In September 2022, the lease for the Hoolets went up for sale. This photo taken by Alex Rochead that week captures when the signs went up. Looking back at the history of previous ownership, an interesting time was in 1956 when Peter MacDonald bought the Barnhill Tavern (now Hoolets) building for £2,600 from Nellie Moir. […]
This great photo was recently shared to me from Archie Simm, sent via Hugh Simm from 1982 and the trophy is the Scottish Junior Cup won by The Vics in 1982. The photo was taken outside the Hoolet’s Nest and some of the names are known. Standing L to R at the back: Hugh Simm, John Bryson, […]
The Hoolets Pub on Bardykes Road has come a long way in a short time, since current owners , the Flynn Family took ownership. One of the most remarkable transformations in the last few years has been the area outside to the back, now transformed into a beautiful beer garden. An outdoor space for all […]
The 23rd May 2016 saw the Hoolets Pub door receive a makeover. Not a particularly noteworthy subject, you may say, but this does deserve a mention. A graphic of old Barnhill now appears on that public house door, remembering Barnhill as it was and noting that the Hoolets is still one of Blantyre’s oldest pubs. […]
I’ve previously shown this photo of one of the many Quoiting teams in Blantyre taken in 1908, and thought it to have been the Quoiting Green at Broompark Road, where Smiths Garage was, near Causeystones. However, I’ve been forced recently to change my opinion on this, following the discovery of many more quoiting greens and […]
Barnhill was one of the original hamlets or fermetouns of the Barony of Blantyre. One of the oldest areas of Blantyre, it was originally known as Barnehill and can be traced in records, including the great seal of Scotland, as far back as 1598. However, it is known to be much older, one house still […]
The Rocksox are a local Blantyre band.They were formed in Summer 2010 when the 2 original members Joe Rouse and John ‘the sox’ McSorley were fast approaching an outdoor gig in aid of charity at ‘The Hoolets’ pub in July of that year. (as seen on Youtube). Also with them was Jim Donnelly. The legend […]