600 people attended the 6.15pm show, which was organised by Glasgow theatrical agency Chalmers Wood. The venue was originally capable of seating 3,300 people.

He made sure his Dundee fans in the cheap seats were not strangers in the night and invited them to “come down where I can see you”.They took him at his word and invaded the empty 15 shilling seats near the stage.

His two performances in Dundee were backed by Billy Ternent and his Orchestra, who were renowned among professional session players.

The second house at 8.45pm attracted 1,189 fans.

Sinatra was undeterred by the poor turnout and was full of praise for the reception he received, describing the crowd as “wonderfully enthusiastic”.

“That happens in other cities,” he said.

“What really matters is their response and it was wonderful.

“I have a very high opinion of Scottish audiences.”

Despite the onset of a cold and the big arena Sinatra said the acoustics were splendid.