HE'S a teetotaller who claims to have visited every bar in Glasgow. And pub historian John Gorevan says it's not the booze that makes our pubs famous - but the punters.

HE'S a teetotaller who claims to have visited every bar in Glasgow. And pub historian John Gorevan says it's not the booze that makes our pubs famous - but the punters.

"A good Glasgow pub is all about the people," he says.

"It's also do to with whoever runs it.

"It's peace of mind, knowing you can go into a pub and it won't be full of idiots.

"There is an awful lot of well-run pubs in Glasgow," John says as he reels off a list of names which include The Shipbank on the Saltmarket, The Heilan Jessie on Gallowgate and The Doublet on Park Road.

"There's also places like The Dolphin," adds John, "which is prob-ably the oldest family-run pub in Glasgow."

There are others too, whose rich history is linked to that of the city as a whole.

Pubs like the Chrystal Bell and Co. on the Gallowgate, a thoroughfare which at one point had 85 licensed premises, more than any street in the United Kingdom.

"There's so much history involved in that place," says John.

"It was established by two Glasgow families, the Bells and the Chrystals.

"The Bell family were butchers and the Chrystal family were wine and spirit merchants who were already established as landlords on the corner of North Street."

The two families got together and opened up Chrystal Bell and Co. in 1904, around thirty years after the pub first opened under the name of Rutherford's.

The Bell family - brothers Finlay, John and William - were also well known fleshers and sent a ship - The Three Bells (the first iron ship to be built on the Clyde) - to import meat from Canada.

In 1853, The Three Bells became famous for saving more than 200 soldiers from a sinking steamer.

"All the crew were rewarded with a big banquet and the captain was given a thousand pounds," says John.

"The word soon got to the owners before the boat came into the Broomielaw and the Bell brothers were waiting there with their hands out. It's our ship', they said to the captain, you're employed by us', and they took the money."

In 1993, the name Chrystal Bell was returned above the door after it had been known as The Royal Albert for many years, and celebrity customers have included comedian Billy Connolly.

The current custodian of the pub is manager Danielle Brown.

"There's a tunnel that runs through the bottom of the pub which used to take prisoners to be hung at the Gallowgate," says Danielle.

"It's closed up now but it went through our cellar.

"It's a very creepy place downstairs. I don't like going down there, its very eerie, but we get a lot of tourists coming in and asking about it."

Pub expert John is unsure whether there ever was a tunnel - so many Glasgow pubs have stories which are simply impossible to prove - but the story is typical of some of the myths which grow up about our pubs.

Another pub worthy of note is The Imperial on Howard Street.

The history of the Imperial Bar can be traced back to 1845 when John Paton and Co. traded as a spirit merchant.

Part of The Imperial's allure is the rare stained glass windows, the work of renowned 19th century artist Stephen Adam. His work can still be seen in churches all over Scotland.

One of the glass panels shows a king ready to eat his feast with the rhyme Beseechye sirs be merrie for to be blithe me thinks tis best'. The others feature a waitress serving drinks and two musicians.

In a city like Glasgow, where trendy style bars come and go, there will always be a special place for the traditional Glasgow pub.

Clutha draws visitors from around world

By Jonathan RennieONCE you get a taste for the Clutha Vaults it never leaves you.

The pub, said to have been in constant use since 1714, has had plenty of owners - but many have found it hard to leave.

Barmaid Jude Paton says: "The place has gone through a few different hands in recent times.

"I've only been here for a couple of years but I've met most of them - they all still drink here.

"There was this couple who looked as if they were in their 70s in the place recently.

"It turned out the woman had run the place years ago when it was filled with fishermen from the Briggait."

The debates about the Stockwell Street pub's history are legendary, but so are the people who have been regulars.

Visits by folk singer Matt McGinn, the Alex Harvey Band and Billy Connolly during his Humblebums days are well documented.

It is claimed Gorbals boxer Benny Lynch, who won the world flyweight title in 1935, drank himself into a stupor on a regular basis when he lived in the tenement above the bar.

Such tales have made the place a must visit, with people travelling from as far away as Russia.

Jude says: "We're always filled with tourists.

"We had 14 women from Sweden who came in to see what it was like and every day someone will pop in because of its reputation."

Among the stream of visitors and music lovers - every other night a band plays on the tiny stage - stand the regulars. Each have their own space at the bar or favourite seat.

The regulars change depending on the time of day. Before noon it is local workers. Later it is mainly women who pop in for the £3.99 high tea before the bingo. And at night it is a mixed crowd of 20-somethings and regulars.

Owner Ian Adie bought the bar two years ago and also owns the Scotch Corner next door.

He says: "This place is an institution. I'm not the owner, I'm the custodian."

But running a legend comes at a price.

"It's costing me money," says Ian. "But I can hardly charge someone who has come all the way from Moscow to drink here.

"And as for returning legend Billy Connolly, we love to see him drop in but now that he doesn't drink I'm hardly able to ask the Big Yin to pay for a fresh orange and lemonade!"