floweredpig wrote:When meeting a few pals in the west end before christmas we decided to meet in Tennents.When i mentioned this to a workmate he said "Thats a gay bar".This was then "confirmed" by a few others.As its not a gay bar where did this rumour start ,anyone?
In my dictionary a rumour "is a currently circulating story of unverified or doubtful truth".
FACT is that in the 70s and 80s Tennents was not a gay bar in the same, almost exclusive, sense that The Duke of Wellington or Vintners were but was gay friendly and frequented by a sizeable gay crowd on a regular basis. On entering through the Byres Road doors, the right hand side was where most gays congregated.It was also obviously popular with gay students, myself being one so can personally verify the above as truth. I cannot, of course, comment on its current status.
I think if anybody could find a Gay News from the period you would find Tennents listed in the pubs section.