Oblomov's in the Nethergate, opened in 1987, which means I just missed out on frequenting this place, having departed Dundee the year before.
On a return visit however, I remember popping into the pub for a wee nosey, because I used to go to it's previous incarnation, Chequers, quite a lot. Chequers was typically done up in 80's bright green, but I think Oblomov opted for a black, white & red colour scheme. I was only in for around an hour or so, so can't claim to be an expert on the place. I do remember there being a few trendy types when I was in though.
These 2 ads are both from 1988.
The top one is just basic stuff about it's hours of biz.
The one below it is advertising a gig by local outfit, Big Blue 72.
Oblomov was my haven for a few years. part of a small Scottish chain I think, as there was one on Byres road, glasgow. many a good night, decent music and food. getting a window seat to people watch was always a bonus. newspapers wallpapered the roof. jan
ReplyDeleteAm pretty sure those behind Oblomov went on to become the Big Beat Group who eventually went bust. Think the Marr Brothers owned 'Chequers' but not 100% sure. Does anyone remember what It was called before Chequers?
ReplyDeleteHow many reincarnations has this pub had? The paint outside must be about an inch thick with the number of times it has been reinvented over the years. Still, it keeps painters and signwriters in work!
ReplyDeleteNewspapers on the ceiling!
ReplyDeleteSo the interior was black, white and read!
By the way, Historian, was there a pub at this location prior to Chequers?
ReplyDeleteI have it in my mind it was a book shop.
Not 100% on that!!
i remember oblomovs being orangy on the outside and cream and orange and newspapers on the inside...yep, part of a small chain, there was also one in edinburgh that is now The Wash, used to be the carwash. I vaguely remember that before it was chequers, that it was a shop selling office furniture? I could be wrong, as that's from my days at Park Place primary. Might have been a bookshop, as the university bookshop was just down the road, next to the pheonix in what is now a hairdressers.
ReplyDeleteIn 1973 I can tell you that it was 141 Nethergate - The Christian Literature Crusade Bookshop.
ReplyDeleteI remember it better as Bert's Bar and an Irish Bar thereafter.
Ah ok. So maybe Chequers was never a pub before it was Chequers? I must have got mixed up!
ReplyDeleteChequers, Oblamov, Berts, Malones, Laffertys, Popl Nero, Tonic
ReplyDeleteAh Oblomov, spent a lot of my student grant in there! Its garlic bread with cheese and chocolate cake being part of my staple diet. Cathy and ? Julia both from the Art College behind the bar. A scramble to secure the large oval table in the window and then all to easy to stay there all afternoon. Re decor: it was a sort of Sienna colour outside, similar with cream highlights inside and, the aforementioned, newspapers on the ceiling and Turkish rugs under the glass table tops. Happy days!
ReplyDeleteSpot on with Chequers, Oblamov, Berts, Malones, Laffertys, Popl Nero, Tonic. I got 'barred' from Chequers once when I wasn't even there - I was in my mate's bathroom in Scott Street! I'd had a few words with the manageress who followed me in, shouted off a bit, and then said, "You're barred!" "What?" I replied, "from Jim's bog?"
ReplyDeleteThe guy who had Chequers at the time was Jim Cruikshank, and he also had No,10 around the corner in South Tay Street, now Social/Ketchup. I wandered into No.10 soon after the barring and the same girl, June, was on the bar. She served me. "Why are you serving me?" I asked. "I only barred you from Chequers," was her answer.
Sorry, Jim Pettigrew wa the owner.
ReplyDeleteI was a barman in Oblomov in 1987/88. I was finioshing up a Masters at Dundee, and the grant money ran out, so I took a job there. Very trendy bar at the time. Young Turks were the clientele. I remember that we used to get a lot of folks from the Dundee Rep dropping in. I served Danny Wislon, Billy MacKenzie and a lot of actors who went on the bigger and better things. We used to end every Saturday by playing "Ruby, don't take your love to town" by Kenny Rogers but folk ended up coming in just for that, and every Saturday was a wee ceilidh. I used to make the Chili. I eventually moved on to Edinburgh and studied there while working bar. The Dundee Oblomov was a fun place at the time.
ReplyDeleteWorked in the Oblomov while failing my degree round the corner. It was owned by Whitbread brewery until they divested all of their pubs. Ceiling was covered in an array of art nouveau light fittings, tables had rugs under the glass.
ReplyDelete