ABOUT THE SCOUT

There are 2 images of The Scout up on Retro already, but this one here is my favourite.
Taken in 1980, it shows what a weather beaten, run down, lived in, messed up gem of a drinking den it was.
Lifestyle designers would have charged a fortune in the 1990's to fake a distressed look as good as this!
The Scout was the real thing though, and delighted to say it was just as naturally shabby on the inside.
Hard to believe young boozers would queue up at weekends to get into a place that looked like this, but they did, with the queue often going around the corner into the Hackie. There they would be, waiting for a couple of people to leave the joint so's another couple could squeeze inside.
It was a pub where you could comfortably let yourself go, act daft, muck about, and nobody would give a hoot. In fact, the bar staff clearly encouraged craziness, and not only would they join in, they'd often be the ones to spark the madness off.
In the height of summer they'd keep the door wide open to try get some ventilation in the place but it never worked and everybody would be dripping in sweat!
George Thorogood would be blasting full volume out the PA, and they had their well known cartoon "Happiness is a life debauched" on the wall beside the bog!
Always a great laugh to be had there - you just had to keep going back for more!
You couldn't fake it..!!
Photo by DC Thomson.

TEMPLE LANE CORNER - 1982

 "And now, the end is near..."

1982 here at Temple Lane, and not only is the corner shop boarded up, but all the flats above are too, with The Scout the only one managing to hang on 'til the very end!

This was the sight we saw every week and never thought anything of it. There was a wee derelict closie on the right of the photo that got used as a place to go for a quick joint before the drinking in the Scout began.

It was 1982 The Scout eventually closed and you can get a reminder of The Scouts final night in my July 2008 Archive, with lots of comments as well.

A couple of quirky things I can recall are, there was a drink on the go at the time that young bravehearts would order and was part of the youth ritual of showing off - it was called "The Green Monster". A lethal brew of various spirits & beers, and with it being tough old Dundee, this actually came in a PINT glass, not a namby pamby cocktail glass. Needless to say, 1 pint and you were F**KED!!!

Also remember Elvis Presley being a regular in The Scout.

This was a local who was his double, it wasn't an act, but was a good laugh watching everyone do a double-take when they went passed him.

If you zoom into this photo, there is actually a shadowy figure standing in The Scout doorway. Just wonder if it is the ghost of Elvis, perhaps singing "Suspicious Pints" or maybe "Alehouse Rock" or how about "Love Me Cider"!!!

Incidentally, the pub used to be called The Temple Bar but when it was taken over by Oliver Hamilton it was renamed The Scout, based on the fact that he used to be a scout for Blackpool Football Club.

Photo by DC Thomson.

TEMPLE LANE JUNCTION - 1970'S

A view along Temple Lane from Westport.
The shops still doing business in the picture are as follows - on the right corner is Hobbies & Handicrafts - the opposite corner has Dickson the Pawnbroker (you can see the pawnbroker sign) - next door is Nicol's Footwear and down from them is J.Scotland fruiterer.

THE LAST NIGHT OF THE SCOUT - 1982

The Scout in Westport on a good night was one of the best pubs in Dundee and some wonderful weekends were spent there in the late 70's & early 80's.

Humour & music were it's strong points whilst the pub itself was as grimy & basic as they get, and yet if you didn't get in early, there were often lengthy queues.

The pub's closing night occurred in 1982 and was one hell of an evening.

It was at bursting point earlier than normal and the mayhem & sweat was flowing all night! The singing went on all night too - with one of the most popular tunes I recall being Dexy's Midnight Runners classic "Come on Eileen", a song that was balsted out a few times that night and a track I will always associate with The Scout.

In its final couple of hours, everybody was standing up on the seats, tables and counter, singing, dancing, clapping and clowning around until it climaxed with the pub's decor being ripped from the walls by those in the pub wanting a wee souvenir of one of the town's best drinking dens.

 

Photo by DC Thomson.