As we head up the Main Street towards Waterside Street we pass Stately Interiors and the PC repair Bay, now closed. Prior to these businesses was The Paisley Savings Bank, in the 1990s Jas Hagen & Co Electrical and eventually by 1994 Donald Low Jeweler.

Further up we have Bonellie Opticians and the Book shop. In the past this housed Burnside Tailor's 1850, Essential Clothing 1991, Look gifts 1994, Antiques 1998, Pet World 1991, Noizi Chews, 1995, Bindi's Bargains 1997 and Spindle Fly Crafts by 1998. Also near were Beatrice McKellar Dairy and eggs in the 1850s and Theo Speaker Antiques.

Next we have Wrights Homehardware Shop which in the 1898s was David B Ross grocer and later in 1990s the well-loved Hastie’s store. Next door used to be The Shoe Box and Archibald Leckie baker. Dick Savage barbour was also located near here. These premises was eventually taken over by Hasties when they expanded and became a jewellery and picture gallery section of the store. Later also a bike sales and repair shop. This part is now the garden section of the Homehardware Shop. Next door was John Jack tailor's in 1911, later in the 1980s Brian McMillan TV Shop and since 1991 Vanity Fayre Clothes.

The last shop in this stretch is the Main Street Barbours with Margaret and Amanda providing a fantastic haircuts service. In the 1990s this was L Know Ltd Radio and TV shop and for a while in the late 1990s a Spar shop.

The Largsest Department Store in the World

It was the end of an era when Hasties department store closed its doors for last time on Christmas Eve 2015, having been run by the Duncan family for three generations.

The long established store in the Main Street was known as the Largsest department store in the World and was often described as Aladdin’s Cave due to the massive range of goods it had to offer. From kilts to hover bags, jewellery to tinned smoked mussels, fishing gear to 10amp fuses, Hasties had it all.

Formerly known under the names of The Largs Worthy the shop was opened at the end of the 1890s. Hasties was opened by David Brisbane Ross and expanded under the guidance of managing director Mr Charles Duncan and sons Andrew and Jim since 1974. The Hasties name had been over the door since the 50s when Mr Duncan's cousin, Mitchael Hastie was proprietor.

The main business of Hasties for many years was the menswear and sportswear departments when in 1976 William Kay opened up his department in an extension to the shop and established a top reputation. Over the years it also offered services such as dry cleaning, key cutting and bike repairs. It had its own art gallery, highland dress hire and at one time a Radio Shack electrical section. It also stocked over 350 varieties of whiskies from all over the world.

A Hastie's Advert from 1984.

Hasties could be described as a visitor attraction in its own right with many visitors coming to Largs just to visit the store. One family relation connected to one of the Old Largs team would travel from Erskine to Hasties every few months to purchase an Indian Biryani cooking paste that could not be found anywhere else.

In a Largs and Millport News article, store owner Andy Duncan, was quoted as saying "We once had an article where we were described as the last magical retailers where you could get anything in the shop, and others have described as an Aladdin's Cave, but we always thought we were better than Aladdin as we had more stuff than he had! In the same article Andy revealed that some American tourists had issues with the shop's famous slogan, Largsest department store in the World.

He said The slogan 'Hasties is the Largs-est department store in the world' was coined by myself, but we have had a lot of Americans in here over the years irate, saying that Macy's is the largest store in the world - they got very upset. And I said, "No, no no, go and read it again!"

Hasties originally opened in 1969. The premises were originally a weaver's cottage, before it became a licensed grocer around the 1870s. It was run by the Carswell family and then by David Ross. It was eventually purchased by the Duncan family pre-war and was passed on to the next generation in 1969. The original weaver's cottage well was still located in the shop and used to be a decorative attraction within Hasties. The new owners, Wright's Home Hardware, took over the store shortly after it closed.

A few old photos showing the Pearsons Garage as it looked in the past. Was the location of Lundy and Scotts Garage, then Clan Automobiles, the Q8 Petrol Station and by 1998 Pearsons of Largs.

We have now reached the entrance to Waterside Street. This was the location of the The Burns Tavern situated on the corner of Waterside Street and Main Street where the small car park is now directly in front of the Fiddlers.

The photo above is Tavern as it was in 1906. The top left image is the same location today.

The entrance was in Waterside Street and attached to the Tavern was another building then an opening to Townhead Close. We understand it was demolished in the early 1960s. The Burns Tavern was a pavement width from the main road and often politely described as a working man's pub. Near the end of it life Bunty Campbell owned the Tavern. She was described as always wearing a black cocktail dress with black high heels. Apparently she was a force to be reckoned with.

Just sitting off the Main Street at the entrance to Townhead Close is The Fiddlers. This premisis was built as a one story building by Alex Campbell, a local builder. He was involved in the construction of Millburn Gardens and redeveloped the old Glen Eldon Hotel was also involved in is management. The original building was his workshop and showroom. He eventually added the second floor and opened a new pub called the Tavern. In 1972 it was sold to the Macari family who ran the premise as a pub until 1980

During the Macari era the Tavern was often described as one of the best pubs in Ayrshire at that time with live music every Friday and Saturday night. Also popular was the disco with the music played by local D.J. Douglas Wraith.

Eventually they sold the building to Largs Thistle F.C who ran the premises as their social club. In 1982 they sold the Tavern to Largs Businessman Millar Mills and the who ran the well-known Gordons dairy at the time.They were also in partnership with the McQueen family of Largs.

He invited the public to suggest a new name for the Tavern and admitted at the time he did not expect a great response. However the offer of a 40oz bottle of whiskey for the person proposing the selected name induced a tremendous flow of suggestions.

After careful consideration of the many titles he picked the name "The Fiddlers" as the winning entry.

Mr Miller was quoted at the time saying "The Fiddlers is an appropriate name, short and quickly recognisable with the double meaning adding the essential humor." He proceeded to refurbish the upstairs of the building to provide a new function room area to host weeding receptions and private functions. He named the new area appropriately as "The Gordon Suite."The celebrated John Mason and members of the Scottish Fiddlers Orchestra were the special guests who christened the place.

Oh Yes, the winner of the competition and the whiskey was Mrs Johnston, 2 New Street, Largs.

Later the property was purchased by local businessman Quilly Clark who successfully ran the premises for 25 years until it was sold in 2016. This marked the end of an era for many Largs youngsters growing up in Largs. A night at the Fidds was enjoyed for generations of Largs youngsters. The tradition of standing at the back door of Andersons the Bakers waiting for a freshly baked hot pie roll after the Fiddlers was a much loved tradition and memory for many.

During this period the ground floor Fiddlers Pub was converted into 'Oceans' area which was used for private functions and has a capacity for 210, and had a half-moon shaped bar, dance floor, DJ booth along with finished seating areas and lighting. The upper 'Fiddlers' floor of the property is the main trading area and has a capacity for 170. The Fiddlers seen occasional events up to October 2018 however the venue was put up for sale and eventually demolished in March 2020. The site and the garage next door are now the location of a new M&S food store.