For the past week and a half I’ve been filming and practically living in the Bush Bar. For those of you that are not familiar with the Bush Bar, it is the small local pub on Seagate Ave. It may seem like a rather meek “regulars only” bar, but get to chatting with a few locals and you are in for a wallop of a night! I still can’t get over what a perfect pub this was to start the Nine Trades project off with.
HISTORY LESSON 101 –
Did you know that The Bush Bar has been called The Bush Bar since 1884 and is one of the only pubs in Dundee to retain their original name over the generations. Though management has changed hands several times over the decades The Bush has always been the Bush serving and providing a space of respite for the local community.
According to Jim and Wee Davie The Bush Bar received its namesake from a simple horticultural gesture. Everyone knows that plants need fresh air and sunshine to survive, and that hard working adults need beer and alcohol to function. Well the owners of the original Bush Bar used to put a bush outside of the doors in order to notify the locals that fresh ale is available. Thus providing the plant with what it needed while simultaneously signaling to the ale starved community that their sweet elixir has arrived!
In the 60’s the Bush was the happening place to be in town. It would showcase some of the leading local musicians of the day. The back area used to substitute for a mini stage where the musicians would cram their instruments into with the jostling crowd below them. I think the best story that I heard about the Bush Bar would have to be the bird that used to live on top of the bar. Some say that it was a parrot, others say it was a cock, in any case the bird was uncaged and had free reign of the place. The curious thing about the bird was that it never wanted to escape it was happy just flying around overhead. One man told me that the clientele that patron the Bush were well trained by the bird. Every time it would take off and fiy everyone knew to cover their pints due to the regular occurrence of added “spices” delivered by the bird.
THE HAUNTING OF GRANDDAD BOBIt is inevitable that every old building with some sort of traceable history has a ghost story attached to the premises. The Bush Bar has their own, but it’s not your regular run of the mill haunting involving an apparition in medieval garb shaking chains down a hallway. Instead it is a contemporary haunting that is quite sweet and nice. Granddad Bob was a gentleman that used to come into The Bush Bar and help out in the cellars once a week. He was a local at the pub for his entire life. The interesting thing was that Bob wasn’t a paid employee of the bar, he was just a local that loved the management, venue, and community. He was a right character, always good for a laugh and had an amazing sense of humor. Approximately four years ago Granddad Bob passed away. On the day of his funeral it rained hard. Bobs friends and family decided to go to The Bush Bar to bereave and have a drink in Bob’s honor. As the night wore on the rain fell harder. The rain fell so hard that day that the entire cellar was flooded all the way to the second top step leading to the toilets. It was almost as if the cellars were weeping for Bob as well. Now a days whenever the gas mysteriously goes off on the taps or a keg malfunctions for no apparent reason the regulars who know the story would say it’s Granddad Bob playing a prank. The only unframed picture on the wall of the Bush Bar is that of Granddad Bob.
A REGAL VISIT
In May of 1977, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit to Dundee during her Jubilee Tour celebrating 25 years of reign. During this tour the regulars of The Windmill Bar decided to honor the visiting monarchs by penning a poem to them. Surprisingly Prince Philip responded by penning a poem back. Though there is no available copy of the original poem written by the pub regulars, here is Prince Philips poem in reply:
First Glasgow, the ancient, all Pomp and thanksgiving, Then followed the new Cumbernauld, From there ‘cross the glen to The ramparts of Stirling, Then into the station at Perth we were hauled, But eh sight the most glorious In store f’r us to see Was the friendly old Windmill in Hilltown, Dundee. I recall very well the pub on The hill, Which I now I see was the old Windmill, It wasn’t the crowd coming out Of the door, That Caught my eye at quarter past four. ‘Twas the Ann Street windows Attracted my stare, I wondered if anyone could Be living up there, Then seeing the smiles on your Customers’ faces, I reckoned your pub was one Of those Places, Where the noise of good cheer Drivers off all dull cares, And makes it impossible to Live up those stairs. There’ll long be remembered, From the days of the Queen’s Jub’lee, But none of the functions no Matter How ordered Will quite match the verse From the Windmill, Dundee.
You may be wondering why I would mention this poem since it was based in the Windmill Bar in Hilltown and not in the Bush Bar. Well, I think this story is great. It really shows the spirit and community within a good group of regulars in a pub. It’s true; when you find a good local you find a home. Also this poem is significant because the original typed copy from Prince Philip hangs on the wall of the Bush Bar.
SING YOUR HEART OUT TINY DANCER
Karaoke is a big thing at the Bush Bar. On Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights more than a few epic power ballads can be heard belted out from the main stage area. Good times all around! Here is taster of Bush Karaoke at its best... fun, uninhibited, and freakin' amazing!
Ethel was one of my highlights of last week. She was hilarious! Her reservoir of jokes knew no end, unexpected and completely awesome.
WRAP IT UP
The Bush Bar was great experience! On one of my last nights at the pub I was bestowed the great privilege of being an honorary regular. It was quite sad leaving the Bush Bar that night since I know I’ll be super busy filming in the other locations. However, I did promise that I would come back often to revel in the songs, stories, and company.
Now in the style of a highschool yearbook, BIG SHOUT OUT TO: Harry, Pam, Jim, Wee Davie, Scotty, Gary, Sean, Jade, Debbie, Stacey, Peter, Steve, Brian, Ethel, Alexander, Grace, and Granddad Bob. Thanks for all the support!
