WebOctNov17

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‘hello’ 

next step 

2 | 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

www.westendermagazine.com | 3 

Contents 

6 Fashion pages 

fashion upgrade 

14 West End Live 

with Greg Kane 

16 All change at Monty’s 

Restaurant & Bar 

18 Sweet Liberty 

20 WIN! A cut & colour 

at Kennedy + Co and 

WIN! A meal for two at 

One Devonshire Gardens 

21 WIN! Tickets to the 

BBC good food show 

22 WIN! A Boozy Brunch 

for six at Bar Soba and 

WIN! A Style makeover 

at RRI Great Western Rd 

23 WIN! Tickets to 

The Country Living 

Christmas Fair 

25 Decadent Sundays 

at Gleneagles 

27 Restaurant Review 

Elena’s Bar & Restaurant 

29 Bar Review Dram! 

30 Doggy days out 

34 Top Things 

37 Mum’s Notebook 

38 Designs on you 

43 Accountancy Matters 

with Murrison & Wilson 

44 Writer’s Reveal meets 

Malachy Tallack 

49 Health Matters 

52 Local charity 

CommonWheel 

54 Interiors article: 

Energy efficiency 

59 Settle in style 

61 The Wee 

Kitchen Shop 

62 Moody hues 

66 Legal Matters with 

Mitchells Roberton


contributors 

Suzanne Martin 

Editor 

Gregor Reid 

Photographer 

Tracy Mukherjee 

Writer 

Liberty Vittert 

Writer 

David McPhee 

Writer 

Loraine Patrick 

Writer 

Advertise today! 

Call 07905 897238 

Or email: info@westendermagazine.com 

for a media pack. 

Westender is on facebook and twitter 

Publisher: Westender Magazine 

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that 

the data in this publication is accurate, neither the 

publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and 

hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or 

damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from 

negligence, accident or any other cause. 

Westender Magazine does not offi cially endorse any 

advertising material included within this publication. 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored 

in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any 

form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, 

recording or otherwise – without prior permission of 

the publisher.


Shake 

things up 

this Christmas 

at Crieff Hydro 

Join us for a 

famously warm 

welcome, family 

traditions, twinkling 

trees and fantastic 

Scottish ceilidhs. 

Our Christmas and New Year 

breaks include: 

• Three nights’ accommodation in Crieff Hydro 

• All your meals 

• Action packed entertainment programme 

• FREE childcare for 2 – 12 year olds 

• FREE access to leisure pool, gym and cinema 

• Special events including welcome drinks 

reception and Hogmanay party in our 

Melville Hall 

Christmas 

Package 

Only £499 

per person 

for three nights 

New Year 

Package 

Only £799 

per person 

for three nights 

Self-catering 

breaks 

From £60 

per person, 

per night 

Book now crieffhydro.com/festive | 01764 655 555 

Terms: Based on two adults sharing standard double accommodation, arriving on 24 or 30 December 2017 for three nights. 

Subject to availability, full terms on request.

6 | www.westendermagazine.com


FASHION 

UPGRADE 

Images Gregor Reid 

Stylist jacki clark 

Dress, FIONA KENNEDY. BAG, PINK POODLE. NECKLACE, LIQUORICE TREE


TOP, JASMINE 

TROUSERS, Fictional Character 

Jewellery, LIquorice Tree 

Shoes, Daniel FOOTWEar 

opposite page 

dress, boutique noir 

Jewellery, pink poodle



Jacket, Jewellery, & Bag, jasmine. shoes, daniel footwear 

opposite page - skirt & jacket, fictional character 

shoes, daniel FOOTWEAR. top, jasmine 

jewellery, liquorice tree



dress, boutique noir. necklace & bag, liquorice tree. shoes, charles clinkard 

model eilidh alexander @ Coloursagency.com MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk 

stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk location swG3, swg3.tv 

photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com 



LIVE 

October 

Late Night Tuff Guy 

Saturday 7th October 9pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

It’s gonna be a beautiful night. 

Cam Bianchetti is one of Australia’s 

most enduring dance music artists. 

An influencer during house and 

techno’s formative years of the early 

‘90s in both Australia and Europe as 

DJ HMC, he now dominates the global 

disco and house edits scene as Late 

Nite Tuff Guy. This seminal figure in 

Australian dance music brings his 

Prince tribute night to Glasgow’s 

home of dance, SWG3. LNTG’s USP is 

how he interprets 'old' music in a way 

that younger people can understand. 

There could be none more fitting to 

curate a night of Prince dance floor 

fillers. A talented musician in his 

own right, Cam Bianchetti is also a 

true Prince fan. 

Choice Track: Late Night Tuff Guy 

‘Do I Believe In God’ 

Suzi Quatro, David Essex, 

The Osmonds and Hot Chocolate 

Friday 13th October 6.30pm 

SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com 

Your extended family, there's always 

two distinct sides to it. Mine's no 

different. On the one side there are 

my older cousins who, in the 70s, 

listened to Roxy Music, Bowie, Joni 

Mitchel, Van Morrison … on the other 

side of my family they listened 

to David Essex, The Osmonds, The 

‘Rollers, Showaddywaddy. One side 

lived through in the capital, the 

other much closer to the East End of 

Glasgow. One side’s house parties 

were the most fun. You could hear 

Devilgate Drive or Hold Me Close as 

soon as you pressed the buzzer and 

opened the door to their ever pungent 

close, with welcoming screams 

echoing from the landing above. But 

whilst through in Edinburgh they 

were quietly sipping a single malt 

appreciating the virtuosity on the 

album Avalon, back through in the 

East End of Glasgow we were staying 

up late and having way more fun than 

we should have been. 

This gig is going to be the fun party 

and is probably the best one to go to 

this month. I encourage you to do so. 

Choice track: David Essex ‘Rock On’ 

Baywaves 

Tuesday 24th October 7.30pm 

The Hug & Pint, thehugandpint.com 

Baywaves are a four piece Gen. Z 

band from Madrid in Spain, they 

describe their sound as 'hipnopop: 

catchy pop with a dreamy, moody 

skin.' I hear a lot of Brian Wilson 

in what they do. This type of music 

stands or falls on it’s nuances and 

the loose summery feel these guys 

seem to conjure must be influenced 

by the climate they live in. Another 

reference to their sound is the 

celebrated US singer/songwriter 

Josh Rouse. Interestingly he moved 

to Spain half way through his career 

and has a similar sound. 

Members of Baywaves have also 

formed the 'Suave' collective in 

Madrid. Consisting of bands who 

don't necessarily share a common 

genre but do share views on what 

having a band is. You can feel there’s 

a scene bubbling here and bands will 

start to break out soon, it’s exciting. 

Choice Track: Baywaves ‘Gliss’


by Greg Kane 

November 

Harry Styles 

Thursday 2nd November 6.30pm 

SEC Armadillo, sec.co.uk 

My brother and I recently toured with 

Matt Goss (of 80’s pop band Bros fame). 

It was quite a surreal experience. 

His gig was 30% singing and 70% 

him cathartically pouring his heart 

out to an adoring audience during 

excruciatingly over egged song intros. 

I be-friended Matt back in the 80s, he 

was a pleasant enough geezer if a wee 

bit hazy. But he was a proper pop star. 

All the stories about him were mostly 

PR fabricated and fashioned to hook 

the tabloids. What a horrible existence 

that must have been. 

Will history repeat itself with 

our Harry Styles? I hope not, but 

unfortunately I fear for him that it 

won’t be about his singing (Harry is 

a good singer), or his dancing (the 

grooves on his new record are pretty 

much nailed), or his song writing 

(his album has some great songs on 

it too), it’ll be about adulation, the 

Directioners’ obsessiveness and his 

hair! I’m starting to feel sorry for him 

already. He’s made a decent album and 

you should go have a listen to it. Good 

luck to you Harry. 

Choice track: Harry Styles ‘Carolina’ 

Blondie 

Tuesday 14th November 6.30pm 

SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com 

All the band members of Blondie came 

across well in a recent documentary on 

BBC4 Blondie’s New York – The Making 

Of Parallel Lines. Even the usually 

insufferable Clem Burke (drummer) was 

sufficiently humble for you to stay 

engaged when he appeared on screen 

(couldn't have been easy for him). But 

what I really hadn’t appreciated was 

how skilful a lyricist Debbie Harry 

was. The 25 million people who bought 

their album Parallel Lines obviously 

did. Hanging On The Telephone, One 

Way Or Another, Picture This, Sunday 

Girl and Heart Of Glass, all on the one 

album? With their attitude and highly 

stylised imagery they kind of invented 

the genre Pop/Punk and are a reminder 

of that punk/chic of 80s New York cool. 

A bit older, a lot wiser and with all 

those great songs in their vault to pull 

out live, they are still a force. 

Choice Track: Blondie ‘Heart Of Glass’ 

And So I Watch You From Afar 

Saturday 25th November 7pm 

Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk 

Northern Irish Instrumental Maths 

Metal anyone? My partner lectures 

in music. Many of the young’ns she’s 

confronted with love to play her their 

favourite Maths Metal tracks. She 

comes home usually quite perplexed 

reaching for the Pinot whilst playing 

me some of these songs and asking me 

my take on it. As a musician listening 

to this music I can totally respect the 

skill and ability required to pull it 

off. I find myself watching them live 

waiting and wanting for one of them to 

make a mistake as the music looks so 

bloody difficult to execute, but they 

never do and that takes chops. It’s 

brilliant live, mesmerising at times. 

Scotland’s own Mogwai have carved out 

a very successful career for themselves 

playing this type of instrumental 

music so there’s no reason why And 

So I Watch You From Afar shouldn’t do 

likewise. 

Choice track: And So I Watch You From 

Afar ‘A Slow Unfolding Of Wings’

16 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

a whole different Monty’s 

If you haven’t visited the brand new Monty’s 

Bar & Restaurant on Radnor Street yet, 

wow you’re in for a treat. 

Life long friends, Ryan Dexter and Ross 

Beattie, worked together in Ryan’s family’s 

City Centre restaurants and are passionate 

foodies and Westenders. ‘Ross and I have 

lived and socialised in the West End of 

Glasgow for years,’ says Ryan, ‘so it’s always 

been our goal to open up a restaurant/bar on 

what we consider to be our home turf – the 

Finnieston area is a real melting pot of people 

and communities which is really electric. 

Obviously the Hydro has a huge influence on 

the desirability of the area to dine in but we’re 

also really enjoying having regulars who are 

locals in the area and have been for years.’ 

The recent full-on refurbishment has exposed 

brick, highlighted ornate cornicing and seen 

the installation of a brand new mezzanine 

Image I Gregor Reid 

level (panic not, the world map is still there 

from its Montgomery’s days!). The restaurant 

is warm and welcoming for breakfast or 

brunch after walking the pooch in Kelvingrove 

Park (they allow well-behaved four legged 

friends until 6pm) and yet cosy and intimate 

for evening dining with a maximum of 70 

covers. The mezzanine can also be booked 

separately for parties of up to 30. 

In season Scottish produce is the mainstay 

of Monty’s menu, with Venison Loin with 

creamed savoy cabbage and bacon, featuring 

alongside dishes of Shetland mussels or 

Cumbrae oysters. Ross and Ryan’s food 

influences are global however, as shown by 

their transformation of Cullen Skink into a 

risotto and dishes such as Mutton dopiaza 

and Tunisian lamb in filo pastry. ‘I would say 

we are all really passionate about food and 

drinks from all over the world however we’re 

very lucky to have such fantastic produce

Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 17 



within Scotland,’ explains Ross. ‘In our 

opinion the best fish and meat comes from 

Scotland so why go elsewhere. Our menu has 

a focus on producing predominately Scottish 

dishes with influences from our own personal 

food journeys across the years.’ 

The young entrepreneurs grounding in the 

restaurant business held them in great stead 

when the Radnor Street unit came on the 

market. ‘We’ve been very fortunate to have 

build up a good network of people from the 

industry over the years so when plans were 

first in fruition for Monty’s we made sure to 

secure a good team early on,’ says Ryan. 

‘We just want people to leave Monty’s having 

had a great experience!’ concludes Ross. 

‘Whether you’ve come for Sunday brunch, 

your Saturday night out or just for a coffee or 

glass of wine in the Copper Bar our aim is to 

make sure everyone leaves happy. Our goal 

is make Monty’s a firm favourite within the 

Finnieston area.’ 

With the two owners working front of house, 

and sous chef Bradley and Head Chef Stuart 

looking after the honest and creative kitchen, 

Ross and Ryan have the right recipe for what 

a foodie Finnieston wants. 

SPECIAL OFFER: 20% discount off 

Monty’s a la carte food menu when 

booking in October/November 2017. 

Just quote Westender Magazine 

when booking online or by phone. 

Monty’s Bar & Restaurant 

9 - 11 Radnor Street G3 7UA 

0141 357 1666 

montysfinnieston.co.uk


Guilty Pleasures from Westender’s American in Glasgow 

Hide from the weather 

with this fast and easy 

comfort recipe! 

Image I Gregor Reid


skillet pumpkin s'mores 

by Liberty Vittert 

When I think of s’mores, I think of sitting 

around the campfire curled up in a flannel 

blanket all cozy and warm from a long day 

on the water. When I think of pumpkin, 

I think of sitting around a fireplace curled 

up in a flannel blanket all cozy and warm 

from a long day playing in the leaves. Stick 

em’ together and you have just the most 

perfect combination that has ever been 

created for a chilly fall day. It doesn’t hurt 

that the whole process takes about ten 

minutes (fall is busy as you know!). Crunchy 

biscuits, gooey chocolate, spicy pumpkin, and 

those sweet mellows with a hint of smoke, 

man o’ man, sign me up! 

K 

Shopping List 

16 Graham Crackers 

1 can of pumpkin 

100g unsalted butter 

120mL whole milk 

2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp nutmeg 

½ tsp allspice 

½ tsp ground cloves 

½ tsp ground ginger 

20 large marshmallows 

200g chocolate (milk or 

dark – your choice) 

L 

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 180C. 

2. Stirring gently, melt the pumpkin, 

butter, whole milk, and all the spices 

over a low heat until smooth. Remove 

from the heat and add four crushed 

Graham Crackers. 

3. Line the bottom of a large skillet with 

the remaining twelve Graham Crackers. 

Pour the pumpkin mixture on top of 

this. 

4. Break up the chocolate and sprinkle 

over the top of the mixture. Lastly place 

the marshmallows on top. 

5. Put in the oven for about four minutes 

until the marshmallows are soft. Lastly 

pop it under the grill for one minute to 

colour lightly. Watch it closely! 

6. Snuggle under your fleecy blanket 

next to a roaring fire with rain pouring 

down the windows, and enjoy. Bliss. 

papyrus 

SPECIAL 

OFFER 

Mini Saucepan 

RRP £8.50 

£5 * 

*Exclusive offer for 

WESTENDER readers 

at Papyrus, 

374 Byres Road



Win! Cut & Colour 

with Carmen 

K 

ennedy + Co Hairdressing are 

delighted to introduce Carmen to 

their West End team. 

Trained – Vidal Sassoon Academy and 

worked in various Sassoon salons including 

Glasgow, Covent Garden and Edinburgh. 

Favourite Service – Hard to say as I’m 

passionate about all hair types. Balayage as 

it’s so individual and creative with each head 

being like a different painting, design cutting 

and the challenge of curly hair. 

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 – Invest in your hair and use 

professional brands such as Kérastase 

– I promise, you will notice the difference. 

WIN! A Bespoke Consultation, Cut and 

Colour at Kennedy + Co Hairdressing 

with Carmen worth £120. Go to 

westendermagazine.com by the 

30th November 2017 to enter. 

Kennedy + Co Hairdressing 

436 Dumbarton Road, West End 

0141 339 1555 

Book online 24/7 @ kennedyhair.co.uk 

Bistro dining at 

One Devonshire 

Chateaubriand is a very special cut of 

meat and a highlight of the One 

Devonshire Garden bistro menu. The 

dish for two is served to table along with two 

sides, two sauces and a bottle of Hotel du Vin 

Chardonnay or Merlot – and all for only £59 

per couple*. 

The bistro also features a very reasonable 

two course Prix Fixe menu* at £21.95, or 

£26.95pp for three courses. With a selection 

of three starters, mains and desserts – which 

tasty option to plump for will be the only 

hardship. From starters of confit duck leg, 

chicken and pistachio roulade, broad beans, 

Parma ham chicory and baby herb salad 

with a citrus dressing, to mains of Gilthead 

sea bream with lightly curried lentils and 

coriander oil, guests are delighted with the 

seasonal and local Scottish produce on offer. 

With desserts of dark chocolate delice, salted 

caramel sauce, banana and peanut butter ice 

cream, or a selection of three cheeses for the 

renowned George Mewes, the small menu 

packs a massive punch for local suppliers. 

*Only available at specific times – please check when 

booking. 

WIN! One Devonshire is offering two 

couples a three course dinner with 

a bottle of Hotel du Vin Merlot or 

Chardonnay, followed by tea, coffee 

a n d p e t i t f o u r s . C l i c k o n c o m p e t i t i o n s 

at westendermagazine.com by the 

30th November 2017 to enter. 

Bistro du Vin 

One Devonshire Gardens, G12 0UX 

0141 378 0385 

events.glasgow@hotelduvin.com


BBC good food SHOW returns 

Explore the finest local flavours this 

October as the BBC Good Food Show 

returns to Glasgow’s SEC Centre. 

Our Scotland show will once again play host 

to an impressive line-up of your cooking 

heroes including Tom Kitchin, the Hairy 

Bikers, Tom Kerridge and more. Why not 

pose a question to the stars as you pick up 

top culinary tips and discover the secrets 

of cooking success. Taste your way around 

the city’s culinary scene at the Pop-Up 

Restaurants, plus taste and shop from 

Scottish specialities from local and artisan 

producers. 

Pick up the latest cook books and get them 

signed by the authors themselves in book 

signing sessions – you might even get the 

chance to snap a selfie! 

New for 2017 

• Nadiya Hussain joins the line-up for the 

first time 

• ‘Eat Like A Local’ sessions with local 

chefs 

WIN! Westender Magazine 

has 5 pairs of tickets* to the 

BBC Good Food Show taking 

place at the SECC, Glasgow 

this October! For your chance 

to win click on competitions 

at westendermagazine.com by 

Wednesday 11th October 2017. 

*Ts&Cs Tickets valid for general admission to 

the BBC Good Food Show at Glasgow SEC 

Centre on any day except Saturday, subject to 

availability. Excludes BBC Good Food’s Feast 

events. Complimentary tickets do not include 

Big Kitchen, but tickets can be purchased on the 

day for £3, subject to availability. Details correct 

at time of print. Not all celebrities appear on all 

days.



Bar Soba launch 

Boozy Brunch 

Looking for Pan Asian street food with 

cocktails to celebrate the weekend? 

With two courses and four cocktails, 

beers, or Prosecco coming in at only £25pp 

– Bar Soba have you and your mates covered! 

Start with a Sharing Platter of Chicken and 

Vegetable Gyoza Dumplings, Bang Bang 

Chicken Wings, Tiger Prawn Tempura 

and Crackers – all served with their own 

homemade dipping sauces. Your mates are 

going to thank you for your indepth knowledge 

of West End brunch deals – especially 

when they see the four cocktails: including 

Drumstick Caipirovska and Strawberry Sail 

Daiquiri, or four glasses of Prosecco or 

bottled beers, that come with it. When they 

also see the Bar Soba main course faves of 

Pad Thai Chicken Noodles and Chicken Katsu 

Curry (to name but two) that accompany your 

Boozy Brunch deal, a legend has been born. 

Bar Soba’s newly refurbished Byres Road pad 

looks amazing with it’s jaw dropping geisha 

graffiti – book you and your besties in now! 

WIN! Bar Soba is giving away a 

Boozy Brunch for six people. 

Go to westendermagazine.com by 

the 30th November 2017 to enter. 

*offer has no cash value and cannot be refunded or 

exchanged. Strictly over 18s. Management reserve 

the right to refuse entry or withdraw offer. Valid 

only at Byres Road location* 

Bar Soba 

116 – 122 Byres Road G12 8TB 

0141 357 5482 

barsoba.co.uk/brunch 

RRI 

G 

by John Parker 

reat news! Our Artist Directors Suzie 

McGill from our Uddingston salon 

and Dylan Brittain from our George 

Square salon, are finalists for the second year 

running at the British Hairdressing Awards 

to keep their title of Scottish Hairdresser 

of the Year and are also finalists for the 

Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour 

Technician of the Year category too! The 

winners will be announced on the 27th 

November 2017 at the Grosvenor House 

Hotel in London – we are all rooting for you 

Suzie and Dylan! 

Meanwhile, Daisy completes her 3 months 

in our academy on the 23rd of September 

and will be back in salon offering 20 free 

haircuts from the 25th September until 

17th November. If you want to be in with 

the chance of receiving a free haircut, 

apply by giving the salon a call and quote 

‘Westender Daisy’ upon booking, please 

note this offer is for new customers only. 

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 

makeover in their Great Western Rd 

salon. For your chance to win go to 

westendermagazine.com and click 

on competitions by the 30th Nov’17.


The Country Living Magazine Christmas 

Fair is back at the SECC, Glasgow from 

the 23-26 November 2017. This annual 

celebration of all things festive is a must for 

anyone who enjoys a great day’s shopping. 

We have 8 pairs of tickets for this fabulously 

festive show to be won. If you don’t win 

you can purchase tickets saving 10% 

on the Advance Ticket price by visiting 

countrylivingfair.com and enter the code 

LIVING10. 

Over 300 of the UK’s finest craftsmen and 

women will gather to offer unique gifts, 

decorations, crafts, food and inspired interior 

ideas, to help bring that magical Christmas 

sparkle to every home. There’s also three 

informative theatres where experts will 

offer invaluable advice and entertaining 

demonstrations. 

• The Country Living Kitchen will delight and 

inspire as top Scottish chefs demonstrate 

preparing tempting seasonal dishes, using 

delicious, fresh ingredients. Visitors can pick 

up professional tips. 

• The Country Living Corner where experts 

will offer advice on how to make the most 

of your home over the festive period, with a 

series of talks and demonstrations. 

• Over in The Country Living Crafting 

Workshops there will be a varied daily handson 

programme where visitors will have the 

chance to create something special to take 

home. 

• The Drunken Duck Champagne Bar 

– The perfect day out wouldn’t be complete 

without a relaxing glass of fizz. 

For further information or to book tickets visit 

countrylivingfair.com/ticket-prices, or call 

0844 581 1385. 

WIN! We have 8 pairs of tickets for 

this fabulously festive show to be won. 

For your chance to win go to 

westendermagazine.com by the 

31st of October 2017 and click on 

competitions.


£100 

£395 £44.95 £28.95 £33.95 

Winter Wonders


Gleneagles’ Birnam Brunch 

Could Gleneagles newest restaurant, 

the Birnam Brasserie, be hosting 

Scotland’s most indulgent Sunday 

brunch? The new brasserie is inspired by the 

grand Parisian cafés of the early twentieth 

century and offers elegant, yet relaxed, 

family dining for long lazy Sunday brunches. 

The no-holds-barred access to Gleneagles’ 

banquet takes place on the first Sunday of 

every month. 

Being Gleneagles the spread showcases the 

very best of the seasonal Scottish produce 

to be found on Gleneagles’ doorstep. Brunch 

guests can tuck into an array of fresh shellfish 

and crustaceans alongside a wide range of the 

best charcuterie and cheeses Scotland and 

the continent has to offer. After the cold bar 

has been indulged in guests are free to order 

as many dishes from the main menu as they 

wish – all washed down with a choice of drinks 

from the Bellini, Mimosa, and Bloody Mary 

station. Indulgence was mentioned remember! 

If room can be found the ice-cream cart and 

the pancake and waffle station will win the 

family vote, while a specially-curated list of 

French wines and a smorgasbord of delicious 

French-inspired desserts complete the feast. 

Shall I sign us all up now? See you there. 

The Birnam brunch experience, served 

on the first Sunday of the month from 

12.30pm – 3.30pm, is £37 for adults; 

£20 for children aged 5 – 12, and free 

for under-5s. The drinks package is an 

additional £25 per head. 

Gleneagles Hotel 

Auchterarder, Perthshire PH3 1NF 

0800 389 3737 

gleneagles.com



@ 

ELENA’S 


Reviewed by David McPhee 

You know that feeling you get when 

you’re on holiday in a hot country? 

You’re sitting outside late in the evening, 

the warm air soothing your soul by the 

second, a cold beer at your hip, waiting for 

your meal to arrive and you think: ‘Why can’t 

it be like this back home?’ Elena’s is a little bit 

like that. 

Somehow they’ve managed to export 

the thing you’d consider to be the least 

transportable. How they got it through British 

customs is anyone’s guess. 

On the night in question I was with a few 

friends enjoying a couple of Finnieston 

libations when the subject of food came up – 

but it was 9:15pm, who would still be serving 

food at such an ungodly hour? 

‘Not a problem’ came the answer from our 

amiable innkeeper at Elena’s. Not only were 

we welcome, they didn’t even rush around 

trying to squeeze everything in before the 

kitchen closed, it just stayed open a little 

later. Here you get the sense that nothing is 

worth getting worked up over, and getting 

worked up makes no sense. 

On this particular evening we were in a 

sharing kind of mood, which is handy 

because Elena’s serve ‘raciones’, small 

dishes which are a bit bigger than tapas and 

perfect for group dining. 

The Tortilla española is as dense and 

satisfying as anything you’ll experience in the 

Cantabrian region from which these dishes 

derive. While the Patatas bravas (fried potato) 

comes with a delicious accompanying spicy 

sauce it’s the Galician style octopus you 

won’t be able to take your tentacles off. The 

dish is cooked just right so it’s crunchy on the 

outside and soft on the inside. 

The main course of Chuletas de cordero 

a la parrilla or grilled lamb cutlets are truly 

sublime and a favourite of the house, they 

melt in the mouth and are seasoned perfectly. 

The Tempranillo we ordered was so damn 

good, we ordered another bottle. It worked 

with everything, including the level of 

conversation at my table 

A dessert of Crema Catalana was a fitting 

end to the great meal and a wonderful 

Spanish take on the French classic crème 

brulee. The consistency and flavour are so 

moreish it will have you dancing back up 

Old Dumbarton Road sometime soon for a 

second sitting. 

Any successful establishment needs a 

person who exemplifies what that place 

rightly stands for. Elena Xavier has brought 

the food from her Spanish region to our 

fair city for you to sample, and sample you 

should. 

Like Elena herself, this restaurant is full 

of passion, brimming with flavour and, on 

occasion, just the right amount of ‘loco’. 

Elena’s Spanish Bar & Restaurant 

90 Old Dumbarton Road G3 8PZ 

0141 237 4730 

elenastapas.com

Jun/Jul 2016 

Free 

Aug/Sep 2016 

Free 




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@ 

DRAM! 

Reviewed by 

Emily Donoho 

At first I called it ‘the pub formerly 

known as the Uisge.’ The Uisge 

Beatha a much loved West End 

institution on Woodlands Road welcomed 

university clubs, traditional music sessions, 

locals and students. With its Victorian 

portraits, taxidermy and dark wooden décor, 

its atmosphere struck the right balance, 

somewhere between an old man’s beer 

drinking establishment and a lively studentfriendly 

pub. To our dismay it closed in 2010 

for expansion, refurbishment and rebranding. 

It reopened as DRAM!, a name we all thought 

was pretty naff. But if it was still a good pub 

we could live with the name. 

The pub retained its essential character, the 

antique furniture and the taxidermy on the 

walls. But it was bigger with an expanded 

kitchen and the main bar divided into three 

sections with plenty of tables and booths. It 

also kept its annex ‘the Wee Dram,’ where 

they host open mikes, stand-up comics, 

sessions, and other events. Even on a busy 

Friday night the pub doesn’t feel rammed. 

When the Uisge changed into the Dram we 

bemoaned its transformation into yet another 

trendy gastropub. Change might be hard to 

swallow but the Dram’s menu isn’t. The food 

is basic Scottish pub fare with an American 

BBQ twist. Haggis sits next to slow-smoked 

chicken wings, and you can choose between 

fish and chips, a steak and ale pie, or nachos. 

Or really push the fusion boat out and have 

haggis on your nachos. Their lunch ciabattas 

are excellent, made with fresh bread, and the 

one I had contained homemade hummus and 

roasted peppers. 


But at its heart it’s still a whisky bar. The 

Dram has about 66 whiskies. All the standard 

malts you’d expect at any Scottish pub, 

like the ten year Laphroiag, Glenmorangie, 

etcetera. But they also have rarer ones 

like Scapa from Orkney, or Edradour from 

Pitlochry. The collection is smaller than the 

Pot Still or the Oran Mor but it’s big enough 

to have some variety and great whisky. 

It serves two rotating cask ales. Sometimes 

their choices are eccentric like a blackberry 

wheat beer, but at least it changes every 

week. If the cask ale is too bizarre they have 

a large number of beers on tap including 

Tennants, Belhaven, Stella Artois, Peroni, 

Joker IPA, rotating beers from Brewdog, and 

a larger selection of bottled craft beers and 

ciders. 

The Dram is one of those pubs that has 

something for everyone, whether it’s a pub 

meal, a dram, or a pint. You can watch sport 

on TV or live comedy, listen to traditional 

music and even bring your dog. The bar staff 

are people who like their jobs and take the 

time to get to know the regulars. There are 

small touches that give patrons a warm fuzzy 

feeling, like the collection of phone chargers 

behind the bar you can use if you need one. 

I think the West End has gotten over the 

name change and it remains a popular 

establishment for students and locals alike. 

DRAM! 

232-246 Woodlands Road G3 6ND 

0141 332 1622 

dramglasgow.co.uk 

Image I Gregor Reid


Doggy Days Out 

What’s to be done? Shorter days, longer nights and our 

four legged friends looking mournful as we, yet again, 

leave them inside. But it doesn’t have to be that way as 

the woof-friendly West End is tailtastically filled with dog 

friendly establishments. A stretch of the legs, a browse round the 

shops and a gargantuan array of bow wow brasseries; lead on my 

canine companion! By Tracy Mukherjee 

Lucy is a rescue dog who came into our 

lives five years ago. She had severe 

separation anxiety and would be really 

upset whenever we would leave her at home 

for even the shortest of time. Our West End 

ways were going to have to change. No more 

lovely meals out or afternoon wanders around 

our favourite eateries and boutiques. Well 

we could – except we would spend our time 

thinking of you-know-who back home. 

Fast forward 5 years and one Nannycam 

later (really) and Lucy is more than happy to 

have a two hour snooze alone at home. As it 

happens we now have the separation anxiety 

– hence the Nannycam. I know. But what’s 

so fantastic about where we live is it doesn’t 

need to be. Glasgow and, in particular the 

West End, is one of the most dog friendly 

places around. So here are Lucy’s favourite 

doggy days out. Eh, we go too…


The Kelvin Walkway 

Before you do anything of a morning, make 

your way down to Cottonrake, Great Western 

Road and grab your first cup of coffee and 

simply delicious pain au chocolat to set you 

on your way. The staff are more than happy to 

let your four legged friend sit in and although 

it can be a squeeze at times, no one seems 

to mind. Why not try Cottonrake’s sourdough 

with honey? Divine. 

And off to the Kelvin we go. If you are a 

dog owner in the West End, you KNOW this 

walkway. Or do you? The history on our 

doorstep is incredible. Entering through the 

Kirklee Gate, you find yourself on Half Penny 

Bridge, with Half Penny House just beyond. 

Take a detour up to Queen Margaret Road, 

beyond Queen Margaret Bridge and visit 

Greek Thomson’s Sixty Steps overlooking 

the original remains of Queen Margaret 

Bridge. Retrace your steps and observe the 

herons and egrets as they fish on the weir 

underneath the bridge. Beyond, on your way 

downstream, is North Woodside Flint Mill. 

The mill originally opened in 1765 as a grain 

mill and was even used for grinding gun 

powder during the Napoleonic wars. 

On the side wall of the walkway beside 

the mill look out for the mysterious stone 

carvings. Heading down towards Kelvingrove 

the bridges over the Kelvin have such a 

vibrant history and are well worth a closer 

look than we tend to give them. As you reach 

the park following the underpass at Gibson 

Street, you might notice a stone cairn circle. 

The An Clachan memorial remembers a 

popular exhibit of a highland village, designed 

and on show during the 1911 Scottish 

National Exhibition. 

With so much history to take in, it’s time 

for ‘a little something’ as Pooh might say. 

A favourite doggy spot for elevens’ is Sonny 

and Vito’s, Park Road. A quite delightful deli, 

the guys in here will very much welcome you 

and doggy. Serving breakfast from 9-12, there 

is a great choice of waffles, breakfast staples 

such as poached eggs with organic bread 

and Ramsay’s crispy bacon. For something 

a little more substantial, Sonny and Vito’s 

soups, sandwiches and salads are to die 

for. With Union Roast coffee and too many 

tempting pastries to avoid, it’s a great spot to 

while away the remainder of the morning with 

Fido happily snoring at your feet. 

The Clyde Canal 

Our choice for an afternoon amble is the 

Clyde Canal running through Maryhill. 

We all know this artery of our industrial 

heritage is there, but have you ever visited 

it? Interspersed with housing estates and 

main roads you may well have seen the blue 

signage guiding you to the canal. Follow it 

and not only do you get a pleasant walk with 

the dog, there’s lots to learn. And it’s a great 

little meander of an afternoon. 

You can join the towpath off the canal just 

beyond Kelvindale station on Cleveden 

Road. Heading city bound there’s a whole 

host of examples of the canal’s history. 

On joining the canal you’ll see the bridge 

keepers cottages built for the canal workers. 

A little further on the vast Kelvin aqueduct 

transverses the river 400ft across and 70ft 

high. Before long you will reach Maryhill 

locks and basin which is a really pretty spot 

to stop and enjoy the view. Behind you rise 

the Collina Street flats, home to Still Game’s 

Jack and Victor. Continue along the length 

of the canal and view the Mackintosh Ruchill 

Church, designed by Rennie Mackintosh in 

1899. What’s so lovely about this walk is the 

care Scottish Canals have taken to keep you 

well informed with numerous information 

boards dotting the way. Look out for the 

board by East Park noting Roy Rodgers and 

Triggers visit to Maryhill in 1954! 

Beyond the Bilsland Drive aqueduct you can 

rejoin Maryhill Road and look forward to that 

well deserved lunch. A favourite spot and 

super dog friendly venue is The Strathmore, 

Maryhill Road. Renovated in 2015, this 

gorgeous pub/restaurant doesn’t confine 

you and your hairy pal to the bar. Instead, 

go inside and enter the quite stunning 

conservatory, elevated and totally glass 

fronted. Lucy quite happily sits watching 

through the window for any squirrel or fox 

action. There is also a lovely outside elevated 

decked area with sparkling fairy lights 

overhead. Staff always ensure that dogs have 

their water, while you can look forward to 

some top notch grub, including the


glasveggie burger and some truly authentic 

curries of the week. It’s a little hidden gem 

– but that just makes the canal walk more 

enticing. 

Time for a little look around the shops. 

Making our way down onto Queen Margaret 

Drive, the incense haven known as Opal 

Moon and gift sanctuary of Ae Fond Kiss 

are more than happy to have well behaved 

doggies (and their owners) browse their 

wares. Further down on Byres Road, 

a top choice of Lucy’s (okay, I may have 

something to do with it) is S&S Argento. 

Again there is no problem taking the well 

behaved pooch about town inside for an ogle 

at the exquisite jewellery and bags on display. 

‘A nap? Anyone?’ say Lucy’s eyes. Well if you 

insist… 

Finnieston Fest 

A night on the town need not be a dog free 

one. Head down to Finnieston and you’ll often 

find more dogs out on the tiles than students. 

A stroll around Kelvingrove Galleries, lit in all 

its rosy red glory, then it’s off to The Duchess 

of Argyle, Argyle Street. This restaurant has 

some of the most delicious Mexican food 

in the city. No stodge and tex mex staples 

for these guys; it’s all about quality, fresh 

ingredients and authenticity. Not to mention 

the world’s only Tapatio frozen margarita 

machine. And doggy gets well watered too. 

A popular choice for a great meal, without 

having to leave your buddy behind. 

How can we end a great doggy day out? 

With some super smooth drinks, that’s how. 

Whether it be the vast array of craft gins 

available in The Finnieston, or simply the best 

cocktails in town in uber stylish Kelvingrove 

Café. A night cap is most certainly well 

deserved. 

The only thing bothering Lucy as she snoozes 

under the table? Why is she wearing heels, 

when her feet are almost always wellington 

shaped? 

For more detailed information on the 

above walking routes visit – 

scotcities.com/westend/kelvinwalkway 

static.visitscotland.com/pdf/scottishcanal-walking-guide.pdf


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Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

by Tracy Mukherjee 

Autumn: cascades of golden leaves fall, the 

air smells of bonfires, toffee apples and our 

favourite scarf and glove combo has a first 

outing. As the first frost covers our landscape 

with an array of glistening crystals, let’s embrace 

the darkening days and see what tricks and 

treats are amid the autumn embers. 

Top for Art Then And Now 

This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of 

'The Vigorous Imagination: New Scottish Art'. 

This memorable art exhibition was originally 

presented in 1987 at the Scottish National 

Gallery of Modern Art. It’s no exaggeration to 

say the body of work presented was seminal, 

showcasing vibrant new ideas and styles. Since 

then, many of the artists such as New Glasgow 

Boys Peter Howson and Steven Campbell, 

sculptor David Mach and painters Mario Rossi 

and Gwen Hardie, to name but a few, have 

become renowned within the art world. To 

celebrate this classic exhibition, 'The Vigorous 

Imagination, Then and Now: 30 years on' revisits 

those groundbreaking works and explores 

the artists’ journeys since then. With original 

pieces, archive material and new works, it’s a 

rare opportunity to observe how Scottish and 

International art has been influenced by those 

innovative artists and that pivotal exhibition. 

The Vigorous Imagination, Then and Now: 

30 years on, Thurs Oct 26th – Fri Oct 27th 

Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Blythswood St. G2 4EL 

Top for A Fine Coffee 

If, like me, you are incapable of the spoken 

word before your first sip of java, you will be 

delighted to hear that super smooth coffee spot 

Paper Cup now has its own roastery in Belmont 

Lane. Opened in August 2017, Paper Cup fine 

roasts their own delicious varieties of beans 

from all over the world. With a little café on-site 

serving cake and, well, coffee, it’s a nice little 

corner of the West End that you might never 

have visited. Just behind Great Western Road, 

away from the hustle and bustle of the A82, 

browse the time away inhaling the rich aromas of 

Kenyan and Ethiopian beans (I’m informed that 

it is African coffee season). The roastery also 

stocks everything you might need to enjoy that 

authentic Paper Cup Coffee experience at home. 

Filters, coffee guides, even training sessions 

are available to sharpen up those barista skills. 

With recent floristry events on site and plans 

for pop up art galleries running up to Christmas, 

the Paper Cup roastery is the very definition of a 

'one stop shop'. 

12 Belmont Lane, G12 8EN 

w: papercupcoffeecompany.bigcartel.com 

e: info@papercupcoffee.co.uk 

Top for All Things Puppet 

Puppets + kids = happy mums and dad. Bringing 

something a little special to puppetry is Ella 

Mackay of Nudge Puppets. Based in the 

Hidden Lane, Ella makes her own puppets and 

produces shows for young and old alike. With 

an impressive resume from Glasgow School of 

Art and The Curious School of Puppetry, this 

talented young puppeteer brings her own style 

and talent to the genre. Ella’s newest venture is 

Watch, Learn, Create, Play, and is an opportunity 

for children to be involved in theatre and be 

hands on with the puppets. The session is 

suitable for small groups of between three and 

ten children from 4-8 years old. Ella is happy 

to discuss dates, times, even off site venues if 

space is appropriate. With shape shifting fairies, 

demonstration of different puppetry styles 

and fun by the bucket load, Nudge Puppets will 

transfer your children to a magical world… if only 

for an hour or two. 

w: ellamackay.co.uk/kids 

e: nudgepuppets@gmail.com


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

Top for Fusion Music 

Prepare for a real treat for the senses this 

November as Indian violinist Jyotsna Srikanth 

presents her contemporary blend of indo-jazz 

with her band Bangalore Dreams. For one night 

only, Jyotsna will be appearing at Cottiers 

theatre. Having trained in both Carnatic and 

European classical violin, she has played 

with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at 

Wembley Stadium and has recorded on some 

250 Bollywood soundtracks. Srikanth is 

influenced by jazz as well as rock; there is even 

some beatboxing elements blended through 

her music. Watching NS Manjunath (drums) 

perform Carnatic beatboxing is something you 

won’t forget for a very, VERY long time. This isn’t 

a normal evening of music. It’s a spellbinding, 

unique experience. 

Jyotsna Srikanth and Bangalore Dreams 

Cottiers Theatre, Hyndland St G11 5PU 

Thurs 9th Nov 7.30pm w: cottiers.com 

Top for Theatre 

Make a note in your diary for Wed the 22nd of 

November and support Shake with Laughter. 

This benefit night at The Stand Comedy Club, 

is in support of Parkinson’s UK. Parkinson’s 

affects 127,000 people in the UK with someone 

being newly diagnosed every hour. Although 

often thought of as a disease of old age, in 

fact many younger people can be affected too. 

Although PD is a progressive illness, it can be 

well managed with the right drug treatments 

and continuing research to find a cure is vital. 

That’s why benefits of this kind as a fund raising 

event are so important. Shake with Laughter is a 

hilarious night of stand up with comedians Mark 

Nelson, Joe Heenan and your host, Rob Deering 

already confirmed. So why not have a good night 

out and do your bit to further PD research? After 

all, laughter is the best medicine. 

Shake with Laughter, Wed 22nd of November 

The Stand, Woodlands Road G3 6NG 

w: thestand.co.uk 

For more information on Parkinson’s Disease 

visit – parkinsons.org.uk 

Top for A Perfect Girly Day 

I know boys love pizza JUST as much as girls. 

But pizza AND prosecco as a heaven sent 

duo? Now that’s a full on girlie utopia! Who 

could be so kind, so giving as to put these 2 

giants of Saturday-nights-in under one roof in 

one celebratory event, namely the Pizza and 

Prosecco Festival? None other than the god 

fathers of gastronomic pop up events SWG3. 

This event was initially scheduled for one day 

only on 4th Nov. So popular was it amongst 

the great and good that it sold out within 4 

hrs; as such a further event has been added. 

The festival, on Saturday 18th Nov runs from 

2pm-10pm. With live music all day, there will 

be 20 different kinds of prosecco to try. With 

your ticket you are also entitled to a half glass 

of prosecco which you can sip as you peruse the 

local pop up pizza traders, or go for a snuggle 

under the blanket beside the outdoor heaters 

and join in some sing-a-long pop? Come to 

mention it, the possibility of some Kylie karaoke? 

Hubby may well beat me to the ticket queue… 

Pizza and Prosecco Festival, SWG3 

Saturday 18th November (tickets 

available at time of writing) 

w: fatsoma.com/pizza-prosecco-festival


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Endmum’s 

West 

notebook 

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk 

‘M 

“ um, Leon and I have decided on a 

Halloween costume. Can we buy it 

today?’ 

This was Ruby last week when talking about 

Halloween this year. If I’m honest, I’m not 

that bothered about Halloween. It is not 

something that is traditionally celebrated in 

Germany, it just didn’t exist when I was a 

child. However, like many other things from 

the US, it has found its way into the German 

calendar too in recent years, after all, it is an 

opportunity to party. And Ruby and Leon like 

a good party! 

They have both decided they will dress up 

as Thing 1 and Thing 2. ‘Are there costumes 

for this? Where will we get them? How much 

will they cost?’ ‘On ebay, mum, of course, I 

checked already, and they are quite cheap.’ 

‘Really?’ Gosh, when did this happen? My 

fault I guess, my kids know that I love saving 

time by ordering things online. So, as a 

result, we now already have two Thing 1 and 

2 t-shirts plus one pair of read leggings for 

Ruby and one pair of red jeans for Leon. They 

will dye their hair blue and will look just great 

I am assured. German planning at its best, 

I dare say! Now we just need to organise a 

round of guising, prepare some jokes and off 

we go. But go where exactly? 

This year, Halloween falls on a Tuesday, a 

bit unfortunate as it is our busiest day of the 

week. So, after school, once we’ve been to 

German class, finished swimming and picked 

up Ruby from guides. Hmm, you see our 

dilemma. But I am certain, Ruby and Leon will 

want to go out guising. I am convinced it is 

part of their secret annual sweets calculation. 

I am not surprised as guising in our 

neighbourhood can be a lucrative opportunity 

to collect loads. I am amazed every year how 

many people in so many streets in Kelvindale 

put a lot of effort into Halloween, it’s great. 

The kids love it, and I am pleased to say, 

they actually have to put some work into 

receiving their treats too. So,we will probably 

skip guides and go guising straight after 

swimming, sorted. However, it doesn’t end 

there, Ruby always likes to make the most of 

having a new costume, wearing it only for one 

day really doesn’t make sense. 

Sadly, there don’t seem too many child 

friendly events on throughout the West End 

this year. Usually, the Children’s Wood at 

North Kelvinside Meadow put on a Halloween 

night in the woods which is great if the 

weather holds up (thechildrenswood.co.uk). 

Or choose the Goulish Glasgow bus tour 

for children. It says in their description that 

‘Ghoulish Glasgow is all about Glasgow 

and its history but the tales it tells about 

the city and its buildings are focused on 

the ghoulish, gory and downright horrible 

from its past.’ The tour runs several times 

a day, not only on Halloween by the way 

(citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk). 

If you don’t want to depend on the weather 

too much you may want to try one of the 

Halloween events at the Scottish Mask 

and Puppet Theatre. They will be running 

four Halloween events over the 28th, 29th 

and 31st of October. There will be a puppet 

making workshop and three shows with 

Alex the magician (maskandpuppet.co.uk). 

No doubt, we will be attending at least one 

of them. 

Now we only need to buy some pumpkins 

for carving, make some yummy soup and 

buy some treats for kids coming to our door. 

Happy Halloween everyone!


Iolla’s Stefan Hunter and Brian McGuire 

designs on you 

Loraine Patrick meets the entrepreneurs behind 

West End design businesses Iolla, bluebellgray 

and Paulin Watches, to discover what it takes to 

launch a successful design business in Glasgow.

What do lampshades, glasses and 

watches have in common? This is 

not a riddle – they are all designed 

here in the West End by companies taking 

a fresh approach to their industries. First 

up a visit to spectacles showroom with a 

difference. 

Iolla is aiming to revolutionise the eyewear 

market. Gaelic for ‘sight’ or ‘to see’ every pair 

of glasses regardless of prescription costs 

£65. No hidden extras. Company founders 

Stefan Hunter and Brian McGuire set out to 

simplify the way we buy glasses and haven’t 

looked back. 

Growth has been extraordinary confirms 

marketing associate Kirsty Humpherson, 

‘I have been with the company since start up 

and year on year we have seen 100 percent 

growth. We recently opened our own optical 

workshop so as well as designing glasses 

in-house, now lenses are glazed and finished 

here in Glasgow too.’ 


flat and fixed price,’ Kirsty emphasises. ‘We 

like to keep it nice and simple and within the 

reach of everyone.’ 

With 36 styles to choose from, glasses can 

be bought online or from the Argyle street 

showroom. Interestingly for a product that 

is mainly sold by being tried on, 20 percent 

of business comes from online sales. ‘Every 

few months we bring out a new style and 

we listen to what our customers want. Our 

customers are very engaged and tend to see 

a new pair of glasses as an accessory rather 

than a necessity,’ Kirsty adds. 

The company has big plans to expand and 

by early next year they hope to have their 

second Scottish showroom open. Watch this 

space! 

Brought together by a university placement, 

optician Brian and business school graduate 

Stefan saw a gap in the market for customers 

to buy glasses out-with what can often be a 

high pressure sales environment. ‘Ours is a


SMALL BUSINESSES 

START-UPS 

CHARITIES 

Ruthven Mews, 57 Ruthven Lane 

Glasgow | G12 9BG 

hello@bnassociates.co.uk 

0141 334 1318 

@bnassoc


Next we move on to Park Circus where the 

bluebellgray showroom provides a vibrant 

splash of colour in an otherwise austere and 

grand building. The brainchild of Fort William 

designer Fi Gray, bluebellgray’s hand painted 

prints are in demand around the world. 

‘We are all about spreading happiness 

and colour,’ says Marketing Co-ordinator 

Lara Black. ‘Fi has a very clear style with 

oversized blooms and painterly abstracts 

being her signature. We are sold all over the 

world, from upmarket department stores like 

Bloomingdales in the US to customers as far 

afield as Australia and Hawaii.’ 

Every piece from cushion cover to wall 

panel is designed at the Park Circus HQ. 

‘Fi paints and our designers scan using 

printing techniques which make sure 

every brush stroke and colour is captured 

true to life. 

John Lewis is one of the companies 

biggest stockists. ‘We are best known for 

our bedding with our fabrics and cushions 

coming a close second,’ but Lara adds, ‘most 

business is done online and by phone, with 

daily visitors to the showroom particularly for 

our curtain making service.’ 

A former Glasgow School of Art student Fi 

made a handful of cushions after graduating 

and showed them at a trade fair. Business 

snowballed from there and now bluebellgray 

employs thirteen staff. Lara says, ‘Fi is 

passionate about creating jobs here. ‘She fell 

in love with Glasgow after studying here and 

the vibe of the city sets it apart, there really is 

nowhere better to be when the sun shines!’


This sense of creative community 

encouraged the Paulin sisters to set up their 

concept store on Great Western Road. Shop, 

watch workshop and creative space all rolled 

into one, it gives the siblings the opportunity 

to meet the customers who buy their iconic 

timepieces. 

‘We definitely do more business in store 

rather than online,’ confirms youngest sister 

Eleanor. ‘It’s so friendly here.’ The shop also 

gives westenders an opportunity to see our 

watches if they haven’t come across them 

before.‘ 

With five models on offer currently, Paulin 

watches are intended to last a lifetime. 

Designed by the sisters it takes about eight 

months from drawing board to finished 

product and this year the team have created 

their own numerical font, inspired by art deco 

typefaces. The distinctive geometric style has 

cleverly spaced gaps allowing the eye to fill 

in the blanks. ‘We wanted to keep the range 

simple but have something unique and I think 

we have achieved that,’ Eleanor says. 

Creativity really does run in this family, 

with the girls citing their great grandfather, 

sculptor George Henry Paulin, as their 

inspiration. ‘He worked across both World 

Wars,’ Eleanor says. ‘And you can still 

see his work today in both the Botanics 

and Kelvingrove Park. We followed in his 

footsteps and all studied at the same art 

school.’ 

Like Paulin, Iolla and bluebellgray there are 

dozens of design led creative companies 

in this part of the city, doing innovative and 

exciting things. So what keeps them here? 

The answer from our three case studies is 

that the West End has a real sense of close 

knit community. For the Paulin sisters its like 

a happy family. ‘There is no sibling rivalry 

here,’ Eleanor concludes. ‘It’s a real team 

effort. My middle sister Elizabeth works 

remotely and my eldest sister Charlotte 

has just started a family so if she wants to 

take a day off I am around to help look after 

the baby.’ 

iolla.com 

bluebellgray.com 

paulinwatches.com


Accountancy 

Matters 

by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison 

‘21% of small business directors are 

over retirement age’ 

For many business owners running a 

business long after retirement age is a 

choice. For others a necessity as they 

failed to hit the pause button and establish an 

exit strategy and plan for a secure financial 

future. 

Succession planning and tax planning work 

hand in hand. The key to preserving your 

personal wealth and dealing with inheritance 

tax and capital gains tax is good tax 

planning. 

Only a tax expert fully understands the 

complexities of protecting assets, 

changing business ownership or dissolving 

company assets. A solid exit plan is 

structured in tax efficient ways for the 

owner and the buyer. 

Succession planning involves establishing 

clear business objectives, preparing 

accounts, organising paperwork and making 

your business more tax efficient and more 

profitable. Above all, ready for a strong 

valuation. 

If you have any Succession Planning 

questions, like the ones below, then call 

Bruce Wilson now on 0141 290 0262. 

• What is the true value of my business? 

• How do I stabilise my business for a 

takeover? 

• How do I manage Capital Gains Tax and 

Inheritance Tax? 

• How do I attract potential buyers? 

Murrison & Wilson, CA is a full service 

accountancy firm specialising in 

business and tax planning for private 

individuals, the self-employed and 

small to medium sized businesses. 

Offering a free consultation, fixed 

and competitive fees, why not get 

in touch on 0141 290 0262. 

Working towards your future, today, has 

a number of financial and emotional 

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Talking to an expert who is impartial and asks 

tough questions opens up a frank and honest 

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Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants 

10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ 

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info@muwca.co.uk 

muwca.co.uk


Writer’s Reveal 

meets Malachy Tallack 

WORDS LORAINE PATRICK IMAGE GREGOR REID


route through America’s Midwest. Starting 

in North Dakota just as major oil protests 

were ending, the pair travelled south through 

the Great Plains, South Dakota,Nebraska 

and Kansas. Their route then took them 

across country to Kentucky through the 

Appalachians and Mississippi before finishing 

up in Louisiana. 

A whirlwind of a journey covering some 5000 

miles and 17 states certainly got the creative 

juices flowing. ‘It was such an intense 

experience to do in such a short period of 

time with someone who was a complete 

stranger,’ Malachy explains. ‘I went with 

the intention of writing travel essays and I 

came back with notebooks full of all kinds of 

thoughts and observations.’ 

So what has actually come from the 

experience are ideas for his next two books. 

One is a novel based on a former utopian 

community he visited and the other is a non 

fiction book which came out of conversations 

and ideas thrown up by the trip. ‘I went 

thinking I was going to write one thing and 

it now turns out that I am probably going 

to write two completely different books but 

that’s how it goes.’ 

All but two of the states Malachy visited were 

Republican. ‘It was a deliberate attempt to 

understand the unfamiliar,’ he says. ‘There 

seems to be many reasons why people have 

gone in Trump’s direction and there’s little 

surprise about what is happening. Most 

Americans just don’t feel the shock we did on 

Trump getting elected.’ 

Earlier this year Malachy Tallack was one 

of a handful of Scottish authors picked 

to take part in a journey across 

America for a project aimed at offering 

new perspectives on our political times. 

‘Outriders’ saw five writers undertake five 

extraordinary journeys each accompanied 

by a local writer from the area they would 

explore. 

Malachy teamed up with Boston novelist 

Jennifer Haigh and planned a three week 

Malachy was taken aback by the poverty 

he saw in West Virginia. ‘There is absolute 

desperation in parts of the Appalachians 

on a scale we just don’t see here. There are 

communities with nothing. Their land has 

been ravaged by the coal industry and it is a 

desperate place.’ 

Outriders explored the idea that in shifting 

times writers contribute immeasurably to 

understanding the world and the ten writers 

involved in the project took part in lively 

discussion at this year’s Edinburgh Book 

Festival. Malachy believes there are different 

roles that writers fill in times like these. ‘There 

are writers who do activism very well,’ he


says. ‘But we seem to have this deep division 

and people are not hearing the voices on the 

other side. In the US, liberals are not listening 

to conservative voices and vice versa, so 

activists are only speaking to people who 

agree with them. What’s missing from a lot 

of the debate is empathy and understanding 

and that hopefully is what writers can try and 

put back into the conversation.’ 

The land and its relationship with its people 

has long been a fascination for Malachy with 

his first two books looking at the idea of 

‘place’. In his first work Sixty Degrees North, 

he visited each of the countries on the circle 

of latitude that is 60 degrees north starting 

and ending in Shetland where he grew up, 

exploring the personal relationships that 

people have with their place as well as his 

own relationship with Shetland. 

His second book The Un-Discovered Islands 

explores two dozen mythical and imagined 

islands – places that may not exist but people 

have believed in and had stories about. 

Beautifully illustrated in full colour it is part 

travelogue part folklore. 

So where does a writer who is fascinated by 

so many places call home? Malachy is clear 

it’s not Glasgow where he has lived for the 

last four years. ‘I think Glasgow rather than 

feeling like one complete place feels like a 

city with numerous communities within it. 

I think if you spoke to most Shetlanders and 

asked them where home was they would 

say Shetland. I suspect rural places have a 

stronger hold on people.’ 

Coming out next year and set in the familiar 

territory of home is Malachy’s first novel. 

Called The Valley At The Centre Of The 

World, it is partly about the idea of centrality. 

‘I am trying to turn around that notion that 

Shetland is often written off as a remote 

place in the middle of nowhere and I wanted 

to write about this valley as being an absolute 

centre of everything. I want readers to care 

about people who don’t normally get much 

attention’ 

Writing full-time feels like the right thing 

for Malachy to be doing. ‘I have been very 

lucky since the first book came out that I am 

able to work full-time on writing. I couldn’t 

have written the first book until I had been 

through an awful lot of life experiences. I was 

resistant to the idea of writing about myself 

at first until other people pointed out I needed 

to be there – I think sometimes the writer is 

the last person to know what they are actually 

trying to do!’ 

malachytallack.com 

Out now: 

60 Degrees North – Around The World In 

Search of Home 

The Un-Discovered Islands 

Competition! 

We have two copies 

of The Un-Discovered 

Islands, to give away. Go to 

westendermagazine.com and 

click on competitions by the 

30th of November 2017. 

The Un- 

Discovered Islands 

£5 

OFF 

* 

RRP £14.99 

*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers 

at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road 

branch only, by 30th November 2017.


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Health Matters 

GP Dr. Pamela Leggate, of Glasgow West Medical Practice, 

discusses lycra, sweat and rescue dogs – the benefits of 

exercise are legion and not always what you’d think. Read 

on for a mental workout that’ll have you reaching for your 

nearest exercise App. 

Those of you who have read my column 

before will know how important a good 

diet and regular exercise are to overall 

health and wellbeing. So here are a few 

reasons why everyone should try to get a bit 

fitter. 

1. You will feel better! Exercise has been 

shown to boost natural endorphins and 

improve mood. It is an effective treatment for 

anxiety and depression. 

2. You will sleep better. Exercise improves 

sleep quality as long as you don’t do anything 

too strenuous, too close to bed time. 

3. You will look good. Even if you don’t lose 

weight, you will tone up. Also fitness fashions 

have improved over the years and are much 

more flattering and forgiving than the fluorescent 

Lycra outfits of the 80s. Rainbow leg 

warmers are no longer necessary. 

4. If you twist your ankle, it is a ‘sporting 

injury’ rather than embarrassing evidence 

that you tripped over your own feet (libations 

involved, or not). 

5. You might lose a bit of weight (though 

to achieve this you really do need to do the 

healthy diet bit too). 

6. Your heart and lungs will perform better 

– so instead of puffing and panting after 

walking up a hill, you will stroll elegantly while 

chatting on your phone.


7. You reduce the risks of high blood pressure 

and can improve your cholesterol level, 

thereby reducing your risk of heart attacks 

and strokes. 

8. You will reduce the risk of developing Type 

2 Diabetes. In fact there is some evidence 

that if you are diabetic you can reverse the 

effects of the condition by losing weight and 

exercising. 

9. Exercise will help keep your bones, 

muscles and joints healthy. Arthritis pain is 

reduced by regular exercise and low back 

pain responds better to exercise than to 

medication. 

10. Cancer risk will be reduced. Breast and 

bowel cancer are around 25% less likely in 

people who are active. 

So what should we be doing about it? The 

World Health Organisation recommends 

adults should do 150 minutes per week of 

moderate intensity exercise, which sounds 

like a lot! However, there are lots of ways to fit 

exercise into your day to day routine without 

having to go near a gym. 

1. The best type of exercise is something you 

can do regularly without too much preparation 

or effort. So maybe walking to work? 

Walking briskly is an ideal form of exercise 

for most people. For best results, you should 

aim to get your heart rate up and be slightly 

sweaty. 

2. Do something you actually enjoy and it 

won’t feel like exercise. Gardening, swimming, 

dancing, housework, badminton… all 

count as moderate activity. 

3. Listen to music, a podcast or an audiobook 

while walking or jogging. That way you can 

take your mind off exercise while educating or 

entertaining yourself. Multitasking or what?! 

4. If you want to build up your fitness 

there are lots of Couch to 5K programmes 

designed for people who do very little 

exercise. They allow you to build up gradually 

and safely. Look up nhs.uk/LiveWell/c25k/ 

Pages/couch-to-5k. You get free weekly 

podcasts, support and inspirational stories 

from others who have been there. 

5. Parkrun! You know I love parkrun and 

you will find me in the park most Saturday 

mornings at 9.30. But it’s not just for runners. 

Parkrun is becoming more inclusive and trying 

to encourage walkers to start off walking 

the course and build up gradually (or not if 

you just want to walk!). You burn just as many 

calories walking 5k as running it. You will get 

a lot of support and encouragement from 

the volunteers and might make some new 

friends. Bring your dog! parkrun.org.uk 

6. Get a dog. So if you haven’t got one to 

bring to parkrun, you could invest in a puppy 

or a rescue dog (dogstrust.org.uk). Although 

not a commitment to enter into lightly, a dog 

will give you motivation and company during 

those dark wintery nights (also known as 

summer in Scotland). 

7. Join a gym? I think this is my least favourite 

option, but it does suit a lot of people. The 

Glasgow Club gives you access to all council 

run gyms in Glasgow. You can pay as you 

go or pay a monthly fee. You get access to 

classes, gym programmes and weights. If 

you commit to an exercise class, you are 

more likely to be motivated to keep going. 

glasgowclub.org 

8. Enter an event. I was going to say race 

but for most of us the aim is to take part, 

not to win! Entering a 5 or 10k run gives you 

something to aim for as well as a free T-shirt 

and usually a medal. Some events even allow 

you to bring your dog. dogjog.co.uk 

9. Get a fitness tracker. Trying for 10,000 

steps per day seems hard at first but it’s 

amazing how it builds up with a walk at 

lunchtime, an evening stroll or a shopping 

expedition. 

So, no excuses. Get out there and do 

something!


Come and try us out for free with a friend. 

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CommonWheel 

a charity creating a meaningful cycle 

by Floraidh Clement 

From the outside, CommonWheel 

resembles any other bike workshop. 

There’s wall-to-wall frames of all colours 

and sizes, a friendly team of engineers and 

a strong sense that everyone in the building 

is hard at work. But what sets this workshop 

apart is its social mission, striving ‘to enrich 

the lives of those suffering from mental illness 

through providing meaningful activities’. 

Launched in 2001 (and receiving charitable 

status in 2003) CommonWheel’s vision 

is clear: for people with mental illness in 

Glasgow to be able to live a meaningful 

and satisfying life and contribute to society. 

While the charity began with a specific focus 

on bike recycling as occupational therapy, 

CommonWheel has since expanded to 

include a wider range of activities. 

The music projects supports individuals 

in singing, playing and composing music, 

while the visual arts project Carnival Club 

gives individuals the opportunity to design 

and produce large scale art pieces to be 

displayed in parades around the city.


Since 1997 marked the development of the 

concept of bicycle recycling as occupational 

therapy, twenty years on seemed a fitting 

time to catch up with CommonWheel to 

discuss the impact of the charity in North 

West Glasgow and beyond. 

Speaking from their Maryhill workshop, 

Project Manager Emma Razi is optimistic 

concerning how each of the activities can 

positively impact individuals in more ways 

than one. While the three activities currently 

offered by CommonWheel are very different, 

each one aligns with the goals of the charity. 

She says, ‘The idea behind each activity is 

the same: to reduce isolation felt by people 

with mental illness, to improve skills and to 

improve overall mental wellbeing. For some 

that might lead to employment, education, 

and training, but for others, that might just 

be a case of staying well and staying out of 

hospital.’ 

Clients are referred to these courses by 

mental health support workers or other 

agencies, such as the Scottish Association 

for Mental Health (SAMH). CommonWheel 

also collaborate with local hospitals and care 

homes, and currently work with around 300 

individuals who are in-patients or residents in 

care homes per year. 

Yet no matter where these individuals are 

referred from, the CommonWheel team are 

keen to stress the positive impact of running 

these courses in an environment which 

mimics the workplace. While each course 

retains similar elements to employment, 

volunteer mechanics demonstrate clear 

empathy towards clients and understand 

their unique situations. The Build Your Own 

Bike workshop is one such course, where 

attendees spend ten weeks learning how to 

rebuilding an old bike into one they can keep. 

Emma highlights, ‘You don’t need to 

know anything about bikes, but clients 

are expected to come on time and follow 

instructions, and to be directed through a 

syllabus of tasks to be completed per week. 

In that sense, it’s a little bit like employment; 

it’s structured, but it’s also super supportive. 

If somebody comes in and just isn’t into it 

that day, they can go home, or come back 

next week. If somebody comes along and 

struggles, they will get lots of support.’ 

For some clients, their attendance on the 

Build Your Own Bike course has brought 

about meaningful change in both their lives 

and for the charity itself. Not only do they 

keep the charity going, but they sincerely 

benefit from the experience. 

‘It gives me something constructive to do, 

it gives me peace…and it makes me feel 

better,’ one client beams. 

Another agrees, praising the sense of routine 

the workshop has given him, ‘I come here 

three times a week, every week, and it gives 

me a bit of structure. I’ve always ridden a bike 

so this is great for me!’ 

With glowing testimonies like these, the 

future of CommonWheel looks bright. After 

receiving the Evening Times’ Glasgow 

Community Champion Award in 2015, the 

team are keen to continue their impactful 

work in local communities and championing 

the wellbeing of those struggling with mental 

health. 

Emma explains, ‘There are one in four 

people in the UK experiencing mental health 

problems. Some say that it’s even worse in 

this city due to the Glasgow Effect, so we 

have no shortage of people who would want 

to come and use this service. We want to 

reach as many of those people as we can.’ 

There are several ways in supporting 

CommonWheel to achieve that goal (so 

long as you give them a ring, first – these 

engineers could be busy at work). Members 

of the public are encouraged to donate an 

unused bike, which can be used for the Build 

Your Own Bike courses. They can also bring 

in their own bikes for servicing, as well as 

buying newly re-serviced bikes from the 

workshop. 

As you can see, there’s no shortage of ways 

to help this innovative charity maintain their 

progressive cycle. 

commonwheel.org.uk 

samh.org.uk


Homes & Interiors 

by Susan 

Robertson 

© The Glasgow Shutter Company 

Powering 

our homes 

efficiently 

With the imminent onset of our Scottish winter, 

Susan Robertson looks for some of the best ways 

to keep warm, for less.


Quick Tips 

1. Switch off lights in empty rooms 

2. Use low energy light bulbs 

3. Use daylight – keep windows and 

skylights clean and clear 

4. Turn off electrical appliances 

– don’t leave them on standby 

5. Wash clothes at a lower temperature 

6. Set the heating thermostat at 18 degrees 

(costs rise by 8% for every degree increase) 

7. Keep radiators clear – don't block with 

furniture 

8. Draught-proof doors and windows 

9. Install loft insulation (ideally 200mm, 

if less than 100mm, top it up) 

10. Install double or secondary glazing. 

This is the time to be thinking about how we prepare 

our homes to give us the best protection from the 

elements, but also to be considering how we can 

play our part in looking after our environment, 

and making the most efficient use of the resources 

we have. 

There are some great resources online for the 

best ways to do this and organisations like Home 

Energy Scotland can talk you through options and 

suggestions. They will do a free Home Energy Check 

over the phone to give you a good starting point for 

where savings and efficiencies can be made, and will 

also be able to advise you on reputable suppliers and 

any available loans or financial incentives available 

to you. If you have a business, there are also excellent 

resources available to help you save money and reduce 

waste. Resource Efficient Scotland, part of Zero Waste 

Scotland, offers interest-free loans to small businesses 

to allow investment in this area. 

In general, for our homes, there are two main factors 

to consider – your energy systems themselves, and 

the fabric of your home to make most efficient use of 

them. 

Firstly – consider your energy system. Is your boiler in 

need of a service, or does it need upgraded? If changes 

are needed, could you consider a different approach? 

There are really accessible renewable energy sources 

now, is it worth considering some solar panels, do you 

have plenty outside space for a small turbine? Keep an 

open mind and make sure you make use of the expert 

advice available – if you’re considering an investment 

of any size, you may be able to make further savings 

in the long run if you look at contributing to your own 

energy needs. 

Depending on the type of home you are blessed with, 

there will be different ways to reduce energy wastage 

and keep warm for less. There are some key big areas 

to think of first. If you’re in a house, consider the roof 

in the first instance as heat is often lost through this 

route. It’s important that you have really good loft 

insulation as a starting point. You can also consider 

further insulation into walls and floors depending on 

the construction of your home. 

Another culprit for heat loss is the windows. If they 

can be upgraded to quality double or triple glazing, 

this will make a massive difference. If you have 

traditional sash and case types, or your building is 

listed, you can make big improvements by getting 

an expert to maintain these for you. Aging putty 

and wood can be repaired, glazed sections replaced 

and experts can provide full draught-proofing for 

traditional windows. 

You can also consider adding secondary glazing inside 

the windows. This can be practically invisible but a 

great idea for traditional windows or dealing with 

condensation issues. The other possible option here 

is to consider having shutters installed, these can be 

elegant, and also practical in traditional buildings. 

But even if you’re not in the market for big changes



or investment in these areas, there are still some easy 

ways to make meaningful improvements. 

Think about thick, heavy curtains at draughty 

windows. It’s also an option over front doors too. 

In older buildings, you might not have, or want to 

change your front door but you can add draughtexcluding 

products to the letter box and along the 

bottom of the door, and I like a big heavy curtain you 

can pull over anyway once you’ve locked up for the 

night and you’re snuggling in. 

Think about your lighting, and change to the newest 

and most efficient types of energy-saving bulbs. 

They’re a bit pricier in the first instance, but worth it 

longer term. 

Generally being a bit more conscious in your activities 

makes a difference too. I’ve just had to get up to go 

and turn off the kitchen light and the TV that was on 

standby in the other room as my conscience is nudged 

by writing this. We do often have some bad habits 

that have developed over the years and these can be 

easily changed with just a bit of thought. If we all do 

this, not only can we save money and reduce waste, 

but we can contribute to thoughtfully improving the 

environment in our beautiful city. 

Organisations and resources 

energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/ 

home-energy-scotland 

greenerscotland.org/home-energy/ 

using-your-home-energy-well 

ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/energy 

-guides 

carbontrust.com/home 

resourceefficientscotland.com 

West End Suppliers 

B.Smith Plumbing & Heating, Gas boiler services: 

bsmithplumbing.com, 0141 301 1180 

Eco Home Installer, Heating & Renewables: 

ecohomeinstaller.co.uk, 0141 374 2567 

The Glasgow Shutter Company, Wooden shutter 

installation: glasgowshutters.co.uk, 0141 357 2104 

The Radiator Gallery, Radiators: 

radiatorgalleryglasgow.co.uk, 0141 337 3345 

West End Services, Sash Windows experts: 

wesglasgow.co.uk, 0141 341 2034 

© Timorous Beasties



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Settle in style 

This is the time of year for some quality time at home 

snuggling in by the fire. Whether you’re catching up 

on your favourite box set, escaping into a good book, 

or just enjoying some family time, there are plenty 

of options around the West End to bring some cosy 

touches to your home. 


Bronte Cushion, 

£45, 

The Store Interiors 

Nordic Style Footstool, 

£198, 

Nancy Smillie 

LSA Whisky Decanter, 

£85, Spirito 

Hugo Turquiose Armchair, 

£365, Nancy Smillie 

Glass Bubble Lamp with Shade, 

£129, The Store Interiors 

Nancy Smillie, 53 Cresswell Street, 0141 334 4240, nancysmillieshop.com 

Spirito, 317-319 Crow Road, 0141 337 3307, spiritogifts.com 

The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, 0141 950 1333, thestoreinteriors.co.uk




Jun/Jul 2016 

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Wee Kitchen Shop 

Beautiful Custom Made Contemporary & Traditional Kitchens 

On a visit to Broomhill to visit her 

cousin, June and husband Lindsay 

from Barrhead noticed a lovely wee 

kitchen shop on Crow Road. Their dated 

kitchen – with feature collapsing ceiling – 

spurred the couple on to talk to owner, Greg. 

‘We immediately felt Greg had the skills and 

experience to manage the complexity of the 

project but also shared our love of the quirky 

charm of our old kitchen, originally a scullery,’ 

says June. ‘Our anxieties had led us to delay 

renovation far too long: the lathe and plaster 

ceiling was sagging and crumbling in places, 

we also needed new wiring, windows and 

one wall internally insulated before the fit out 

could even begin. 

‘A major worry now we are retired was our 

tight budget, as until the work began we 

couldn’t be sure how much the essential 

repairs would actually cost. Greg’s detailed 

estimates and readiness to adjust the 

finishing details helped us move confidently 

from one stage to the next. Greg’s 

background in cabinet making was a key 

attraction as we knew he would bring both 

creativity and precision to the final design. 

‘Within our small space we gained modern 

functionality yet retained a traditional feel, 

and the customising used every millimetre 

effectively. The wooden shelves and top 

drawers bring warmth and link to the original 

doors, the waste and recycling is hidden, the 

deep drawers are a delight and we love the 

housing for the fridge freezer! 

‘Since the kitchen was completed we have 

really enjoyed preparing meals together. We 

each have a workspace due to the re-sited 

fridge, cooker and microwave and the bigger, 

more balanced worktop areas. We have also 

re-discovered the pleasure of eating there 

with the garden views around us.’ 

30% off Silestone, Corian & Granite 

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by Susan 

Robertson 


Changing seasons always have their 

palettes attached, the light, the colours 

and the weather all play a part in setting 

the mood. Susan Robertson explores 

how we can harness these elements 

and identify how to bring the best bits 

into our homes. 

Moody 

Hues 

© Farrow && Ball 

Autumn and winter both serve up very different 

moods. Autumn has the warmth of oranges and 

umbers with a hint of crispness, leading into winter 

with its blues and icy whites and solid dark greys. 

Even envisioning these colour palettes, with all their 

vibrant differences, you can see them together in a 

room, very confidently working together in a shared 

space. My colour mood preference for this season 

transition is solid darkest blue/grey with highlighting 

strokes of vibrant orange and maple red. Bold and 

cosy. Elegant and uncompromising.


The stories of colour always inspire me and I love the 

way we can create new moods in our lives so differently 

with little more than a lick of paint. You can make such 

a big impact with just a few quids’ worth of paint, it’s 

all in the selection of the colour. 

I currently live surrounded by crisp white and light 

wood. I like it, it’s a change for a while, but we’re not 

bedding in. My inclination at this time of the year 

however is still to get cosy, go dark, shut the curtains, 

put the fire on. 

I chatted with Laonie of 1272 Decorating to get some 

expert input into the colour conversation. I love her 

take on it all – particularly talking about applying 

colour in small spaces. I’ve always had really boldly 

decorated small rooms everywhere I’ve stayed, just for 

fun really, and because I think, if you get the lighting 

right – it’s the way to go. 

Leonie told me, 'When it comes to small spaces, there's 

the temptation to use light tones to give the illusion of 

the space being larger. White is often too stark, so an 

off-white will feel gentle and warmer. However, unless 

there are other features in the room it may feel bland. 

Instead, to give the space a wow factor – embrace the 

dark side! I have a very small vestibule with little 

natural light, but I decided to go really dark, "Farrow 

& Ball Downpipe" dark, and the end result is that it is a 

space that makes an impression.' 

I think this is a great approach and can work well in 

this current season. The deep, dark colours are great 

backdrops to add some bright warm touches and gear 

up for fairy lights at Christmas. 

Another key consideration is to think about the 

practical usage of each room and match that to the 

colour and mood. Leonie told us, 'Depending on the 

size of the home, some dining rooms are often only 

utilised in the evening. It's important to remember 

this when choosing the wall colour, as it will generally 

only be seen in unnatural light. Electric bulbs tend 

to give off a yellowish light, so this will affect colours, 

particularly blues and greys.” 

This is a great tip to bear in mind when picking mood 

colours in this season. 

Leonie adds, 'if you have a lot of artwork to be hung, 

choose a colour that is going to complement the pieces, 

acting more as a canvas rather than another feature. 

© 1272 Decorating 

Study the colours within the artwork and choose a tone 

that will enhance the paintings. In a room with less 

artwork that requires another feature, then choosing a 

colour from one of the paintings and creating an accent 

wall gives an alternative point of interest” 

One thing I always forget about with colour is the 

room direction. Sometimes our home can feel like 

we’re in various different worlds because of where it’s 

situated. We have blinding sunrises in one bedroom in 

the morning while another is cosy and dark, and the 

vibrant sunsets in the evening knock into our relaxing 

time in the living room. 

Laonie highlighted this for us. She said, 'if your room 

is North facing, these rooms give off cool light so it's 

a good idea to avoid cold greys, and instead choose 

neutrals with yellow tones. Similar to small spaces, an 

attitude could be adopted to embrace the fact that the 

room is never going to look bright, and instead choose 

dark tones to create a warm and sophisticated space.' 

So there’s easy impact to be made in creating a mood 

for the season in your home but it’s important to make 

a considered choice of colour, and if you’re unsure 

there are experts on hand to help. 

With thanks to Laonie Robertson of 1272 Decorating, 

1272@email.com, 0845 233 1272 / 07919 254667


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Legal Matters 

Words from Donald Reid, chairman at Mitchells Roberton: 

Sam Goldwyn, one of the founders of MGM Studios, allegedly said: 

‘a verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on’. Apparently he 

didn’t say it (but he liked that people thought he had). What is true is 

that people often find themselves in contractual disputes for similar 

reasons. Even with a written contract, when a disagreement arises it can 

be unclear what the terms actually mean. Luckily Scots Law has some of 

the very cleverest people working on the problem (and I don’t mean me). 

Dodgy builders, parking tickets, and very clever people 

We spend our days immersed in 

contracts without ever thinking about 

it. From buying a bus ticket or cup 

of coffee, to turning up for a day’s work, 

to speaking on our mobile phone, we are 

forming new contracts and playing our 

parts in existing ones. Given the volume of 

contracts in existence, the percentage that 

go wrong is tiny. Even when there is a ‘breach 

of contract’, it is often resolved between 

the parties quickly and easily through swift 

discussion and agreement. 

Not everything can be resolved that way 

however and the Scottish Law Commission 

– a body of some of the best and brightest 

legal minds – has been consulting on the 

available remedies for breaches of contract 

in Scots Law. To look at a common dispute, 

such as whether a tradesman has carried out 

their work properly, the SLC wants our law to 

focus ‘on performing the contract as agreed 

... keeping the parties working together for 

solutions ... rather than ending up in court’. 

one in England where a QC refused to pay 

£85 for over-sleeping in a motorway service 

station (but won). 

That said, regardless how many very clever 

people consider this area of law, two people 

can always disagree over what a contract 

means (or if there is a contract at all) and 

there will be lawyers available to give advice. 

Experts are saying, however, that soon 

computers will be programmed to give this 

advice instead (provided the person loading 

up the computer’s software 

clicks ‘to accept terms’ 

of course...). 

If Joel can help please 

contact him by phoning 

0141 552 3422, or email 

jmc@mitchells-roberton.co.uk. 

The SLC is also currently considering penalty 

charges and looking at how contracts are 

formed. Both those issues came up when the 

immensely intelligent judges on the Supreme 

Court considered high parking charges, such 

as where parking is free for a certain period 

but a large fixed charge is sent through the 

post if you overstay. Since then, there was 

a recent case in Dundee where the court 

said someone needed to pay £24,500 for 

repeatedly parking in a private car park and 

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors 

& Estate Agents 

George House 

36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD 

0141 552 3422 

www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk 

E


EST 1999 

SALES 

LETTINGS 

MORTGAGES 

LET INFINITI TAKE CARE OF IT 

EST 1999 

1016 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8LX 

0141 553 2677

WebOctNov17

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