The Hidden Glasgow Forums

Does anyone have any reminiscences/ horror stories about gay venues in Glasgow over the years? I'm gay and used to go out in Glasgow when I was a lot younger, but then I moved away for many years. When I came back all the places I knew had closed!
Some I used to know:

Club X
Austin's
Vintners
Squires

Does getting chatted up by a pensioner in Revolver the other week count ?

It depends on how embarrassing or horrific it was. Tell!

It wasn't either really, though he did go into a bit of a huff when he realised he wasn't going to get anywhere!

My best story is when I first set foot in gay venue, Austin's in the mid eighties. I was a bit anxious, and walked up and down Hope St for a good while before I went in. As soon as I entered the bar, a drag queen roared over at me, "Obviously a Roman Catholic!" Then she bought me a drink and calmed me down. I was later to learn this was Betty Hutton. I've heard all sorts of off-colour stories about Betty, but I won't hear a word against her.

JumpingAtTheWoodside wrote: "Obviously a Roman Catholic!"

Dexter St Clair perchance?

Betty Hutton used to be well known on the gay scene in Glasgow. I haven't seen her around for quite a few years. Does anyone know if she is still with us?

Wasn't Squires a lesbian bar?

And, come to that, no namecheck for The Muscular Arms?

Wasn't Sylvester's a gay bar?

Any excuse for a photograph....

JohnR wrote:Wasn't Sylvester's a gay bar?

No, a piano bar. And Glasgow's first no-smoking pub too.

That worked well, obviously .

oh aye Betty Hutton

JohnR wrote:Wasn't Sylvester's a gay bar?

Nah! That was Glasgow's first under 18's bar c.1984-1987ish if you looked a day older you had no chance of getting in without proof of age

I had a genuine reason to suppose it was as I once knew the guy who owned it and he told me it was.

Mark N wrote:Does getting chatted up by a pensioner in Revolver the other week count ?

The Banana Man gets everywhere

Any port in a storm.