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MAR/APR
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THERE ARE SO MANY
WAYS TO LOVE
JOIN // HOST // SHOP
For more information:
www.stelladot.co.uk/lorainepatrick
lorainepatrick1@me.com
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Contents
6 Fashion pages
spring pastels
12 West End Live
with Greg Kane
15 Mother’s Day gifts
16 Writers Reveal
meets Sally Magnusson
20 Cover to cover
22 Top Things
24 Getting to know
artist Neil Slorance
28 Shop local guide
32 WIN! At Rainbow
Room International
33 NEW! Poke bowls
at Wudon
34 Bar Review
The Lismore
35 Spring menu at
Square Bar & Restaurant
37 Restaurant Review
The Cran
38 Sweet Liberty
40 Business:
Going it alone
45 20th Anniversary
for Independent
Mortgage Store
46 Accountancy Matters
with Murrison & Wilson
47 Legal Matters with
Mitchells Roberton
48 Empowerment pants
and you
50 Health Matters
53 Mum’s Notebook
54 Interiors article:
Natural accents
59 Bold as brass
61 Statement storage
66 Wee Kitchen Shop
interview
FRONT COVER Necklace & Scarf,
Pink Poodle
THIS PAGE Top, Nancy Smillie
Ring & necklace, Cassiopeia
4 | www.westendermagazine.com
contributors
Suzanne Martin
Editor
Gregor Reid
Photographer
Terri Craig
Make-up Artist
Nicola Maule
Writer
Michele Gordon
Writer
Susan Robertson
Writer
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SPRING
PASTELS
Images Gregor Reid
www.westendermagazine.com | 7
Dress, Solo
SHoes, Charles clinkard
Bracelet, pink poodle
Bag, Daniel Footwear
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www.westendermagazine.com | 9
Dress, Ruby woo
belt, liquorice tree
boots, daniel footwear
opposite page
slip, silks
necklace, cassiopeia
10 | www.westendermagazine.com
jumper, jasmine. jeans, solo.
trainers & BAG, daniel footwear. necklace, pink poodle
opposite page - dress, cos. knecklace, liquorice tree
model iona dodd @ Coloursagency.com MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk
stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 11
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LIVE
March
Siobhan Wilson & Pronto Mama
Saturday 3rd of March 7pm
Paisley Arts Centre, paisley.org.uk
My brother’s always harping on
about how good Pronto Mama are so
I thought it about time I did some
digging to find out what’s what. It
seems my brother has good taste.
Pronto Mama are a six-piece
alternative indie rock and roll
outfit from Glasgow, known for their
distinctive jazz-influenced songs,
unconventional time signatures
and infectious pop melodies. Their
debut Album No Joy has just been
released on Glasgow Kelvin College's
Electric Honey record label 'The most
successful student-run label in the
world' (Uncut), and is an eclectic
collection of intricately crafted
surprisingly memorable songs.
Siobhan Wilson is one of the best
of the current crop of high calibre
Scottish Songstresses. She is
blessed with natural beauty and such
an angelic voice, but there's also a
hint of the mischievous about her
too. A powerful combination.
Choice Tracks:
Pronto Mama 'Sentiment'
Siobhan Wilson 'Terrible Woman'
Los Pacaminos
Wednesday 7th March 7pm
Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk
Cowering under their Stetsons this
motley crew from London play good
fun Tex Mex music usually to high
spirited adoring mobs who flock to
see them in large numbers.
At first I didn’t quite understand why
so many people came to see them, that
is until they played the 80s hit Tear
Your Playhouse Down. Strange choice
I thought, but all became clear when
no other than Paul Young (yes, the
first line of Band Aid’s Do They
Know It’s Christmas 80s icon Paul
Young) peaked out from under his
Boss Of The Plains hat to rapturous
hollers from the audience. He has
been celebrating his passion for this
type of music with Los Pacaminos
since 1992. He is not centre stage
in this band (it’s presented more as
a collective) but he is a founding
member. Have your salt and lime at
the ready.
Choice track: Los Pacaminos
‘Don’t Make Me Wait Señorita’
The Secret Sisters
Friday 30th March 8pm
Cottiers, cottiers.com
The Secret Sisters are an Americana
singing and songwriting duo from
Muscle Shoals, Alabama consisting
of vocalists Laura and Lydia Rogers.
They've worked with T Bone Burnet,
Jack White and have toured with the
likes of Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn,
Ray LaMontagne and Brandi Carlile
which all seem like the perfect fit
for their 50’s style country sound.
The duo's music has been compared to
The Everly Brothers and Delta blues
and they've also had a song featured
in the hugely successful film The
Hunger Games. As with most sibling
vocal acts their voices are a perfect
match making them a real joy to
listen to.
Choice Track: The Secret Sisters
'He's Fine'
www.westendermagazine.com | 13
by Greg Kane
April
Eric Bibb
Tuesday 13th April 7pm
Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk
Eric Bibb is a 67 year old American
acoustic blues singer/songwriter from
New York who now lives in Sweden and
makes his records in France. Speaking
of which, his new record "Migration
Blues" is release number 41 for him! Of
it he states: "With this album I want to
encourage us all to keep our minds and
hearts wide open to the ongoing plight
of refugees everywhere. As history
shows, we all come from people who, at
some time or another, had to move."
Eric Bibb is a soulful and righteous
man playing passionate righteous
music.
He's really at his best when he's
playing live in front of you so I'm
going to this one.
Choice track: Eric Bibb
'This Land is Your Land
Lucy Dacus
Friday 20th April 7pm
The Hug & Pint, thehugandpint.com
Lucy Dacus is a 22 year old indie
starlet from Richmond Virginia, USA.
She was raised by parents who were
both musicians, one a piano teacher
the other a Springsteen loving
guitarist. They've definitely had an
influence with her 2016 debut album
No Burden exhibiting a use of melody,
harmony and poise that belies her
youth. To my ears there's some early
Chrissy Hind and Jeff Buckley in her
sound and attitude with a sprinkling
of alt-country in there to boot.
One critic described her as 'able to
make strong music about her weakest
moments ... Dacus is a master of her
own destiny who likes to make you
think she's as surprised as anyone else
that she could possess such power.'
I'll second that.
Choice Track: Lucy Dacus 'Night Shift'
Tears For Fears
Monday 30th April 6.30pm
SEC Armadillo,
You need look no further than Tears
For Fears for all that encapsulates
pop music in the 80s. Roland Orzabal
and Curt Smith, the two boys from
Bath conquered the world with their
infectious synth pop records selling
over 30 million albums in the process.
They successfully released a greatest
hits album last year which included a
couple of new songs which hopefully
will spur them on to make another
album of new music again soon.
On the back of a celebrated tour of the
US last year the band are out on their
first UK tour in 18 years and if you
want the full 80s experience make sure
you get there early to catch support
act Alison Moyet as she's received
very favourable live reviews over the
last year or so.
Choice track: Tears For Fears
'Head Over Heels'
14 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 15
For You Mum…
…because we love you. Thoughtful gift ideas for the woman who’s
always there no matter what. From the small and interesting gifts
to some lovely jewellery to wear – go on, spoil her!*
*Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 11th March in 2018 – you’ve been warned, no excuses!
Mother’s Day Mug
£13.99, Cassiopeia
Sloemotion Sloe Gin Truffles
£14.99, Liquorice Tree
Sterling Silver Designer Necklace
£65, Spirito
Silver Plated Pearl heart Bracelet
£32.50, Nancy Smillie Shop
Posh Eggs Book
£12.99, Concept 65
West End Suppliers
Cassiopeia, 165 Hyndland Road
0141 357 7374 cassiopeiaonline.co.uk
Liquorice Tree, 431 Great Western Road
0141 339 0648 liquoricetree.com
Concept 65, 65 Hyndland Street
0141 357 0268 trouva.com/boutique/
concept-65-in-g115ps
Nancy Smillie, 53 Cresswell Street
0141 334 4240 nancysmillieshop.com.com
Spirito, 317-319 Crow Road
0141 337 3307 spiritogifts.com
16 | www.westendermagazine.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 17
Writer’s Reveal
meets Sally Magnusson
WORDS LORAINE PATRICK
An English translation of an ancient Icelandic memoir provides
the inspiration for the debut novel from writer and broadcaster,
Sally Magnusson. Loraine Patrick discovers how the popular news
presenter unleashed her imagination to tell this remarkable tale of
pirate raids, tragedy, and survival.
‘I
t was a real effort to leap off the tree and
stop hanging onto the branches of truth
or fact,’ says Sally Magnusson, colourfully
describing the challenges she faced in writing
her first novel in snatched bursts away from
her very busy and very public life.
Facts are Sally’s currency as an already
successful non-fiction writer, and as a
broadcaster and journalist – regularly
bringing us the news on Reporting Scotland.
‘It was intensity in bursts,’ she laughs, ‘rather
than a thousand words a day in a steady
and stately fashion! The idea of shutting
yourself away for six weeks to write is an
absolute dream because that liberation of the
imagination was definitely not something that
happened overnight for me,’ she says frankly.
But lets rewind a bit here. I am meeting Sally
to discuss her newly published book The
Sealwoman’s Gift which has been described
as a remarkable feat of the imagination. Sally
has taken an incident in Icelandic history,
little known outside that culture, and created
an incredibly moving story of love, loss,
resilience and redemption.
In 1627 Barbary pirates raided the coast of
Iceland abducting some 400 of its people,
including 250 from a tiny island off the
mainland called the Westman Islands. They
sailed to North Africa and were sold into
slavery in Algiers. Although the raid itself is
historically documented and looms large in
the collective memory, little is historically
known about what actually happened to the
women and children.
‘Growing up I was aware in a vague sort of
way about the raids, in the same way that
here in Scotland we are historically aware of
Culloden and Bannockburn. I didn’t really
have a true understanding of the period until
I read an English translation of memoirs from
a clergyman called Reverend Ólafur Egilsson.
I was staggered by the story he told – his
whole family were abducted and sold into
slavery.’
It was the fleeting mentions of Ásta, the
Reverend’s wife that really got to Sally. ‘I was
so interested in everything that she went
through yet there were only brief glimpses
in the memoir of her. It was a period of time
when women everywhere were largely silent.
Not much was said about the fact she gave
birth on a slave ship, she lost her 11-yearold
son in the slave market (he was the first
one to be picked by the local governor) and
she was left with two little children. We don’t
know historically what happened to her
18 | www.westendermagazine.com
but that’s where I tried to imagine what it
was like as a woman and a mother in these
circumstances.’
Mother of five grown up children, Sally’s
family and Icelandic heritage are well known.
Her late father Magnus was the long time
presenter of Mastermind. He was also a
successful translator of Icelandic sagas.
‘I grew up being immersed in this amazing
storytelling tradition. It was only as I got older
I understood my father had been working on
the greatest medieval literature in the world.’
Sally’s late mother Mamie – subject of her
best selling book Where Memories Go which
chronicled her battle with dementia, was also
a journalist. Storytelling was part and parcel
of the Magnusson household.
A lot to live up to then when it came to putting
pen to paper. ‘I had very high standards of
what I wanted to achieve with this book,’
Sally reflects. ‘My degree was in English
literature so not only did I have a very good
idea of what was required of a novel I had
huge expectations of what a novel had to
be. I found it difficult to make it as good as I
wanted and I went through umpteen drafts
trying to wean myself away from checking the
accuracy all the time.’
But Sally has certainly pulled it off with fellow
authors and critics alike singing its praises.
She is looking forward to promoting it at this
years Aye Write Festival, a gathering she
holds dear. ‘I think per head of population we
have more book festivals in Scotland than
anywhere else,’ she says ‘there is something
very special about being in an auditorium
with other people who share a love of
Competition!
We have two signed copies
of The Sealwoman’s
Gift to give away. Visit
westendermagazine.com and
click on competitions by the
30th of April 2018.
books. It’s a wonderful feeling being in an
environment where you can enthuse about
words with other people who enjoy writing.
I am less comfortable about saying “look at
me! Come and buy my book!” But that is now
part of the business and I take it on the chin.’
She hopes readers get a flavour of two
very different worlds, 17th century Iceland
and the intensely contrasting experience
of 17th century Algiers. ‘It must have been
extraordinary for captive Icelanders to step
off that slave ship and find themselves
in a place so different to their homeland.
The contrast in culture, climate, religion and
social mores couldn’t be greater.’
Ultimately it is the human story that really
sets this book apart. Ásta, the heroine is
strong and feisty and Sally hopes readers like
her. ‘It’s really a story about marriage,’ she
concludes. ‘How do you tackle a relationship
you have lost for many years? How do you
deal with going back to a situation that made
you happy once but now no longer does?
How do you find yourself within that? These
aren’t just questions for 17th century Iceland
or Algiers but questions for all time.’
Aye Write Festival is on 15-25 March
ayewrite.com
Sally Magnusson is appearing at the
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 18 March.
The
Sealwoman’s
Gift
£4
OFF
*
RRP £16.99
*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers
at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road
branch only, by 30th April 2018.
www.westendermagazine.com | 19
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1
BY BRIAN TOAL
WESTENDER’s
COVER TO COVER
A book about Glasgow by a Tory politician from
Edinburgh? It’s a bold venture, I’ll give you that.
Michael Fry stood as a Tory politician in Maryhill in
the not too distant past, and although he didn’t lose
his deposit – no mean feat in itself – he was never
going to set the heather alight.
Glasgow –
A History of
The City
by Michael Fry
Nevertheless, he has recently
been converted from unionism to
independence, and this adds an
interesting flavour to his latest
book. Having already written about
Edinburgh very successfully, he has
now focused his razor-sharp pen and
witty observations on what is, let’s
face it, a far more interesting subject
matter.
Fry is a very knowledgeable and
experienced journalist, having written
for a range of newspapers, and
this is brought to bear in what is a
thoroughly engaging book. Fry has
adopted an interesting approach
in his treatment of this dear green
place as the chapters are arranged
thematically, where most historians
would have taken a chronological
approach. This is highly effective
as names, events and places
come around several times but in
different contexts, which helps the
reader to develop a much deeper
understanding of how these players
fit in to the bigger picture.
As Glasgow was the second city
in the British Empire, mainly due to
her trade and industry, it will come
as no surprise that these areas
take up large portions of the book.
However, Fry clearly explains the policies and politics which drove this
trade and fuelled these industries, providing detailed backgrounds
of the main movers and shakers and what motivated them. For most
Glaswegians, or even for incomers like myself, many of these names will
be familiar, albeit from statues in George Square or university buildings.
Nevertheless, Fry’s thematic, layered approach really helps to bring
these people to life and by the third or fourth time the reader comes
across one of these names, their importance is firmly established.
The last few chapters felt weaker. We get a quick romp through
Glaswegian literature and art in a matter of pages – perhaps more
fitting in a separate book entirely – and the preponderance of notes
suggests most of the commentary has been borrowed. It would be
too much to expect Fry to have read all the books he mentions or
to have seen and pondered deeply the range of art covered in these
chapters, but perhaps he could have allowed other voices to speak
for him. Labour politicians take a lot of flak, unsurprisingly. And with
one whole chapter on women, some of our beloved Westender readers
may feel this does not do justice to what is after all the majority of the
population of Glasgow.
Still, it’s a really interesting book and well worth reading.
www.westendermagazine.com | 21
When Breath
Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi
2
This is not a brand-new book
but it’s one which several friends
have raved about, and having
just finished it, I understand
why.
It’s a memoir begun when
the author, once a brilliant
neurosurgeon, is diagnosed with
terminal lung cancer. He dies not
long after completing the book
and the afterword by his wife is
touching and inspiring, just like
the rest of the book.
The first half of the book deals
with the writer’s journey through
university where he studied
literature, which is why this book
reads so well despite having been
written by a doctor!
He switched his focus to
neuroscience and neurosurgery as
he was fascinated by questions
of life and death. The second half
deals with his struggle to fight
lung cancer and how this affects
his relationship with his wife
and with his colleagues as he is
determined to operate until it
becomes impossible.
Knowing that the author died
– we are told on the first page
– may seem like a plot spoiler
but it allows the reader to focus
on what is important in Paul’s
journey towards death and the
important messages we learn
from his struggle.
It’s anything but a litany of
symptoms and complications.
The subtitle of the book is ‘What
makes life worth living in the
face of death?’ We will all have
different answers to that very
difficult question, but in the
meantime, we should ‘suck out
all the marrow of’ every day we
have.
It’s been a long wait – 17 years
since the His Dark Materials
trilogy – but at long last the
prequel has arrived.
Fans of Pullman’s His Dark
Materials trilogy, fiction which,
like most good fiction, transcends
genre, age and taste, will relish
the details of Lyra’s early life from
her birth and mysterious origins
to her arrival at Jordan College
in Oxford. The heroes of this first
instalment – Malcolm and Alice
– are fascinating characters in
their own right and are more than
simply plot devices to deliver
baby Lyra to safety. Pullman’s
deftness of touch deals with
puberty, complex emotions and
the dangers of the adult world.
The centre of all religious power
is Geneva, the birthplace of
Calvinism and predestination,
and Pullman exposes the sinister
machinations of the religious
authorities and their seemingly
endless tentacles and minions,
but at the same time letting
us see the good in the world in
the form of ‘salt-of-the-earth’
characters who are very much
rooted in the natural world –
boatwrights, carpenters and
innkeepers – all of whom are
brave and make sacrifices for the
greater good.
Deep knowledge of the natural
world is a precious commodity in
this world and in Pullman’s too,
where the gyptians’ prescience
is crucial to the survival of our
heroes. The book is awash with
Biblical allegory, as well as nods
to Lewis Carroll (hence Alice as
one of the main characters) and
many other allusions which an
alert reader will spot. Welcome
back Lyra. Thank you, Philip.
La Belle Sauvage –
The Book of Dust One
by Philip Pullman
3
22 | www.westendermagazine.com
Top Things To Do
in the West End
by Tracy Mukherjee
With spring well and truly upon us, it appears
that the West End has finally awoken from its
winter slumber. That pesky snow and ice is
thankfully a long, forgotten memory and the
daffs and crocus are once again dotting our
gardens and parks. So what can we look forward
to in the way of events in March and April?
A bountiful bouquet of springtime splendour,
that’s what!
Top for Spoiling Mum
Sunday 11th March marks the annual Mother’s
Day celebrations. There are plenty of amazing
florists to send mum a floral tribute big enough
to sink the Tall Ship, but why not go a little
left field with your gift idea? Blythswood
Hotel Cinema Club continue their regular
movie selection combined with afternoon tea.
For Mother’s Day there is a choice of either
Mamma Mia or Miss Congeniality. Get the tissues
ready for Meryl’s rendition of Slipping Through
My Fingers. Blub.
Blythswood Square
Cinema Club Mother’s Day Screenings
Sunday 11th March, 12.30pm and 2.30pm
w:phcompany.com
For an interesting gift that will keep mum happy,
whilst at the same time ensuring free tailoring for
you into the bargain, you might consider buying
classes from the team at Sew Confident. From
beginners sewing classes through to sewing
underwear and quilting, mum can learn in a fun
and social atmosphere. There is even the option
to join the Sew Naturale class which combines
machine doodling with life drawing! You might
find yourself booking two spaces, so you too
can find your way around a sewing machine,
saving yourself the effort of putting trousers and
curtains in to be professionally hemmed.
Sew Confident Mercat House 19, 1103
Argyle Street, Finnieston G3 8ND
w:sewconfident.co.uk
Top for Bookworms
It’s back. Aye Write, Glasgow’s book festival
returns in March with over 200 authors taking
part in the annual event. Venues including
The Mitchell Library and Glasgow University
will be hosting events such as Alex Gray and
Leigh Russell’s Crime Is A Serious Business'.
With Scandi Noir fiction riding high in
popularity at the minute, why not attend Simon
Cox and Raguar Jonasson’s The Reykjavik
Connection? All literary genres are covered
in the festival: health and wellbeing, nature,
poetry, biography to name but a few. And as
well as hearing from the horse’s (or rather the
author’s) mouth you might consider some of
the participation events. There is an extensive
list of lectures and seminars on topics such as
knowing your character, what you need to know
about dialogue, or merely giving writing a go!
And continuing to encourage our younger
readers and authors of the future, Wee
Write returns with family days organised at
the Mitchell: from Toddlers Tales, to Greek
mythology, gaelic reading sessions, to a little
Harry Potter hocus pocus. This is a festival that
makes you proud to be a Glaswegian, promoting
the art and beauty of the written word.
Aye Write, 15th-25th March
w:ayewrite.com
Top for Easter Holiday Fun
Easter just isn’t Easter without an Easter egg
hunt. From 30th March until 2nd April The
National Trust in conjunction with Cadbury
are organising hunts for all budding chocolate
detectives. In Glasgow, this will be at the
Tenement House. Follow the clues, solve the
puzzle and win a chocolaty treasure!
Easter Egg Hunt, Tenement House,
Buccleuch St, Glasgow, G3 6QN,
Fri 30th Mar-Mon 2nd Apr, 1-5pm
w:whatsonglasgow.co.uk
www.westendermagazine.com | 23
Top Things To Do
in the West End
For kids who may be unable to enjoy an egg or
two this season, why not come along and support
the annual Easter Egg Run on the 1st of April
in aid of The Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Always an incredibly emotional and joyful event,
over 1,000 bikers ride through the streets of
the city in a colourful, noisy convoy in aid of the
Hospital. The bikers make a donation or are
sponsored for this incredibly worthy cause.
Easter Egg Run 2018, Sun 1st Apr
w:glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org
Running weekends throughout the school
holidays, the innovative Puppet Animation
Festival is back for its 35th year. The UK’s
biggest performing arts festival for children is
taking place at venues across Scotland. In the
west, the hub for the action is Maryhill Burgh
Halls. Aimed at children 0-12 years, there are
also sensory storytelling performances. Puppet
making, stop motion animation, workshops,
theatre and film; how much more fun can school
holidays be?
Puppet Animation Festival
31st Mar-8th Apr, Maryhill Burgh Halls
w:maryhillburghhalls.org.uk
Top for Comedy
It’s no surprise that the Glasgow Comedy
Festival is the first comedy festival of the year,
with trailblazing comic talents exuding an air of
'watch and learn' to our Aussie/South Africa/
English, sorry Edinburgh comedy festival rivals.
The 1st festival was in 2003, following the Stand
Comedy Club approaching the council with a
comedy festival proposal. 16 years later, the
overwhelming success of the festival is clear
to see: 40 venues, 400 shows over 18 days.
As well as the big guns Ed Byrne, David Baddiel,
Phil Jupitus plus Comic Relief Live, the festival
prides itself on nurturing home grown talent.
As such, venues such as Dram, the Hug and Pint
and QMU have superb performances on offer,
easily competing with talent in the larger venues.
The programme is immense and too extensive
to feature here, but with a huge presence in the
west at e.g. Cottiers, Oran Mor, The Tall Ship,
as well as obviously at the Stand, you won’t be
stuck for options. If you fancy a go yourself, the
festival has organised The School of Stand up,
a pre-festival event with seminars on how to
perfect the art. With so much to choose from,
better get booking. Prepare to be entertained.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
8th-25th March, various venues.
w:glasgowcomedyfestival.com
Top for Heavenly Music
St. Bride’s Episcopal Church community in
Hyndland are in the midst of restoring their
beautiful church organ. Built by William Hill and
Son in 1865, 150 years serving the congregation
has taken its toll on this beautiful instrument.
In 2017 a full restoration project commenced.
On Sat 28th April, in aid of the restoration, a
glorious organ recital is being held. St Brides
are delighted to announce that Henry Fairs,
international recitalist and associate head
of organ studies at the Royal Birmingham
Conservatoire will be performing. The recital will
include music by Bach, Rachmaninoff and Elgar,
to name but a few. Following the concert, you are
invited to an informal wine reception. The event
is free, however all donations to the restoration
of the organ would be gratefully received.
As such an integral part of St Bride’s Church,
the organ is also a stand-alone item of historical
importance. Once restored, what a wonderful
resource for the wider community of Hyndland.
St Bride’s Organ Recital featuring
Henry Fairs, Saturday 28th April
7.30pm, St Bride’s Episcopal
Church, 69 Hyndland Road G12 9UX
w:stbridesglasgow.wordpress.com/organ
24 | www.westendermagazine.com
The
Graphic World
of Neil Slorance
WORDS NICOLA MAULE MAIN IMAGE GREGOR REID
www.westendermagazine.com | 25
Dungeon Fun Front Cover &
‘Hope from the Dirt’ Acrylic on Canvas,
2008 © Neil Slorance
‘D
‘ ungeon Fun is brilliant, it has really cool
drawings.’ Words shared by my
13-year-old son on handing him the
comic book by the artist Neil Slorance and
writer Colin Bell. I had returned from an
interview with Slorance at his studio and with
my son’s love of the medium I presumed I
victoriously stumbled across a volume that he
might not have heard of. It seems not.
‘Yeah I know those comics. I met [Slorance]
at Glasgow Comic Con last year,’ he adds.
This was the annual event at the Royal
Concert Hall – a gathering of comic creators,
artists, writers and their fans, set to return
once again in June of 2018.
This artist/writer collaboration unfolds in
an award-winning series of four, full colour
books. It centres on a female protagonist,
‘a story of a girl and her sword,’ it begins –
and a warrior crusade for justice. That girl
is Fun Mudlifter, raised by trolls in the moat
of a castle who on gathering a sword that
plummeted from the sky adventures beyond
the moat for the first time. It’s a ‘coming of
26 | www.westendermagazine.com
age story,’ Slorance describes and is hugely
funny or ‘witty,’ as my son adds. I should not
really have been surprised that he had heard
of Slorance, with over 11k Twitter followers
and a Wikipedia page written about him he
is not a small name in the world of comics,
comic books and illustration. The Dungeon
Fun stories in particular are hugely popular
resonating with all ages and with international
appeal. Jason Symmons, comic book buff
and retailer describes them as, ‘just that, fun!
Really accessible to anyone and can be read
on a number of different levels.’
It is not the only time Bell and Slorance have
collaborated together. In 2011 they created
the webcomic Jonbot v’s Martha and in 2014
they again came together on a strip for Titan
Publications, Dr. Who: The Twelfth Doctor
with Peter Capaldi drawn in true Slorance
style, an accessible childlike ‘cutesy’
charm of oversized heads and large eyes –
a seductive draw for all-ages of comic fan.
Hope from the Dirt is an early work on canvas
that shows an obvious liking for the simplistic
strong lines and form of his characters, a
vibrant palette of persuasive colour and a
subject matter that emotes compassion in the
viewer – a work that pre-dates his move to
illustrating full time but echoes the sentiments
of drawings to follow.
I met with Slorance in his studio in the West
End’s Hidden Lane – a wonderful light fills
his space allowing for great conditions
to draw and paint. ‘The Dungeon Fun
pictures were drawn digitally but I use pen
and watercolours for some of my works,’
he tells me. There is a series of self-published
travelogue comic books in pen and ink
– drawings of his travels to Barcelona,
Bordeaux, Berlin and more recently The
Canada Issue. These are, ‘done in the style
of a journal comic and details all the people
I met, places I saw and stuff I got up to.
I realize this sounds like a comic version of
someone showing you their boring holiday
photos but without spoiling anything there’s a
good bit more to it and I’ve put a lot of myself
into it,’ he adds.
Modern Slorance is another largely
autobiographical publication, a collection
of short stories about things that interest
him, ‘there’s bits about video games, board
Summer Pines, Glenelg © Moy Mackay
Modern Slorance © Neil Slorance
games, also some diary stuff about dating
etc.,’ he explains. There are also some
more political pieces, live drawing for the
BBC at the last general election, for the
Independence referendum with STV online
and currently Slorance contributes a full
colour newspaper strip every Saturday to The
National newspaper.
Symmons has his own view of Slorance,
‘Interestingly a lot of his stuff is reminiscent
of older comics in terms of format and
presentation, one-page stuff like The
Broons.’ I on the other hand cannot pretend
to know a great deal about the history or
medium of comics and comic books – until
now, my experience has been limited to
quickly scanning copies for content and age
appropriateness before purchase – having
a friend who can inform on these matters
has been very helpful! Yet, I was and still am
enthusiastic about my children reading them.
Experience has showed me that it’s a way
in for the reluctant reader – not a new idea,
but still one which often finds resistance in
mainstream education.
Comics are essentially stories told through
sequential images, initial introduction to this
format is perhaps the picture book, ‘some
kids need a little bridge between picture
books and reading,’ Slorance adds and
I would agree, they are a wonderful and
pretty obvious progression. I would also
www.westendermagazine.com | 27
‘Han and Chewie’ Watercolour
2015 © Neil Slorance
argue that one of the added benefits is that
it encourages the reader to slow down –
the pictures provoke a requirement to digest
the words and scene before moving on. Not
only do we think in words and pictures but we
live in such a visual, fast moving landscape,
slowing the mind down and comic books as
a way by their very nature that facilitates this
happening, is perhaps hugely beneficial to
humans of all ages.
For me, I finished my first comic book
by reading Volume One of Dungeon Fun.
I may not have elevated any ‘coolness’ in
the eyes of my son but my interest in his
large box of comics has sparked a new type
of conversation and one that may very well
develop into a shared interest.
Slorance shares his studio with other
makers – RE:Craft and Lady Shinjuku,
and is open to the public Thursday to
Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment.
A range of Prints and Cards by Slorance
and other makers are for sale and you will
often find Slorance working in the studio
– according to one of his Instagram post’s
he sometimes brings baking in too!
Studio 1, Hidden Lane, 1103 Argyle Street,
Finnieston G3 8ND
neilslorance.com
Twitter: @neilslorance
Win! Cut & Colour
with Luke
Luke left the Big Smoke last November to
head for Glorious Glasgow and
Kennedy + Co Hairdressing couldn’t be
happier… London’s loss and our gain.
Trained – Vidal Sassoon Academy in London
and further education with L’Oreal and Wella
on all the latest trends.
Favourite Service – Love meeting new
clients and bringing out the best in individuals
to boost their confidence through precision
cutting and using the latest flattering colour
techniques.
Inspired By – Creative people, music and
fashion.
Favourite Product – Without doubt Olaplex
– the patented technology prevents damage
and relinks broken bonds providing real
structural repair…what’s not to like?
Top Tip – Trust me! I want the best for your
hair as much as you do. I’m here to look
after your hair and have the professional
knowledge to achieve optimum results.
WIN! A Bespoke Consultation, Cut and
Colour at Kennedy + Co Hairdressing
with Luke worth £120. Go to
westendermagazine.com by the
30th April 2018 to enter.
Kennedy + Co Hairdressing
436 Dumbarton Road, West End
0141 339 1555
Book online 24/7 @ kennedyhair.co.uk
28 | www.westendermagazine.com
Gray’s Deli keeps it local and Scottish
Right Under Your Nose
supporting West End food and drink artisans
WORDS TRACY MUKHERJEE IMAGES GREGOR REID
Supermarket food shopping isn’t always
top of our ‘to do’ list. As much as my
regular visits to genuinely good
supermarkets allow me to buy everything
I need for the week, there are other little
markets that I find genuinely inspiring. A walk
around the West End ‘super markets’ delivers
a variety of alternatives to our weekly visit
to the bigger outlets. So were our West End
street a virtual supermarket, how would it
look? Trolley bag in tow, let’s shop!
First Aisle – Fruit and Veg
Roots & Fruits
Always the first aisle we hit let’s head to
the fruit and veg section, or Roots, Fruits
and Flowers in our case. With two handy
stores, on Great Western Road and Argyle
Street, there is bound to be one near
enough for your grocery shop. Following
the huge success of the Kelvinbridge outlet,
the Finnieston store opened in 2011. The
company pride themselves on sourcing
local, ‘environmentally conscious’ produce.
Their fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered
several times a week, so you know what you
see hasn’t been sitting for weeks on end.
To cap it off, Roots and Fruits’ flowers are
something special and not just for marking
major life events. The florists note that they
are inspired by country gardens – such that
their gorgeous flower arrangements look wild
and natural but are the epitome of class too.
Andersons
The Queen Market Drive outlet has been
serving the community with gorgeous fruit,
veg and flowers since 1918. 100 years on and
in the midst of refurbishment, it’s still the best
wee greengrocers in Kelvinside.
Next Up – Fish and Meat
Wilson’s Catch of the Day
A real find for quality produce is Wilson’s
Catch of the Day. Established in 2015 in
Finnieston, the produce here is as fresh as
it comes, barring braving the waves in a
dinghy. The brain child of chef, fishmonger
www.westendermagazine.com | 29
Supermarket shopping. It’s part of our regular chores,
with variety and accessibility to products from every
part of the globe. But just sometimes it’s nice to
consider the little guys, the alternative super markets
right here on our West End streets.
and proprietor Stuart Wilson, the team head
out daily to coastal fish markets to select
the freshest seafood available: lobster, crab,
oysters, monkfish, salmon; even swordfish.
The list is incredible. And yet, fish isn’t the
only thing on the menu. Wilson’s also do a
great free range selection of poultry from
traceable farms and game from ethical
estates. With knowledgeable staff on hand to
advise on sauces and menu ideas, when they
talk about one stop shops, they are talking
about this SUPER market!
Andrew Reid Butchers
20 years in the Kelvinbridge shop, a West End
institution with the best Italian sausages and
steak burger around.
The Delicious Deli Counter
Gray’s Deli
How do you possibly choose one deli in
the West End – THE delicatessen capital
of central Scotland? You simply can’t.
To begin with, which kind of deli are we
talking about? The Italian choice is vast,
so it might be worth looking at a store that
promotes Scottish produce. Gray’s Deli in
Broomhill is a true campaigner for Scottish
fayre. As well as a great selection of Baikhous
artisan bread made in Renfrewshire, superb
Glasgow based Ed’s Bees honeys, Crowdie
cheese and of course sumptuous smoked
salmon, this gorgeous little shop stocks
the best produce in the world (well, it is
Scottish!).
George Mewes Cheese
In terms of cheese, look no further than
George Mewes on Byres Road. This
cheesemonger stocks world class British
and continental artisan cheeses. After 25
years as a chef, Mewes found his great
passion for cheese and stocks some major
award winners. The staff are more than
happy to guide you in which accompanying
jams, truffles and honeys might match your
originally selected mouth-watering cheese
board.
30 | www.westendermagazine.com
A draft you want to catch at Vino Valentino
Scherezade
This lovely little market on Bank Street has
simply stunning Middle Eastern cuisine:
falafel, hummus, baba ganoush and baked
aubergine…delicious.
Globetrotting – World Food
Solly’s African Village
With ne’er a wonky trolley wheel in sight,
isn’t this fun? Where do we begin in the
wonderfully multicultural community that is
Glasgow’s West End? Solly’s African Village
of course. Established in 1992, the Great
Western Road store has food from Kenya,
South Africa, Nigeria, the list goes on. From
Afro-Caribbean meats, fruits and groceries
to an incredible array of spices, Solly’s also
have exotic sea food – snapper, shark and
octopus. And what does every village need?
A hairdresser and gift shop, both on site.
Lupe Pintos
Slightly further down Great Western Road
and we come to my favourite world foodcome-deli
store, Lupe Pintos. Founders
Doug Bell and Rhoda Robertson had spent
a year long journey across America and
Mexico immersing themselves in the cuisine
before opening their Edinburgh store in 1991.
Ten years later and the Glasgow branch
opened, becoming a West End institution.
The tiny shop stocks every possible hot
sauce, chilli, refried bean, tortilla combination
this side of Mexico City. With three
cookbooks and as organisers of the annual
Chillifest, the Pintos team are hot, hot, hot!
KRK
KRK in Woodlands stands out as the place to
go for South East Asian ingredients. A store
packed full of every spice, rice, flour and
Indian breads, even my Indian mother-in-law
loves this place.
Here Comes Cake
Kember & Jones
Arriving at our bakery section, there is a
definite front runner who supplies many
of the other delis in the west. Kember and
Jones use four simple basic ingredients for
all their bread: flour, yeast, salt and water;
no preservatives enzymes or other additives.
From here ingredients can be added to make
wholemeal, malted granary, rye and raisin as
well as my favourite, sourdough. To kill two
birds with one stone, the deli counter stocks
champion chutneys and charcuterie for that
oh-so-yummy sandwich when you get home.
www.westendermagazine.com | 31
Cottonrake Bakery
This very popular little spot, opened in 2010,
is regularly queued around the block. And
no wonder: croissants, Portuguese custard
tarts, brownies and lemon meringue pies.
I don’t think I need to elaborate. Point made.
It’s Wine O’Clock
Vino Valentino
Finally arriving at wines and spirits, the old
trolley bag is straining under the weight of
our West End goodies. Slightly hidden off the
beaten track, take a trip to Vino Valentino.
Just off Byres Road in Chancellor Street,
you won’t regret taking the time to find it.
Passionate champions of Italian vineyards,
the team’s wines are personally sourced in
Italy. Stocking bottles of wine, of course, but
the real USP here is that many of their wines
are draft, therefore you can sample before
you buy. Leaving here you may need another
shopping trolley.
The Cave
15 years in Kelvinbridge, 400 craft beers,
unique liqueurs and top of the range spirits,
The Cave has all bases covered.
Shopping? Done (as Gordon Ramsay
would say).
Roots, Fruits & Flowers 451-457 Great
Western Road & 1137 Argyle Street
Andersons 92 Queen Margaret Drive
Wilson’s Catch of the Day
71 Houldsworth Street
Andrew Reid Butchers
401 Great Western Road
Gray’s Deli 305 Crow Road
George Mewes Cheese 106 Byres Road
Scherezade 47 Bank Street
Solly’s African Village
381-383 Great Western Road
Lupe Pintos 313 Great Western Road
KRK 286 Woodlands Road
Kember & Jones 134 Byres Road
Cottonrake 497 Great Western Road
Vino Valentino 6 Chancellor Street
The Cave 421 Great Western Road
Mother's Day at SPiRiTO
317 - 319 Crow Road, G11 7BU
0141 337 3307
www.spiritogifts.com
32 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com
Magazine Promotion
RRI
T
by John Parker
he first step to spring-cleaning
your hair is to get a good trim from your
hairdresser. A good trim will freshen
up your locks and get rid of any split-ends,
reducing the risk of hair breakage and making
your hair feel and look instantly healthier.
The next step is to try to stay away from
heated styling tools to give your hair a break
and avoid causing further damage. If you do
need to use any heated styling tools, always
use a heat protection spray and when using
flat irons, make sure they are clean and
any dirt or grime has been wiped off them
prior to being used to stop bacteria being
spread onto your hair. Cleaning your brushes
regularly is also important to get rid of old
hair and any residue from products that can
make your hair greasy.
To get your spring clean started book in for a
trim with one of our stylists at Rainbow Room
International Great Western Road and get
your hair looking and feeling good in no time!
follow – Rainbow Room GWR
Rainbow Room International
607 Great Western Road G12 8HX
0141 337 3370
rainbowroominternational.com
WIN! Rainbow Room International
are offering one lucky reader a hair
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on competitions by the 30th Apr’18.
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Glasgow
G12 9HT
Tel: 0141 357 7374
www.cassiopeiaonline.co.uk
Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 33
Images I Gregor Reid
new poke bowls at
So who’s heard of the latest Poke
Bowl food trend (pronounced POH-keh)?
Ubiquitous in Hawaii as a nutritious
lunch, starter, or light main course, it’s
versatility is gaining attention around the
globe. Wudon on Great Western Road are
ahead of the curve in the West End and have
launched their own range of poke bowl treats.
WUDON
on warm Japanese boiled rice. Or, Poke Tofu
Mein: tofu, tomato, carrot, sweet corn and
edamame with peanuts, flavoured with a
peanut dressing on cold ramen noodles.
Passionate about bringing fresh, nutritious
Pan Asian dishes to the foodie West End,
Wudon can’t wait for Westenders to try them.
A poke bowl consists of sushi grade
marinated fish, seafood, or tofu combined
with vegetables and packed with either hot
chilli or kimchi sauces or salty soy, tossed
over warm rice. Really, it’s a satisfying bowl
of deconstructed sushi.
Take your pick from Wudon’s offering of Poke
Salmon: raw salmon, avocado, crab stick,
cucumber, and edamame mixed with kimchi
sauce on warm Japanese boiled rice and
topped with seaweed. Poke Prawn (above
image): king prawns, seaweed, edamame,
fresh chilli and coriander, served with a
wedge of lime in sesame and soy vinigarette
!
Special Offer*
20% off each Poke Bowl at
Wudon till the end of April
2018. Quote WESTENDER
when ordering.
*Ts&Cs apply.
Wudon
535 Great Western Road
0141 357 3033
wudon-noodlebar.co.uk
#
34 | www.westendermagazine.com
@
The
Lismore
Reviewed by
Emily Donoho
In a corner of Partick where pubs come and
go faster than Theresa May’s cabinet, the
Lismore has withstood changing tastes and
demographics since it opened 1996. It looks
like it’s been there forever. The woodwork
inside is oak in rich browns, with leather
benches framed by old ropes from ships
and tables made from the tops of whisky
casks. The pub’s artwork looks to island life,
abstract collections of materials from the
Highlands and Islands: turf, bird eggs, fish,
boats, fishing nets, while the stained glass on
the windows was specially commissioned,
depicting the Highland Clearances.
The island of Lismore, from where the pub
takes its name, was one of the last places to
be cleared.
You notice something Victorian about the
Lismore – a step back in time to a place
where pubs were for socialising, not eating a
posh meal, watching television, or listening to
music on a PA turned up to 11.
There is music, but it’s live. The Lismore has
hosted Irish and Scottish traditional music
sessions for years, bringing in some of the
best musicians in the city. The sessions run
roughly three times per week – Monday,
Tuesday, and Thursday (double check, the
days can vary). On Sundays, they have bands
playing a variety of genres, anything from jazz
to folk to funk.
The pub is unusual in that it has two bars, the
front one where the sessions live, and up a
couple steps, the back one. There’s even a
small bar in the back, which is useful if you’re
visiting on a packed night and don’t want
to battle the hordes to get to the main bar.
Image I Gregor Reid
The back bar rarely gets deafening, so if
you’re looking for a place for a quiet chat, you
can find a nook or a cranny.
The Lismore hasn’t quite jumped on the
real ale bandwagon. They have one guest
cask ale and Deuchars IPA on the handpumps.
The bar staff when we were there
didn’t know what ale they had on (it was
Greenmantle Century), but the beer itself
had been well-kept. Nonetheless, they keep
an extensive range of beverages on tap,
including Heverlee, Tennant’s, Caledonian
Best, Punk IPA, two Drygate lagers, Estrella,
and Magners for the cider drinkers.
At its heart, though, it’s a whisky pub –
not surprising from a bar so devoted to
the Highlands and Islands – and it has a
lot of whiskies. You can have the usual
suspects, the ten-year MacAllans, Highland
Parks, Laphraoigs, and so on, but for the
adventurous (and financially solvent) whisky
drinker, there are 18 year Dalmores, a 21-year
Glengoyne, an 18 year Bowmore, and many
more.
The homage to Highland and Island history
is inescapable for male patrons. The urinals
are devoted to George Granville, Colonel
Fell, and Patrick Sellar, all notorious for their
brutal and callous role in the Clearances, with
plaques suggesting men relieving themselves
‘pay them the respect they deserve.’
It certainly invites a dialogue about history.
The Lismore
206 Dumbarton Road G11 6UN
0141 576 0102
facebook.com/LismoreBar
www.westendermagazine.com | 35
@
resh, local and seasonal produce is the
cornerstone of Broomhill’s newest eatery
– The Square Bar and Restaurant.
spring
F
A favourite dish on their spring menu is
proving to be the lamb shank, champ
potatoes, and seared turnip with rosemary
jus. Just the kind of slow-cooked comfort
food Westenders need at this changeable
time of year. And with select steaks coming
from Byres Road’s award winning Rodgers
Butchers, all 40 day dry aged cuts are
proving popular with diners.
THE SQUARE
‘Provenance is very important to
Westenders,’ says Square Bar owner, Luke
Tracey. ‘West End foodies believe, like me,
that Scotland’s produce is the best in the
world and want to know our seafood, meat,
and vegetables are as local as possible and
dishes are created by our talented chefs with
seasonality in mind.’
With Mothering Sunday on the way (11th
March!) and a fantastic money off offer on
your food bill, there may be no better time
to book in early and treat someone special –
there’s even free on-site parking. A West End
nirvana indeed!
Special Offer! Enjoy 20% off your
food bill at The Square Bar &
Restaurant from the 19th of February
to the 30th April 2018*. Simply quote
Westender when you phone to book,
or when ordering.
*Discount excludes any drinks bill.
The Square Bar and Restaurant
6-8 Norby Road, Broomhill G11 7BN
0141 337 6988
thesquareglasgow.com
Images I Gregor Reid
36 | www.westendermagazine.com
gregorreidphotography.com
PORTRAITS CORPORATE
FASHION
@
The Cran
www.westendermagazine.com | 37
Reviewed by
Roberto Parrucci
Reaching The Cran on a cold winter
night, I’m struck by its laid back,
comfortable atmosphere with wooden
benches and old armchairs covered with
blankets in tartan patterns. On the naked
brick walls there’s a remarkable piece of
wood hanging, one of those your dog would
find upon an empty Scottish beach. Opposite
the entrance, a series of framed artworks
also serve to brighten the space.
My eye is immediately caught by the counter,
stocking various big pots of appealing food.
A quick glance at the daily’s board and I opt
for a haggis samosa (don’t be fooled, it’s
vegan haggis we’re talking about here) and
a vegan stovie (yes, it’s possible to recreate
the meaty all-round texture, but cruelty-free).
To wash all the food down I opt for the green
machine, a smoothie with broccoli, celery,
spinach, banana and pineapple. This should
be enough to stave off any midday hunger
pangs.
Delving into the haggis samosa, served
with a slightly spicy apple puree on the side
that goes hand in hand with the balanced,
generously stuffed vegan filling, I have the
immediate impression this food hasn’t
lingered long in the counter. It’s fresh, crusty
and an extremely succulent starter.
Sampling the vegan stovie, served with
oaties on the side, this traditional Scottish
recipe is revisited with loads of lentils, beans,
mushrooms, potatoes and carrots. Halfway
through I’m knocked down. The stovie is so
creamy and filling that it immediately gives a
sense of appeasement to my empty stomach.
With this bonanza for foodies, I quickly feel
satisfied having eaten my fill.
Luckily, a few sips of the most refreshing
of smoothies bring me back to normal and
I discover some space for a sweet treat, a
lavish chocolate caramel cake.
The Cran aims to be a crossroad for crafted
food, drinks, arts and work. The food at
the counter is partly in-house made, partly
provided by Face-plant Foods, a wellestablished
plant-based kitchen, providing
the best of stews, curries and soups.
With desserts provided by an artisan
Glasgow-based baker, The Cran makes it
even easier for you via their Instagram stories
for the latest updates on the menu. Artisan
traders can also set-up a pop-up shop
here, present their products at tastings and
showcase their arts and crafts (from jewellery
to vintage clothing, ceramics and plants).
The Cran aims to serve as a community
space, a venue for events and workshops.
The philosophy of this wee pearl is to try
and shop as local as possible. Have you
ever met a cow in Glasgow? Well, next time
you sink into the Cran’s creamy cappuccino,
rest assured it’s a weegie cow’s milk you’re
tasting.
The Cran
994 Argyle Street G3 8LU
0141 237 3435
thecran.co.uk
Image I Gregor Reid
38 | www.westendermagazine.com
Guilty Pleasures from Westender’s American in Glasgow
Nothing makes a person
feel more loved than a
homemade gift taking
time and effort – even
better if it tastes
amazing!
Image I Gregor Reid
y Liberty Vittert
www.westendermagazine.com | 39
CREAMY
BLUeBERRY CLOUD
Is spring here yet? I wish I could say it was, but it
is just as dreary outside as those miserable winter
months. But as always, Liberty is here (or rather
the sugar from the grocery store), to perk up those
coffers. This isn’t your Mama’s meringue – this baby
has a zest (pardon the pun) for life with a gorgeous
zing of lime woven into creamy layers covering a
puffy and chewy meringue laced with pistachios.
Perfect for Mother’s Day, or just a rainy Monday.
K
Shopping List
150g + 50g icing sugar
10 egg whites
½ tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp sea salt
80g pistachios
300g blueberries
300mL double cream
2 limes
1 tsp vanilla
L
Method
1. Turn oven to 100 degrees Celsius
and line a baking sheet with parchment
paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl (hopefully
electric or skip the gym that day), whisk
the egg whites until frothy. Add the
cream of tartar.
3. When the egg whites are soft peaks,
add 75g of icing sugar, and when the egg
whites are hard peaks, add the further
75g of icing sugar and the salt.
4. Scoop out the egg whites onto the
parchment paper in 6 large circles using
a spoon to create swirls. Sprinkle the
chopped pistachios on top.
5. Bake the meringues for 5 hours. Turn
off the oven and allow to cool keeping
the meringues in the oven. Trust me.
6. Whip the double cream, juice of 1
lime, and zest of 2 limes in a mixer,
adding the 50g of icing sugar and
vanilla.
Top your meringue clouds with cream
and blueberries.
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40 | www.westendermagazine.com
Many people in the
West End dream of
opening their own
business – whether it’s
a personal passion, or a desire to
work for themselves that drives
the move. Loraine Patrick speaks
to three locals about what it
takes to make it as a sole trader.
There are lots of perks to working for
yourself – just ask Alice Kirk, founder
of Isabella’s Wardrobe on Crow Road in
Broomhill. Alice set up on her own business
10 years ago after working for a commercial
arts seller. She chooses her own hours,
enjoys increased freedom and lots of job
satisfaction
‘You have a great deal more flexibility’, Alice
confirms. ‘This business is a very personal
one – customers want to see me in the shop,
so I close on a Sunday and Monday to make
sure I can be here the rest of the time. Other
benefits of working for yourself are that you
are not answerable to anyone else. You make
your own decisions. It’s great fun and it is
very social – I now know lots of ladies in the
West End.’
The shop started with Alice’s own love of
labels and Isabella’s Wardrobe has become
the West Ends go to spot for bagging a
designer bargain. ‘I don’t source stock,’ says
Alice, ‘customers come to me with pieces to
sell. I am like a matching service and know
my customer’s style and tastes. We are a
consignment shop – I don’t pay for stock –
when items sell the client gets paid. It’s a
good business model.’
A few doors along is The Wee Kitchen Shop
at 304 Crow Road. Run by cabinetmaker
Greg Bowers, he believes when you work
for yourself that it’s vital to find something
you are passionate about. For Greg, after a
long career in the building and preservation
trade it was about bringing all his skills and
creativity together. Greg picks up, ‘There
was nothing worse than always having to
be the bearer of bad news. When I worked
in preservation I always had to apologise
to clients – wet rot, dry rot, it was always
expensive to fix. The kitchen is the heart of
the home and brings together my furniture
making, property development and
restoration skills.’
Opening the shop was also a lifestyle choice
– Greg wanted to be around to see his
www.westendermagazine.com | 41
B.Y.O.B
(Be Your Own Boss)
WORDS Loraine Patrick IMAGES Gregor Reid
42 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 43
children grow up. ‘Not being a contractor and
having to be at a building site from eight in
the morning means I can have that time with
my family. I can help out in the morning when
my wife goes to work and I can spend time
with my kids.’
There are downsides to being your own
boss though and Greg is particularly hard
on himself. ‘My mind is always connected –
work never really stops. Evenings, weekends,
and holidays – I never switch off. The main
issue though is working on a Saturday.
I live to spend time with my family so working
weekends is not ideal.’
Owen Bisset, owner of gift and lifestyle
store Concept 65 agrees it’s about finding
a balance. Owen has no problem with
shutting shop when he needs to. ‘It’s really
important not let your business engulf your
life. My customers know I have no problem
booking holidays but I always make sure I
combine work and play. I buy for the shop
when I’m abroad and have a good network
of contacts, particularly in Paris, so I always
have something unique to offer my customers
here in the West End. I don’t buy at UK trade
shows anymore as there is too much overlap
with other shops in the area.’
Concept 65 (formerly Owen Bisset Boutique)
on Hyndland Street stocks an eclectic mix of
homeware, gifts and jewellery. For Owen it
was always the aim to be his own boss. ‘I can
express my creativity freely with the shop.
I worked for a similar company when I
finished art school but always wanted the
freedom to do my own thing as I have quite a
quirky style.’
Owen is clear he wouldn’t let his business
take over his life – and is a very relaxed boss
to himself. ‘It’s a very weird conversation
I have with myself,’ he laughs. ‘I probably
do need to be harder on myself – I have no
one to whip me into shape. Things like my
timekeeping are not always great but my
44 | www.westendermagazine.com
customers know that. Actually my friends are
harder on me than I am!’
Like Greg and Alice, Owen agrees you never
fully switch off when you are a sole trader –
his business is the first thing he thinks about
when he wakes up and the last thing he thinks
about before going to sleep. Six years into
his business it’s been a steep learning curve
but good fun. ‘I would recommend anyone
thinking about becoming self employed just
to go for it – but you must be prepared to
work hard.’
Concept 65, the Wee Kitchen Shop and
Isabella’s Wardrobe have all found their niche
in the West End. But it has taken time. Alice
says it took around eight years to develop her
market and build up to the quality of stock
she now has. ‘I knew what I wanted to sell but
it took me a wee while to find the customer
base. Nowadays I get lots of high value
pieces and I have the market to sell them
on. Authenticity has never been an issue,
I am careful who I take stock from and there
is always assistance out there in verifying
pieces. Business is thriving in what is a
competitive market and I just want to keep
doing what I am doing.’
‘There is always going to be a place for
bricks and mortar shops like these,’ Owen
concludes. ‘People want to see and try
before they buy. If I am still here in a year then
I am doing something right!’
Isabella’s Wardrobe, 318 Crow Road
The Wee Kitchen Shop, 304 Crow Road
Concept 65, 65 Hyndland Street
www.westendermagazine.com | 45
Happy 20th Anniversary
Independent Mortgage Store
Paul McGowan loves life on the ever
changing Byres Road – lucky, since
he’s been at No.93 since he set up the
Independent Mortgage Store 20 years ago!
‘We opened on the 28th April 1998,’ says
Paul. ‘From the moment we opened the
doors we have been busy. Laura Carson,
my office manager, has worked with me the
whole time which is very rare in this industry.’
Gerry Hughes joined early in 2017 as a Senior
Mortgage and Protection Broker – bringing
35 years of industry expertise with him.
company small and strong with a great bond
to our loyal clientele.’
Mortgage interest rates have of course
peaked and troughed over those years. On
the 2nd November 2017 the Bank of England
raised the base rate from 0.25% to 0.5% - the
first rate rise in over a decade. It is likely to
rise twice more over the next three years,
according to Bank of England governor Mark
Carney. Paul’s team are currently ensuring
that their existing clients are on the best and
lowest rate possible to keep their costs down.
Paul adds, ‘We are literally a small family
unit that has bonded together. The benefit
to our clients is that they have had the same
team looking after them over the decades. In
many cases when we meet clients to review
their mortgage it’s like meeting up with an
old friend and catching up with their news.
It’s the overriding benefit to keeping the
WIN! Independent Mortgage Store,
in conjunction with Two Fat Ladies at
The Buttery, are offering one reader a
three course meal with a bottle of house
wine, plus a welcoming glass of fizz, for
four people*. To enter simply ‘like’ their
Facebook page and state what anniversary
they are celebrating by 31st May ‘18. *Ts&Cs
apply.
Are you now one of the estimated four million
people still languishing on the higher variable
rate? See how much you could potentially
save, call the Independent Mortgage Store.
Independent Mortgage Store
93 Byres Road G11 5HW
0141 337 3393
independent-mortgage-store.co.uk
46 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com
Magazine Promotion
Accountancy
Matters
by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison
Are you missing out on a
company tax cash rebate?
You could have tax relief hidden in your
company. Since 2000, HMRC’s
Research & Development (R&D) Tax
Credit legislation has been in place but many
companies are still missing out. Perhaps the
title R&D is misleading. Forget ‘white coat’
syndrome it’s not all about laboratories.
In fact the criteria can apply to almost any
SME business.
How is the R&D Tax Credit calculated?
For an SME sector an enhanced deduction of
130% plus 100% of original cost giving 230%
deduction from profits.
How can I find out if I qualify? ‘Take My
Free Audit’ by calling Murrison & Wilson
today to discover the tax relief hidden in
your company.
What businesses meet R&D Tax Credit
criteria? A business that has gone through
growth, transformation or change should
consider applying.
Demonstrate you’ve taken a commercial risk,
with a level of appreciable improvement or
scientific improvement on internal and client
based projects and you can apply.
For a free consultation, plus fixed and
competitive fees, get in touch now on
0141 290 0262, email info@muwca.
co.uk, or visit muwca.co.uk for our
free tax guides.
An example is a company enhancing a
factory floor process that directly improved
business, it ticks the R&D box.
The R&D Tax Credit is only available to SME
companies. By definition a company with
under 500 employees, turnover under €100M
and assets of under €86M.
Even if a company is making a loss you can
still apply. The enhanced deduction can be
surrendered to HMRC for tax back. This
could be a welcome boost to your business.
Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants
10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ
0141 290 0262
info@muwca.co.uk
muwca.co.uk
Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 47
Legal Matters
Wheels of Fortune
Words from Donald Reid, chairman at Mitchells Roberton:
The narrow streets and heavy traffic prevalent in the West End make
the advice below from my colleague very apt. Cycling is definitely a
dangerous pursuit. I prefer jaywalking myself.
Cycling is great. Great exercise.
Great for the environment. Great fun
for all ages. The UK excels at a
professional level. Why are cyclists not
universally adored as saviours of the world
and applauded daily by other road users?
Probably because – Newsflash – bicycles are
traffic. And lots of cyclists pretend otherwise.
Too many cyclists ignore basic rules
like having operational lights. Too many
ignore red lights and/or choose to cycle
on pavements (‘shared use’ pavements
excepted).
There is no question that cyclists are
vulnerable road users. In a collision with
a vehicle, they will come off second best.
A car driver’s insurance should provide
cover if they injure a cyclist or damage their
property. But no law says cyclists must have
insurance. So what happens when the cyclist
causes an accident?
No doubt, leisure / weekend cyclists consider
the risk small enough to manage. Perhaps
some think their car insurance will cover them
(it doesn’t). But what about all the commuting
cyclists? Typical cycling insurance annual
premiums are £30. Basic membership of
cycling bodies often includes third party
insurance for about the same price.
The message to cyclists is clear. Take out
insurance. Don’t lose your (lycra) shirt
for £30.
If Paul Neilly can help
please contact him on
0141 552 3422, or email
pdn@mitchells-roberton.
co.uk.
An uninsured cyclist with no assets or income
will not be worth suing. The Motor Insurers
Bureau offers no indemnity for uninsured
cyclists. But the injured driver or pedestrian
might have to pay a solicitor to find out the
two-wheeled miscreant is made of straw.
Alternatively, if a cyclist does have
recoverable assets or income, they could
lose their home or be made bankrupt if they
cannot settle the injured party’s losses.
Insured cyclists are probably in the minority.
Mitchells Roberton Solicitors
& Estate Agents
George House
36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD
0141 552 3422
www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk
48 | www.westendermagazine.com
Empowerment
In the wake of the #MeToo campaign,
the idea that women should support and
rally behind each other has been dominating
mainstream conversation. But while women
are finding their voices and speaking out
about traumatic experiences for – in many
cases – the first time, others are focusing on
how to take that idea of empowerment and
turn it into a tool to serve women throughout
their lives. That’s where MsMissMrs, a Firhillbased
social enterprise steps in.
‘There’s not a lot we can do to control how
other people behave, but we can do a lot
to manage ourselves,’ says operations
manager Louise McAllister. MsMissMrs
– which launched in 2013 before moving
…and superhero pants
WORDS Hannah Westwater MAIN IMAGE Gregor Reid
into its current hub last year – runs selfempowerment
programmes for women who
have been through trauma. The ASDANaccredited
‘Get SET’ (Self-Empowerment
Tools), written by organisation founder Sylvia
Douglas, consist of one workshop a week
over eight weeks. Over 200 women have
completed the programme so far.
‘The idea behind MsMissMrs is about
building resilience so that we’re able to
navigate our way through life’s obstacles,’
Louise explains. ‘We want to create a
community of women coming together
and supporting each other. In this day
and age we’re quite isolated from each
other, whereas we used to have these big
www.westendermagazine.com | 49
communities – we’d watch our mother or
grandmother or great-grandmother, we’d
see how they managed their lives and their
relationships. Nowadays, women don’t have
that experience. So we wanted to create
a hub bringing women together to share
experiences.’
The workshops aim to challenge the ‘negative
voices in our heads that tell us we’re not good
enough’. Women are invited to participate
in guided discussions about self-esteem,
setting boundaries, self-awareness and
cultivating healthy relationships – life skills
which can be forgotten through hard times or
which mightn’t have been taught to us at all.
With a focus on self-care, Sylvia and Louise
are keen to emphasise that despite its
new buzzword status, they mean it in the
most practical sense of the term. ‘A lot of
people think it’s putting moisturiser on, but
it goes a lot deeper than that. Self-care is
not a reward,’ Sylvia says. ‘It’s you giving
yourself permission to say, “I am responsible
for taking care of myself”. Your GP
appointments, your smear tests, your dental
check-ups, all of that. ‘It’s about mental
health, physical health and social wellbeing.’
Sylvia, who grew up in care units, was
inspired by her own experiences to
establish the social enterprise. Now also
training other organisations to deliver the
programme she designed, she says it was
only following her own recovery that she
realised the importance of prioritising ones
own wellbeing. She adds, ‘You get to a point
where you’ve been through so much in your
life that you don’t tend to believe you deserve
good things. It’s almost like dimming your
own light – society doesn’t benefit, your
family doesn’t benefit, and most importantly
you don’t benefit. I thought it would be really
great to have a women-only space where you
could look at the fundamentals of rebuilding
yourself.’
launching new four-hour one-off workshops,
aiming to cater for women who are unable
to commit to the eight weeks of workshops
offered on the programme.
‘Most of the women who do our courses have
been through trauma, but I actually think
most women have. We’ve all got… stuff,’ says
Louise when considering the new intake of
women for these shorter workshops. ‘I’m
so glad women are talking but we need to
ensure we have the tools to navigate these
issues in the community on a daily basis.’
There is no referral system as such, she says,
but women hear about MsMissMrs through
local partners like GPs and other groups who
are prominent in women’s recovery.
As well as supporting women, the social
enterprise does preventative work with girls.
Having developed a 72-page workbook,
they encourage 11 to 13-year-old girls to
think about difficult communication, setting
boundaries, self-esteem, body image and
stress – and discuss it with their peers.
They’ve been working with Knightswood
Secondary School and have received an
enthusiastic response. ‘We talk to young girls
and they’re so tired already,’ says Sylvia. ‘You
can’t underestimate the impact social media
and those daily comparisons have. But really,
I don’t think there’s an age limit on the book.
These issues follow you.’
Moving forward, MsMissMrs want to make
their self-awareness programmes as
accessible as possible to any women who
might benefit from their services, as well as
reaching more girls with their workbook. Until
then, it’s clear that the hub will stay full to the
brim with support, laughs, empowerment –
and pants.
msmissmrs.co.uk
MsMissMrs is largely funded by the sale
of their signature ‘empowerment pants’ –
ethically-manufactured underwear designed
with the idea of women-as-their-ownsuperheroes
in mind. Over 3,000 pairs have
sold to date. The revenue generated from
these is partly why the organisation is now
50 | www.westendermagazine.com
Health Matters
GP Dr. Pamela Leggate, of Glasgow West Medical Practice,
discusses concerns around Autism and Asperger’s
Syndrome. Find how to access information, courses and
the help available.
Autism is a complex lifelong
developmental condition that can
cause a range of problems
with communication, behaviour and
understanding. Around 70% of people with
Autism have a coexisting learning difficulty.
It is more common than you might think with
around 1 in 100 children having some degree
of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is four
times more common in boys than girls.
So what might cause concern that a child
might be autistic? Parents will sometimes
notice something not quite right from as early
as 12 months old, but it is usually around the
age of two years old that it becomes more
obvious. Affected children may have delayed
speech and will not compensate by gesturing
or pointing. They may not look you in the eye
and may prefer to play alone rather than with
other children. They might find pretend play
difficult. There may be repetitive behaviours
or speech. Autistic children can become very
distressed if their routine changes.
If you are concerned, you can find a
screening questionnaire at M_CHAT.org
(modified checklist for autism in toddlers).
Screening tests are not diagnostic but can
alert you that there might be a problem so
that you can ask your health visitor or GP
about a formal assessment. Depending on
the severity of the condition some children
may not be diagnosed until they start
school or later. Children with Asperger’s
syndrome (a milder form of ASD) may have
normal intelligence, but just be a bit socially
awkward. Some people reach adulthood
before they realise they are ‘different’.
So what causes Autism? The straight answer
is that we don’t really know. The condition
often runs in families so there may well be
a genetic cause. I’ve had a few patients
(mainly fathers I have to say) who have
children diagnosed with autism who then
think maybe that would actually explain a lot
about the problems they have had throughout
life! In Glasgow we do have an adult autism
www.westendermagazine.com | 51
assessment clinic but predictably, there are
long waiting lists for the service.
A few years ago there was a panic that
vaccines might cause autism. This has
since been proved not to be the case and
in fact the doctor who was responsible for
the research has since been struck off for
falsifying results. The most recent theory
is that autistic children’s brains develop
differently with a surplus of synapses (extra
connections in the brain). You would think
that a higher number of connections would
be a good thing but it seems to lead to
miscommunication between brain cells and
difficulties with processing. It is likely that
there is no single cause for autism but a
mixture of factors.
Anyway, enough of the science…how can we
help children with autism? Having recognised
the condition, there is a lot that can be done
to help. Special educational support can
go a long way to improve communication,
language and social skills. This might involve
a multidisciplinary team with speech and
language therapists, occupational therapists
and educational psychologists. Behavioural
issues can be improved in the same way
as other children with positive parenting
techniques. Ask your health visitor about the
Triple P programme available for all parents,
not just parents of autistic children. This aims
to encourage by recognising and praising
good behaviour. You can find out more
or even access the programme online at
triplep-parenting.uk.net.
Occasionally medication is used for things
like anxiety, depression, poor sleep or
obsessive compulsive disorders which can
affect people with autism. There is no cure
and autistic children will grow into autistic
adults. The earlier we can recognise the
condition and put supports in place, the
better the outcomes. Some adults with
Asperger’s syndrome will be able to live
independently, work and lead relatively
normal lives while others will require support
from parents or carers in the long term.
Finally, there is a school of thought that
suggests Asperger’s syndrome is not an
illness but a variant of normal. People without
Asperger’s are referred to as ‘neurotypicals’.
Adults on the autistic spectrum can have
lots of positive qualities and can be highly
intelligent. Mozart and Einstein are said
to have been autistic. Susan Boyle has
confirmed that she has Asperger’s syndrome.
Dan Aykroyd and Tim Burton are also on the
autistic spectrum. So don’t despair. We all
have potential for greatness in our own way.
46 | www.westendermagazine.com
52 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 53
Endmum’s
West
notebook
by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk
Idon’t know about you but I am really looking
forward to spring this year. After all the bad
weather we have had in recent months I
think we finally all deserve a bit of sunshine.
I do like spring for many reasons: the days
become longer and you can actually leave
the house and return in daylight, the air
smells somewhat fresher and it is lovely to
see nature blossoming everywhere. It also
makes people more cheerful in general and
less stressed and grumpy. What is not to
like? It is of course also the time when many
of us celebrate Easter although you could
be mislead to believe that Easter actually
starts on the 27th of December as advertising
campaigns and the retail sector in general try
to get us into the mood earlier…successfully?
I’m not sure. Don’t get me wrong, I do like a
chocolate Easter egg or two, but when I am
still digesting chocolate Santas I do need
a break!
This year, Easter marks the beginning of
the spring school holidays which means
children get an extra day with Good Friday
on the 30th of March being a holiday.
For many the school holidays are an
opportunity to head off on a quick holiday
either abroad or on a holiday closer to home.
If you chose not to do either you can still
find sufficient entertainment to keep the kids
entertained.
There are quite a few activities on over the
holidays. I very much like the sound of the
events over the first holiday week at Maryhill
Burgh Halls as part of the Puppet Animation
Festival (puppetanimationfestival.org).
Between the 24th March and 14th April there
will be various events in Scotland for children
up to the age of 12 years, including puppet
making workshops, or animated films in
English and Gaelic.
If you are more in search of outdoor activities
you could check out the RSPB Scotland
sessions as part of the Kelvingrove Art
Gaellery and Museum timetable. These
activities run on Saturdays and Sundays
from 1-4pm and only ask for a donation of £1
toward the costs (whatsonglasgow.co.uk).
Children learn about local nature and animals
living in Kelvingrove Park.
Should you be heading toward the Botanic
Gardens for a stroll make sure to stop at
the ‘Books at the Botanics’ book fair in the
Hopkirk building It will run throughout the
Easter weekend with lots of bargains to be
had for any book lover.
If your children are more into sport, then look
up some of the sports clubs like Broomhill
Sports Club (broomhillsportsclub.org.uk).
Sports camps often use schools to distribute
their holiday activity flyers, so look out for
your child’s school bag at the end of March to
see what’s on.
Many museums like the Riverside Museum
or the Tall Ship also put on holiday activities
for children (thetallship.com). And if none of
these above activities take your fancy or you
have tried all of them before the holidays are
over, you can always come to The Language
Hub. This year, we will be running weekday
activities from the 3rd to the 13th of April
for children and adults alike. Not all of them
involve language learning so make sure to
check out our website for more details.
This leaves me to wish you all ‘Frohe Ostern’
and many happy egg hunts. I hope we will all
enjoy some lovely warm spring weather and a
relaxing break.
54 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
by Susan
Robertson
© Hoos
Fashions change with moods and seasons,
Susan Robertson explores one of the key
interiors trends for 2018 and how we can
take inspiration from this into our West End
homes.
Natural
Accents
As global communication raises awareness of the world
around us, we’ve seen an ever-growing movement
towards sustainable products, consideration about our
environment and the products we choose to surround
ourselves by have obvious influences in trends across
fashion and interiors.
www.westendermagazine.com | 55
© Hoos
Some of the key interiors trends for this year can be
grouped under the theme of touching nature. This is
particularly in relation to materials. Perhaps linked
to a desire to connect with nature, and a desire to feel
more connected with the impact and value of our
decisions.
This manifests itself this year in the move towards
carefully chosen tactile products and materials. This
is not to say we’ve yet reached the stage where things
are all entirely biodegradable or plant-based in their
production of course, but the trend is a nod towards
paring back to the bare bones of our surroundings and
respecting and celebrating a raw connection with our
environment in terms of how things touch and feel.
So, we’re seeing more use of marble and stone in
different colours and formats. Think mortar and
pestles and heavy marble tables. Rather than the
restrictions we’ve had previously, there are now more
colours being used in stone than just the traditional
milky whites and you can see deep, dark greens and
black onyx, or soft pale mineral stones in accessories
and furniture. These heavy, solid materials are multilayered
and feel rich, luxurious and real.
Pair these heavy stones with raw concrete – dark
textured grey concretes are wonderful floorings.
Or we’re also seeing a mixture of takes on this from
soft, smoothed off pale grey or white concrete or
chunky, textured bubbly raw effects coming through
in bold accessories like vases, candles and bowls.
This almost has a natural industrial feel to it all, but
it’s much softer than that. Add to the heavy stones and
concretes, soft natural wooden accessories and it’s
a really lovely theme. Either use the very palest of
wooden accessories, hugely smoothed off to bring a
real softness to a room, or go more rustic with dark,
chunky wooden bowls and occasional furniture to
contrast with dark rough concrete and rich smooth
marble.
And these all understandably work well with colour
palettes from nature. Crisp whites and soft greys set
this off beautifully on walls and fabrics. Layer up
fabrics and textures to add different levels of softness
and stay neutral but warm in the tones you pick. Warm
pale chocolatey tones, deep olive greens or pale musty
beige work well on multi-surface areas. Highlighting
with accents of vibrant rusty orange work well for
me too in this. But stay away from the feature walls
and bring these touches into unusual places in dark
corners, painted furniture or printed floor cushions
or curtains.
Don’t forget to pay attention to all the senses when
creating a room and an ambience. Lighting should
be soft but clear. Pooling light in different areas
rather than one central position. And remember the
dual benefit of some lovely scented candles. Shearer
Candles on Byres Road has some excellent ranges
for this theme. Go for their natural wax candles for
lovely fruity or herby fragrances, or they also have jar
candles in varying sizes and fragrances. These have a
nice matte glass look to them which works really well
56 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
against the natural woods and stones of the themes.
We’re spoilt for choice in the West End to add that
elegant fragrance to your room.
Think about the art you pick for your walls. Keep it
minimal but be really creative. Touches of fresh green
plants look fantastic. Use natural wooden shelves
staggered across white walls, and dot them with
bright green plants in chunky grey pots, allowing the
leaves to drape and link across from shelf to shelf.
This creates a really natural feature to pull everything
together. Huge aged mirrors look wonderful with
this, have a look around salvage and architectural
suppliers for some of these, or for really battered old
picture frames that you can put up on a white wall
with nothing in it. Finish it all off with bold flourish of
colourful fresh flowers as a further nod to nature and
bringing the outside in.
Hoos 715 Great Western Road hoosglasgow.co.uk
07788 480 421
Shearer Candles 388 Byres Road 0141 357 1707
shearer-candles.com
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The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP
0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk
Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk
TheStore - HIS - Emma.indd 2 07/12/2017 09:48
Jun/Jul 2016
Aug/Sep 2016
Free
Image I Gregor Reid
Free
Image I Gregor Reid
ADVERTISE WITH US
The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP
0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk
// Glasgow’s best FREE bi-monthly mag
Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk
// Great editorial features: fashion, dining out,
health & beauty, what’s on, local authors
& artists, interiors & more
// Massive potential business audience
// 12,000 copies per edition
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email: suzanne@westendermagazine.com
for a media flyer, or call: 07905 897238
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58 | www.westendermagazine.com
Reseal Service | Professional Tile Installation | Waterproof Bathrooms
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Homes & Interiors
Bold as Brass
One of the latest looks for 2018 is the strong elegant
touch of warm coloured metal. Brassy, coppery tones
add a touch of glamour to any room. Simple, neutral
tones are brought to life with a touch of brass, and
there’s a wealth of options in the West End.
www.westendermagazine.com | 59
LSA Metallic Tealight Holder,
£20, Spirito
Matt Brass Glove Wall Lamp,
£108,
Annie Mo's
Wall Clock,
£139,
The Store Interiors
Brass Sprinkle Spoon,
£14, Hoos
Copper Heart Bottle Stopper,
£12, Spirito
Annie Mo's, 212 Great Western Road, 0141 331 0333, anniemos.com
Hoos, 715 Great Western Road, 07788 480421, hoosglasgow.co.uk
Spirito, 317-319 Crow Road, 0141 337 3307, spiritogifts.com
The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, 0141 950 1333, thestoreinteriors.co.uk
60 | www.westendermagazine.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 61
Homes & Interiors
The days of the functional flat pack are
behind us. How we arrange our daily
lives and store our precious memories
doesn’t need to be a purely practical
process, it can also be an aesthetic
enjoyment. Susan Robertson picks up
inspiration from around the West End.
Storage
Statements
by Susan Robertson
Keep an eye out for
beautiful solutions the
next time you mosey
around the West End!
This is a time where we have accumulated over
the last few dark months, perhaps there are still
a few extra pounds around the waist, but in this
fortunate society we live in, there will likely be some
extra toys kicking around, some extra kitchenware
bought in haste for festive guests, and a lot of gifts
received needing to find its place in our home.
It’s also a time of taking stock, clearing out, planning
and thinking forward to the upcoming year – the
time of year we tend to pause to give a thought to
organising our lives, and our homes. So, as we pick
and choose what items to keep in our homes, it’s
useful to think of how and where to store them.
The storage question can be part of the decision
process too. If there are things that will never see the
light of day because they’ll be stashed at the back of a
cupboard for years, perhaps it’s worth rehoming them
elsewhere.
62 | www.westendermagazine.com
The Rug Company, Wizlet,
Farrow and Ball
470 Great Western Road
0141 337 7043
farrow-ball.com
—
Umbrella Stand,
Nancy Smillie
53 Cresswell Street
0141 334 4240
nancysmillieshop.com
—
Wine Holder,
Nancy Smillie
53 Cresswell Street
0141 334 4240
nancysmillieshop.com
—
Four Drawer Blue Cabinet,
The Store Interiors
26 Munro Place
0141 950 1333
thestoreinteriors.co.uk
Earning yourself a few extra bob via
ebay can take the edge of a clear-out, or
adding stock to one of the many great
charity shops along Dumbarton or Byres
Road will always add value for someone.
Think big first. Depending on the
space you have in your home, make the
boldest statement you can make with
furniture. Glasgow’s tenements of all
sizes are great for furnishing as the high
ceilings and large windows create a
sense of space and great opportunity for
using big furniture pieces. But keep the
number of items as few as possible but
as beautiful, bold and functional as you
can get to create a wow factor that also
has a purpose.
Tables often waste space, unless in
a dining room or kitchen where it
provides only that function, avoid
furniture for it’s surface use alone.
Go for a big storage unit or a chest of
drawers, or a large cavernous trunk
so that you can create spots to display
ornaments, or put down your coffee,
and at the same time maximise that
surface space with a bold design
statement and plenty space to store away
all your boxes and files underneath.
These big pieces are a great opportunity
to make a bold statement that you can
really build a room around. Depending
on your budget, you could really invest
in a special piece here – perhaps an
antique, and if you have something
specific in mind, try and get some
pictures online so that local dealers can
keep an eye out for you.
Or you could source a new, high quality
item locally, there are some great pieces
available at The Store, or Nancy Smillie
among others. Or indeed upcycle some
solid furniture sourced through charity
shops and painted in bright colours, or
cleaned up and sections highlighted in
designed self-adhesive paper.
Think carefully about what you would
like to store away too – do you want
drawers for paperwork or photos, or do
you need shelves for spare blankets, or
open cupboards for boxes. Make sure
you err on the side of too much, rather
than too little space. You’ll need some
leeway to add to collections further
down the line. If you find a way to marry
the practicality of the storage you need,
with a really strong design statement,
it can create a great focal point and it’s
well worth spending some time and
thought on sourcing the right piece.
And also, don’t forget about the smaller
items. It’s worth thinking about those
irritating, high traffic areas where
clutter often collects and seeing if you
can you create practical and beautiful
solutions. This can really help reduce
stress levels by stopping cycles of daily
dumping grounds. Having a think about
some practical and beautiful solutions
for things like shoe storage, umbrella
stands, coats and scarves is really worth
the time. Going through the process
of identifying these key areas for your
home means you can keep an eye out for
beautiful solutions the next time you
mosey around the West End shops and
boutiques.
www.westendermagazine.com | 63
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W. power-lite.com E. allan@power-lite.com
12 Jordanvale Avenue, Glasgow, G14 OQP
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Westender Magazine
Interiors & All Trades
Keeping your home working for
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Hand-painted Kitchens
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www.westendermagazine.com | 65
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66 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com
Magazine Promotion
Wee Kitchen Shop
Beautiful Custom Made Contemporary & Traditional Kitchens
There are many ways to approach the
creative process – mood boards and
Pintrest being two. When a young
Glasgow couple approached Greg at The
Wee Kitchen Shop clutching images cut
from interiors magazines, it acted as a
spring board towards their dream kitchen.
‘I love the contrast of the painted finish of
the frame Shaker doors against the white
worktops, walls and mantel,’ says Greg.
‘The couple chose Farrow & Ball’s Hague
Blue and it creates real drama in this light
airy space. The cool tones used elsewhere
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Working in the older properties of the West
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loves to resolve creatively.
Accented open space above the sink was
created by hanging antique finished cast iron
shelf brackets supporting danish oiled rustic
oak planks. Whilst a custom-made mantel
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the existing original features. Beauty and
practicality: isn’t that the design mantra? It’s
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SPECIAL OFFER: 30% off Silestone,
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The WEE Kitchen Shop
304 Crow Road, Broomhill G11 7HS
0141 334 4747
theweekitchenshop.co.uk
info@theweekitchenshop.co.uk
www.westendermagazine.com | 67
‘hello’
next step
68 | www.westendermagazine.com
Be where you want to be. Corum’s property knowhow
gets you there. Contact Corum West End today.
Contact us on
0141 357 1888
Visit our website
corumproperty.co.uk
Corum West End
82 Hyndland Road, Glasgow G12 9UT the best sellers
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