'Sharp-tongued' ex-Army sergeant who ran busy pub

The Glasgow pub, a grand Victorian-fronted establishment on the corner of Bernard Street and Orchard Lane, was more than just a place to quench one's thirst - it was the domain of a man whose presence alone was enough to deter the most foolhardy of troublemakers.

This guardian of good order was none other than the landlord, Johnny Walker, a man whose past was as rich and decorated as the collection of trophies and medals that gleamed behind the bar. 

To the unsuspecting patron, they were mere trinkets, but to those with a keener eye, they were symbols of a life of discipline and martial prowess. 

For Johnny Walker was no ordinary publican, he was an ex-Army sergeant major and a champion swordsman, a man who had mastered the art of the blade long before he ever pulled a pint.

A collage photograph, from the personal collection of Dave Goddard, featuring the Glasgow Hotel and its proprietor Mr Walker. (Image: Echo)

A precious photograph offers a glimpse into the life of this remarkable man. 

The image captures the one-time member of the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards in full regalia, his chest adorned with the hard-won medals from his illustrious fencing career. 

It is a portrait of a man at the zenith of his athletic prowess, a time when Sergeant Major Walker was celebrated as the winner of the “Best Man at Arms” challenge shield, an honour open to all members of the armed forces for fencing. 

His skill was undeniable, culminating in 1905 when he was crowned Empire Champion Gold Medalist, a title that sat alongside a host of other accolades from countless fencing contests.

In 1912, after a distinguished military career, Johnny traded the barracks for the bar, taking over the licence of the Glasgow.

 For the next two decades, he presided over this popular and well-known establishment, transforming it into a cornerstone of the community. 

The pub was a hive of activity, boasting not only a welcoming bar but also a respected restaurant and the intriguingly named “Oyster Grotto.” 

Another photograph beautifully illustrates the pub’s vibrant life, showcasing waitresses in crisp white caps and aprons standing proudly alongside the chef, ready to serve the discerning clientele.

The history of a pub on this site stretches back even further, to the 1880s when it first opened as the Pullinger Hotel, which later changed its name to The Clarendon. 

In those early days, the establishment offered a rather unique service alongside its beverages: ‘hot and cold vapour baths’ to soothe the weary traveller and thirsty local alike."

The new Glasgow pub when it opnened in 1958 with landlord William Short behind the bar. (Image: Echo)

The Glasgow, under Johnny's watchful eye, became a beloved local institution. 

However, the ravages of war brought this era to an abrupt and tragic end. 

During the devastating Blitz on Southampton in 1940, the grand old pub was destroyed by enemy bombing. Yet, the spirit of the Glasgow refused to be extinguished. 

For seventeen long years, it continued to operate from temporary buildings.

In February of the following year, a new chapter began. 

Watneys the brewers, in a wave of post-war reconstruction that saw new pubs rising across Southampton, unveiled a brand-new, two-storey Glasgow on the original site, complete with an “off-sales shop and bottled beer store.” 

The honour of being the first customer to be served in this modern incarnation fell to Urias Neagle, a devoted patron whose loyalty to the Glasgow stretched back to the pre-war days.

The Daily Echo of the time reported enthusiastically on the pub's reopening, highlighting its contemporary design and innovative features. 

“Several innovations have been incorporated in the saloon bar, which is decorated in contemporary style with two-pattern wallpapers,” the article noted. 

“The walls are treated with a special varnish which is resistant to smoke haze and will not stain. A hair cream was smeared on the walls as a test and when washed off, no stain was left.” 

The new Glasgow public house when it opened in 1958 with landlord William Short behind the bar. (Image: Echo)

A glass dome in the ceiling was also a novel feature, designed to supplement the lighting and create a "bright and airy effect."

The new Glasgow was a product of its time, one of six new public houses being constructed in the surrounding communities as Southampton rebuilt and looked to the future. 

The pub continued to serve the town for many years before undergoing a name change in 1989 to The Gamekeeper, and later, to its final incarnation as Dixie’s.

Yet, it is the image of Johnny Walker, the champion swordsman, that paints the most vivid picture. A man who, with a quiet confidence and a bar-back full of medals, ensured that his establishment was a sanctuary of good cheer and even better behaviour, a place where a raised voice was far more likely to be met with a steely glare than a friendly warning.