Glasgow’s very own ‘ Nile’ has colourful past

I HAVE recently returned from a holiday to Egypt which involved a trip up the River Nile.

It was an amazing experience and got me thinking about all the times I have ventured along Glasgow’s ‘ Nile’ – West Nile Street.

While this ‘ Nile’ is ever- so- slightly colder than the one in Egypt, it is still full of character and history.

Let’s take a look at some incredible pictures of West Nile Street over the years.

West Nile Street has been the home to many of Glasgow’s most loved pubs and bars over the years, with the Muscular Arms, Alfredo’s, the Nile and the Royalty among those that used to occupy the area.

A local favourite was The Iron Horse – an historic drinking spot dating back to 1872.

In the old days, it was known as the Empire Bar for its relationship with the nearby theatre of the same name.

As well as providing theatregoers with a regular spot to enjoy a tipple, the pub served the theatre’s star acts, including Frank Sinatra.

In later years, it was a popular meeting point for the Tartan Army – the die- hard fans of Scotland’s football team.

It was a sad day in 2020 when the pub closed its doors for the final time to make way for a £ 30million hotel.

Whenever a famous pop star or rock icon arrives in town, we are used to seeing their adoring fans gather in their excitement to catch a glimpse of them outside the concert venue or the hotel they’re staying at.

So much so, that we can almost feel the fan frenzy in the air as global superstar Taylor Swift arrives in Scotland next month.

On an ordinary day in October 1964, West Nile Street became flooded by the original music fans who make an army of Swifties seem lowkey.

Beatlemania was well and truly in full flow in the city centre as the Fab Four were set to perform at the Odeon, on nearby Renfield Street.

In fact, things got so intense that mounted police had to gather in an attempt to control the crowd.

Gone are the days when we travelled around the city centre by horse and cart but in the old days, like here in this image taken in the 1940s, trace horses would line West Nile Street and others in the city, waiting to be used for transport.