The Sheiling
Where the Sheling Pub was located used to be the site of the Glasgow Hotel which dates back to the 1850s. The 1856 map on the top left indicates where this hotel was located, with its adjoining gardens at the corner of Main Street and Irvine Road.
Later in 1897 the Spencer building, containing the flats as we know them today, was constructed and the Glasgow Hotel became the Spencer Bar. Eventually it became the Sheiling. The Main Street bar was owned by Belhaven Breweries in the early 2000s, but closed in 2010. It re-opened for a few years, before closing down again.
The site was eventually purchased by new owners Rodger Property Limited. They proceeded to renovate the site including a full re-wiring, re-plumbing, new glazing and frontage upgrade. as well as dry lining and insulation work to the walls and ceiling. In August 2018 they announced that new tenants West Coast Hospitality, have revealed that they had plans for a new bar restaurant to be opened, which would be called 'The First and Last'. Unfortunately these tenants pulled out and Rodger Property are on the lookout for new tenants to take on the site. The building work now has stopped and the building is still up for sale.
The Sheiling as many will remember it in the last period of its life.
MacAuleys Pub
The top left image above shows Macaulay’s pub as it looks today. Top right photo shows Macaulay's when it was the Andrew Aitken pub, which dates from the 1850s, complete with a handy wee bike hiring shop next door.
That shop later was Miss Taylor Ironmonger and a grocers and tobacconist.
By 1960s the pub was known as The Argosy and by 1975 renamed to Dee Jays. 1998 seen the name changed to Macaulay’s. Other names over the years have been Wee Joe's and Donald's.
Mcauley's when it was called Wee Joes
The Springfield Hotel Bar
The top Left image is the The Old Springfield Hotel. The top right image the Millenium Flats.
Top left image is the fish designed bar of the Old Springfield bar. Top right image the oringinal building from an 1960s advert.
The original Springefield House dates back to 1848 when the Rev D Baxter was the owner.
In 1900 a Major MacDonald lived there. The building became a hotel sometime prior to 1958 when a Mrs Ann Ewing was the resident manager. In 1992 it was extended.
Later the Springfield hotel was owned by the same Nuclear Power Group consortium that built the Hunterston B Power Station.
With its 35 bedrooms it was used to house workers and technical engineers visiting Hunterston along with holidaymakers.
The Springfield Hotel was very popular with Largs locals in its day. Local darts and pool teams played there. For a time in the mid 1970s it was a popular place for locals. Sunday night was a busy night. Popular for its chicken in a basket and live bands. It was also popular with under age customers. Due to the large glass conservatory windows it provided a unresticted view in front of the hotel giving an early warning to any unwanted Police visits.
The Springfield Hotel was demolished in the late 1990s to make way for the Millenium Court flats.
The Lugano
The Castelvecchi family built the old Moorings Cafe building at the pier in 1936. With its cafe, shops, restaurant and ballroom it became a huge success with locals and holiday makers. In December 1955 the Castelvecchi's opened a new enterprise called the Lugano Bar. Located in Fort Street to the south of the Moorings building, it was soon incorporated into the Moorings complex. The Lugano was a trendy new restaurant and cocktail bar and had a continental decor with teak, maple and mahogany. Later this building became the popular Oasis bar and disco.
The photo below left is an artist’s impression of the Lugano. Below right is local man David Agnew's father taken outside the Lugano in the 1960s. Big thanks to David for giving us permission to add this photo to our site.For a full history of the Castelvecchi's and the Old Moorings build read our feature here.
