Eachdraidh
Our Story & History
THERE WAS ONCE A TIME BEFORE THE PARK BAR......
Back in 1867, the site where The Park Bar now sits was empty. The West End of Glasgow and Finnieston had not yet become the bustling areas of the city they are today. Nearby, Kelvingrove Park was already well established as a refuge for city residents seeking a break from the harsh conditions of industrial life.
By 1879, the site had become a Wine and Spirits Merchant run by John Chisholm. Glasgow’s alcohol trade was booming at the time, with blended whisky growing in popularity alongside traditional malts. Shops like Chisholm’s typically stocked everything from affordable everyday drams and gin to imported wines and aged spirits, serving a broad mix of customers from across the city.
In 1887, Thomas Russell applied for – and was granted – a Public House licence. Nearly 140 years on, The Park Bar still stands on the very same spot. At the time, shipbuilding on the Clyde was in full swing, and The Park Bar would have been bustling with riveters, platers and boilermakers finishing their shifts on the Clydeside. Many of those early patrons would have played a part in building vessels such as the SS Britannia, launched in the same year the premises was first licensed.
GAELS IN GLASGOW.....
During this period, many Gaels from the Highlands and Islands travelled to Glasgow in search of work in the city’s shipyards and factories. They worked hard to preserve their Gàidhlig language, identity and culture, with community gatherings playing a vital role in maintaining those bonds. One key meeting point was the area beneath the bridge at Glasgow Central Station, known locally as Hielanman’s Umbrella, where Gaels would congregate to speak Gaelic and exchange news. Social events such as ceilidhs and island society dances were a lifeline. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that these urban Gaels found a more permanent place to gather and celebrate their culture in a social setting – in the form of The Park Bar.
THE TERRY FERGUSON ERA: A HOME FROM HOME......
From the 1960s onward, under the stewardship of Terry Ferguson, The Park Bar became one of Glasgow’s great West Coast institutions, shaped by the music, language and people of the Hebrides and the Highlands – a gathering place where the spirit and culture of the West Coast were part of everyday life.
In the late 1960s, the music of Lewis singer Donald MacRae didn’t just entertain – it helped define the bar’s early Gaelic era, shaping the atmosphere and cementing The Park Bar’s reputation as one of Glasgow’s most important gathering places for Gaels. Its popularity grew to the point that people joked “someone would have to die and gift their spot to you before you’d get a seat.”
For decades, Gaels, Highlanders and Islanders could walk into The Park Bar any day of the week and expect to see a familiar face – a sentiment that continues to this day.
THE NINA STEELE ERA: TRADITIONS DEEPEN......
After 36 remarkable years, Terry passed the torch to Nina Steele of South Uist, who had worked in the bar since her early twenties alongside her sister Winnie. As owner, Nina guided The Park Bar through a new chapter while maintaining and strengthening its Highland and Island heart.She brought her own golden rules – good craic, good music, and keep the guests well-watered – principles that still shape the bar today. Nina supported generations of young Gaels, Highlanders and Islanders as they settled into new lives in the city, a tradition that continues with many of our staff fluent in Gaelic and hailing from communities across the Gàidhealtachd.
THE MUSIC: A STAGE LIKE NO OTHER......
The Park Bar’s ceilidh-corner stage has long been a proving ground for traditional musicians. Nina’s famous rule, “no box, no band”, became part of Park Bar folklore, and many artists who played this small but mighty stage went on to appear at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Glastonbury, Edinburgh Castle, the OVO Hydro and Carnegie Hall in New York.Playing The Park Bar remains a rite of passage. Over the years, iconic Hebridean and Highland bands such as Skipinnish, Skerryvore, Trail West, Mànran and Tide Lines have taken to our stage, carrying the spirit of the Highlands and Islands to audiences across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. We’re honoured that so many of these musicians still return to the bar that has been an important part of their journey.Acclaimed contemporary acts such as Sian, Talisk and Valtos have also featured at recent pop-up events, ensuring that The Park Bar’s living musical tradition continues to grow and evolve while staying true to its roots.
COMMUNITY, CULTURE & CONTINUITY......
Supporting Gàidhlig culture and the Gael community has always been at the heart of The Park Bar.
From supporting island society dances to charity nights for causes like the RNLI, the bar continues the traditions that have shaped it for generations.
We proudly support football and shinty teams across Scotland and welcome Mòd performers year after year – with our ceilidh-corner stage arguably hosting more Gold Medallists than anywhere else in the world.And of course, there’s the legendary annual World Pipe Band Championships afterparty – a night that has become part of Glasgow folklore.
A NEW CHAPTER: GARY & DEIRDRE CURLEY - FROM SKYE TO GLASGOW......
After an incredible three decades, Nina handed over the keys to Deirdre and Gary Curley, former owners of the award-winning Sligachan Hotel and Seumas’ Bar on the Isle of Skye.
On Skye, their venues became cultural hubs in their own right, hosting some of Scotland’s leading traditional musicians and running packed ceilidhs and live trad sessions three nights a week. They also collaborated with organisations such as SEALL, one of Scotland’s foremost rural arts promoters, on events including the Small Halls Festival, which brings world-class Celtic and folk musicians to intimate community stages. From the outset, Gary and Deirdre made their intentions clear: to maintain and strengthen The Park Bar’s role as a home from home for Gaels, Highlanders and Islanders from across the Gàidhealtachd.
Since taking over, they have expanded the bar’s regular music programme to five nights per week, often rising to six with additional Sunday sessions throughout the year. They introduced regular pop-up events and have hosted intimate warm-up shows with celebrated artists including Tide Lines, Sian, Talisk, Valtos, Gary Innes of Mànran and members of Trail West.
The weekly student trad session on Mondays (Seisean nan Oileanach) provides a platform for emerging young Scottish musicians, while the Wednesday Songs and Tunes session blends traditional songs and tunes with occasional trad-style covers of well-known songs, with Gaelic music often part of the evening.
The Reeling Festival also collaborated with The Park Bar to honour the venue with their “Park Bar” stage in 2025, and long-established traditions such as the World Pipe Band Championships after-party and the legendary Morino Day – traditions started by Nina Steele, whose legacy we are proud to carry forward – continue to thrive.
The Park Bar has also been nominated for “Venue of the Year” at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2025, Scotland’s premier celebration of traditional music.
“For Highlanders, Islanders and Gaels living in or visiting Glasgow, The Park Bar has always been a home away from home – a place where people connect over music, stories and a dram. It’s a cultural anchor; a place where Gaelic is spoken, where generations have danced, and where lifelong friendships and memories are made. We want to thank Nina and Winnie for continuing Terry’s legacy and making The Park Bar what it is today. It’s an honour to take on such a beloved venue, and we’re excited for what’s ahead. The music will keep playing, the whisky will keep flowing, and we look forward to many more great nights to come.”
- Gary & Deirdre
THE CEILIDH GOES ON…...
The Park Bar’s history is woven into the very fabric of the building — from Gàidhlig signage to photographs of staff, musicians and regulars, plaques marking cherished spots, and flags gifted by Hebridean islanders and visiting pipe bands from around the world.Most recognisable are the prints of CalMac ferries, a nod to the lifeline that connects the Highlands and Islands with the city - and with The Park Bar.So, thig a-steach and become part of a story that stretches from the Hebrides to the heart of Glasgow. Whether you grew up with Gaelic or are hearing it for the first time, you’re warmly invited in. Enjoy the music, the ceilidh, the community — and add your voice to a story that’s still being written.
