WebSepOct2018

ANIMAL instincts 

www.westendermagazine.com 

SEP/OCT 

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2 | www.westendermagazine.com

www.westendermagazine.com | 3 

Contents 

Regulars 

4 Editor’s Letter 

23 Mum’s Notebook 

24 Community feature: 

The Movement Park 

Fashion, beauty & health 

8 Animal prints go wild 

28 WIN! At Rainbow 

Room International 

Going out 

16 West End Live 

with Greg Kane 

19 Top Things 

Art & culture 

30 Meet the artist: 

Helen Flockhart 

34 Writers Reveal 

meets Lin Anderson 

38 Cover to Cover 

Food & drink 

40 Sweet Liberty 

43 Restaurant review: 

Honu 

45 Bar review: Brel 

46 Award winning food 

& drink entrepreneurs 

Westender living 

54 Very vintage 

59 Purple palettes 

61 Oversized industrial

4 | www.westendermagazine.com 

Editor’s 

Letter 

H 

oliday, camping trips, open water 

swimming, cycle rides, hill walking 

– summer, you’ve been a blast. 

What to do though, now the skies are 

darkening and the weather turns towards 

interminable rain (hopefully that’s just the last 

few days and by time this edition comes out 

we’ll be enjoying an Indian summer – yup). 

Panic not Westenders, there’s loads! Greg 

Kane gives us a round up of the best gigs in 

the west on Page 16, while Tracy Mukherjee 

finds everything from chilli cook offs to 

riverside galas on offer this autumn (Page 19) 

– we will not be bored. 

This edition also sees us head along to 

Arta in the Merchant City for our Sep/Oct 

fashion shoot. I used to hang out in Arta in 

my younger days when my city centre job 

meant it was just a pop round the corner 

– I’d almost forgotten what a quirky space 

it is. And it’s huge. How did I miss the 

restaurant upstairs and the multitude of 

separate function rooms in the cellar with the 

old cheese presses (it used to be the city’s 

cheese market) – there’s even a nightclub 

down there. Youth and cocktails. There’s a lot 

I’ve done and completely forgotten. Perfect 

excuse to do it all over again then… Check 

out our take on animal prints from Page 8. 

Above: Suzanne Martin, Westender editor. 

Below: On location in Arta in the Merchant 

City on the Animal Instinct shoot with model 

Neesha Graham. 

As the changing weather inevitably 

draws us back inside it can be a great time 

to reassess our living spaces for the new 

season. Huge fashion trends straight from 

the catwalk also influence our interiors 

finds Susan Robertson, with oversized knits 

reinterpreted into textured soft furnishings 

and oversized furniture pieces. Read more on 

Page 62. 

Wall art shouldn’t be overlooked either 

and there are two great opportunities coming 

up to view the creative talents of two of 

our finest artists. The West End’s own Avril 

Paton, will be discussing her latest work 

The Four Graces, at Kelvingrove Art Gallery 

and Museum on the 18th of September 

(see Page 20 for more details), while Nicola 

Maule invites us to view the colourful world 

of Glasgow based artist Helen Flockhart on 

Page 30. 

Personally I subscribe to the old maxim: 

there’s no such thing as bad weather – only 

the wrong clothes. Hoping to see you around 

the West End this autumn, or up a Munro 

somewhere. 

Suzanne Martin


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EDITOR 

SUZANNE MARTIN 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

GREGOR REID 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

EMILY DONOHO, 

MICHELE GORDON, 

GREG KANE, NICOLA MAULE, 

TRACY MUKHERJEE, 

ROBERTO PARRUCCI, 

LORAINE PATRICK, CLAIRE PORTER, 

SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL, 

LIBERTY VITTERT, 

HANNAH WESTWATER 

HAIR & MUA 

TERRI CRAIG 

STYLIST 

JACKI CLARK 

WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM 

INFO@WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM 

07905 897238 

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BAR. 

Our Spanish Hacienda style bar encapsulates a true Mediterranean essence, 

serving traditional sangria and contemporary cocktails with a twist. Drop by on a 

Saturday and you’ll see a spectacle like no other at 11pm, a tradition from Palma, 

Mallorca… no spoilers though, it has to be seen to be believed! 

RESTAURANT. 

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various dishes and our ever evolving tapas menu reflects this ethos. Our restaurant 

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climates. 

CLUB. 

Our late night space plays host to fabulous live musicians and resident DJs every 

week, Friday’s and Saturday’s from 11pm until 3am. 

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Our events coordinators are on hand to create bespoke packages for every 

occasion. 

62 Albion Street, Merchant City G1 1PA I 0845 166 6018 I arta.co.uk


ALL THE 

ANIMALS 

COME OUT AT NIGHT 

Images Gregor Reid 

Stylist jacki clarke

www.westendermagazine.com | 97



dress, biba @ Frasers 

necklace, Jasmine 

SHoes, daniel Footwear 

bag, topshop

jacket, frasers. dress, solo. shoes, new look 

jewellery, nancy smillie. bag, liquorice tree 


12 10 | www.westendermagazine.com 

dress, frasers. shoes, asos. bag, topshop. necklace, jasmine. ring, nancy smillie 

opposite page - dungarees, shoes, topshop 

necklace, cassieopia. ring, nancy smillie

www.westendermagazine.com | 13 11



shorts, blouse, topshop 

shoes, asos 

location arta 

model neesha graham 

MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk 

stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk 

photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com 

top, frasers 

shoes, new look 

necklace, cassieopia

www.westendermagazine.com | 13 15


LIVE 

September 

Colin Macleod 

Sunday 2nd September 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

Colin Macleod is a singer songwriter 

from the Isle Of Lewis. He signed 

a recording contract with industry 

behemoth BMG a couple of years 

ago and recorded his latest album 

Bloodlines with music royalty 

Ethan Johns (Kings Of Leon, Ray 

LaMontagne, Laura Marling) in 

charge of production at non other 

than Peter Gabriel’s iconic recording 

studio, Real World… sounds like all 

the planets have aligned for oor 

Colin, but can he capitalised on all 

this good fortune? Time will tell, 

but his songs are heartfelt, he has a 

endearing voice, looks good (James 

MacAvoy doppelgänger) and plays 

well. Just a wee bit of X-Factor is 

missing, it’ll come though I’m sure. 

Choice Tracks: 

Colin Macleod 'Kicks In' 

Earl Slick 

Monday 3rd September 8pm 

Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk 

Earl Slick is a 66 year old American 

guitarist. Throughout his career he 

has played with a multitude of iconic 

artists including David Bowie, John 

Lennon and Robert Smith (The Cure). 

Now this guy doesn’t do modesty. 

His BBC4 'Rock 'n' Roll Guns For 

Hire: The Story Of The Sideman' 

documentary is compulsive viewing 

(in part, due to the 'ticket' Slick has 

on himself), but if you want to see the 

trials and tribulations of a jobbing 

musician of 40 years laid bare, 

then you should watch it. He must 

be good at what he does if all these 

huge stars look to him for guitar 

accompaniment. 

Even though he’s pushing 70, there’s 

no shrinking violet here. Earl Slick 

is a full on, in your face rock God of 

a guitarist… did I mention he doesn’t 

do modesty. A night of Rock’n’Roll 

yarns straight from the horse’s 

mouth. 

Choice track: 

David Bowie ‘Golden Years’ 

Hot Dub Time Machine 

Friday 7th September 10pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

Hot Dub Time Machine is the World's 

First Time Travelling DJ, a global 

festival smash-hit and the Best 

Party Ever! 

It’s only six years ago that 

Australian DJ Tom Loud (aka Hot 

Dub Time Machine) was playing his 

musical roundup of the decades to 

around 300 folk a gig… nowadays 

it’s over 7,000 people a night that 

flock to see him all over the world. 

Don’t be fooled by the use of 'Dub' 

in the title though, there’ll be no 

Lee 'Scratch' Perry played here, 

but everything from Johnny Cash’s 

Jackson through Eminem’s My Name 

Is to Peking Duk’s High, all wrapped 

up in your stereotypical high energy, 

jump around a lot, live DJ spectacle. 

But crowds lap it up and in this 

horribly polarised world in which 

we all now live, it’s nice to see 

everyone come together, jump around 

and just get on. Thank you Hot Dub 

Time Machine, you might just be the 

answer to our prayers. 

Choice Track: Hot Dub Time Machine 

hotdubtimemachine.com/mixes


by Greg Kane 

October 

Yola Carter 

Wednesday 3rd October 8pm 

Cottiers Theatre, cottiers.com 

If you look at images of Yola Carter 

you expect deep soul funk to come 

bursting out of your laptop speakers 

when you press play, but that just 

doesn’t happen. What does come out 

is pretty straight ahead Americana 

Country, but fronted by a proper Shaka 

Khan-esque soul diva. It works… The 

music drifts towards The Band and 

Little Feet when it wanders away from 

Old Time Country, but that’s no bad 

thing to these ears. Born and bred 

in Bristol, UK she has been on the 

radar down there for a few years now, 

already having a guest appearance 

with Bristol’s finest, Massive Attack 

under her belt. 

Choice track: 

Yola Carter 'It Ain't Easier' 

Dawn Landes 

Monday 15th October 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

Dawn Landes is an American singersongwriter 

and musician from 

Louisville Kentucky. Her guitar 

lead music bridges the worlds of 

Indie Rock, Alt Country and Folk. 

Interestingly she is also a time 

served sound engineer (a traditionally 

male dominated profession) which 

she still enjoys doing when not out 

performing and was married to Alt 

Country Icon Josh Ritter. Even though 

she has released four studio albums 

over the last ten years it can still 

be quite confusing when listening 

to her back catalogue… one minute 

it’s all beautifully sultry, dark and 

atmospheric, next it’s all Stetsons 

and foot stomping. Takes you by 

surprise, but I kind of like it. 

Choice Track: Dawn Landes 

'Try To Make A Fire Burn Again' 

Helena Deland 

Monday 22nd October 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

Helena Deland is from Montreal, 

Québec. She writes melodic pop songs 

with an extraordinary understanding 

of space and sound. Her music has 

such a calming effect, you feel 

yourself drifting off into a world 

of soft pleasantry, a world where 

everything is running in 1/2 time and 

everyone is kind and welcoming to 

each other. It’s a nice place to find 

yourself in. She’s releasing a series 

of four track EPs which I guess will 

eventually form a collection of songs 

known formerly as an 'album'… What 

are these kids like and their new 

fangled ways! 

She’s out on tour all over Europe until 

the end of the year. 

Choice track: Helena Deland 

'There Are A Thousand'



Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

by Tracy Mukherjee 

Top for Terrific Tex-Mex 

One of the most popular events in the West End 

calendar, Lupe Pintos Chili Cook Off returns 

on Saturday the 29th of September. Taking 

part in the annual chilli fest are 10 of the west’s 

best bar restaurants. Old favourites such as 

Stravaigin and Left Bank return to challenge new 

kids on the block Bananamoon and defending 

champions, Crossing the Rubicon. The tagline 

for this year’s festival of heat is Border Town 

Jive, referring to the unique mixture of music, 

cuisine and culture which exists along the Texas/ 

Mexican border. Each venue will of course be 

vying for the coveted prize of best chilli in the 

west and the contest is always 'hotly' fought. 

With the judges (all 600 of you) making their 

way from venue to venue, the array of sombreros 

and false moustaches always bring a wry smile 

to a September afternoon. 

Lupe Pintos Annual Chili Cook Off 

Sat 29th Sept, various venues 

wflupepintos.com 

Top for Breakout Music 

If you are not fortunate enough to get tickets to 

the Chilli Cook Off, you might want to consider 

an equally fabulous festival on the 29th of 

September. Tenement TV’s annual Tenement 

Trail, is an incredible day of music centred 

around 10 venues in the G2 postcode. There is 

12 hours of live music, that’s over 50 artists, 

from break out acts to the bigger names, with 

a real drive to promote our excellent Scottish 

talent. This year’s headliners are The Cribs. 

What makes the festival so unusual is that music 

lovers go from venue to venue, with one ticket 

covering the whole event. What a great way to 

connect with live, independent music. 

Tenement TV’s Annual Tenement Trail 

Sat 29th Sept, G2 various venues 

wftenementtv.com 

Top for Exploring the City 

Doors Open Days is the largest free festival in 

Scotland giving people access to the heritage 

held within architecturally and historically 

significant buildings. The Glasgow Doors Open 

Days Festival returns for its annual celebration 

this September. The event allows participants 

to have a look inside some of Glasgow's most 

prestigious buildings. Walk inside and hear the 

fascinating stories these buildings can tell. With 

talks, exhibitions and guided walks, this event 

leads to a better appreciation of the fantastic 

architecture and heritage on our door step. 

Doors Open Days Festival 

10–16th Sept various venues 

wfglasgowdoorsopendays.org.uk 

Top for Exploring the Clyde 

Following a great inaugural event last year, 

the Clydebuilt Festival returns to the Clyde 

in September. The Castle to Crane race will 

be on the Saturday of the two day festival. 

The race is the biggest open water rowing race 

to be held in Scotland. Competitors will set off 

from Dumbarton Castle on a 13 mile course to 

the Finnieston Crane. It’s a thrilling sight as the 

rowers make their way along the iconic Clyde 

route. As well as the race, last year’s event 

saw taster sailing sessions, some amazing 

sea and street food for the land lubbers and 

superb entertainment for young and old alike. 

Let’s hope this year’s festival can reach even 

higher heights. Go along and experience the 

maritime heritage of the Clyde. 

Clydebuilt Festival, Riverside Museum 

Sat 15th–Sun 16th Sept 

wfclydebuiltfestival.com


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

Top for Film 

You can’t beat a film on a chilly autumn day and 

this season is shaping up to be a fine one for 

kids. For our adolescents who study all aspects 

of cinema, Glasgow Youth Film Festival kicks off 

from 14-16th September. This event is scheduled 

by young people. With hands on mentors all 

year round, the group put together a whole 

range of events, workshops and film screenings. 

As always, details are tightly guarded until mid 

August, however the opening gala will be Anna 

and the Apocalypse! This home grown zombie 

musical has a Q&A with cast and crew following 

the screening. Given it’s a zombie movie, the 

Q&A may turn out to be a gruesome affair… 

Glasgow Youth Film Festival 

14th-16th Sept, GFT wfglasgowfilm.org 

Top for Ghosties & Goulies 

On the subject of zombies (sentences you never 

thought you would write) Halloween is right 

around the corner – and here in our very own 

Cresswell Lane The Root of Magic has opened. 

This family run magic shop feels extra mystical… 

and that’s just walking over the threshold. With 

magical animals adorning the enchanted trees 

and some ethereal decor to get the kids excited, 

the team have done a lovely job. 

With an apothecary for lotions and potions, 

your little sorcerer’s apprentice can have a 

go at designing a concoction too. The store 

runs workshops from their onsite classroom 

on potion-making and science shenanigans. 

Each class is conducted by a fully trained 

witch or wizard who will have the cauldrons 

bubbling in no time. Sessions run for 90 minutes. 

Afterwards, why not peruse the many handmade 

wands and magical gifts, which include tons of 

official Harry Potter merchandise. Who needs 

Diagon Alley, when we have Cresswell Lane? 

The Root of Magic, Unit 14 Cresswell Lane 

wftherootofmagic.com 

Top for a Tipple 

As the days get colder, it’s easy to laze the day 

away on the sofa. But with the promise of a dram 

(or 3) to look forward to, why not consider a 

trip to the Clydeside Distillery? This brand new 

single malt scotch whisky distillery sits on the 

Queens Dock. The Pump House is the site of the 

distillery and of the tour. It’s a great opportunity 

to learn about the origins and production of the 

amber nectar. At the end of the tour there will be 

the chance to sample three malts from around 

our great nation and the opportunity to buy your 

favourite at the on-site specialist shop. With a 

gorgeous cafe serving locally sourced, seasonal 

produce, that lazy day on the sofa will seem a lot 

less enticing. 

Clydeside Distillery Tours 

The Pump House, 100 Stobcross Road 

wftheclydeside.com 

Top for Art 

Avril Paton is one of our most notabe and 

recognisable artists. There cannot be many 

a Glasgow home which isn’t adorned by her 

astonishing depictions of Glasgow tenement life. 

So what a treat for the city that Paton’s latest 

creation, The Four Graces is to be 'gracing' the 

walls of Kelvingrove this autumn. Capturing 

'a moment in time' outside the museum, this 

stunning watercolour, as in so many of her 

pieces, conveys caught moments in people’s 

lives: joy, sadness, love, stillness. What’s even 

more thrilling is that the artist herself will be 

giving a talk on Tuesday 18th of September in 

front of her latest artwork. A great chance to 

hear just how one captures our West End lives 

and immortalises them on canvas. How lucky we 

are to live in our Windows in the West. 

The Four Graces, on loan from Avril 

Paton until 22nd Oct, with Avril 

Paton presentation Tues 18th Sept, 

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 

wfglasgowlife.org.uk/news


Party time at SPiRiTO! 

Pom Pom garland £12 

Festoon lights £70 

Cake candles £5 

* cards * gifts * decorations * 

317 - 319 Crow Road, G11 7BU 0141 337 330 www.spiritogifts.com 

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'Learning Through Play' 

Places available. 

To book your visit call Maureen on 0141 357 0231 

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maureen@derbystreetnursery.co.uk 

1 Parkgrove Terrace, Glasgow G3 7SD 

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1 – 3 NOV 2018


Endmum’s 

West 

notebook 

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk 

Yes, it’s that time of the year again, 

the summer holidays are finished, 

the rush to have everything you need 

for going back to school ended and, with it, 

thoughts on which after school activities to 

book. 

It can be costly booking activities for your 

children but I do feel many of these clubs are 

great learning and socialising opportunities 

for children. They also support working 

parents who often have little time to entertain 

their children in a similar manner. 

Our family is no different. This year will see 

a big change for us as Ruby is moving on to 

secondary school. Different school hours, 

different requirements and, I am guessing, 

some different interests with regard to 

outside school activities. 

Leon will be going back to football, 

taekwondo and swimming (Kelvindale Otters), 

easy. Ruby on the other hand, well, she wants 

to do everything! Aerial yoga (ourworldyoga. 

com), Hip Hop dancing (theg12studio.co.uk), 

taekwondo (caledoniantkd.com), drama 

(wearehaloarts.com) possibly swimming, 

guides (stjohnsrenfieldchurch.org.uk) and not 

to forget, the recently discovered youth club 

for P7s+ at St. John’s Renfield Church. 

You see, the list seems endless. Her new 

school has lots of school clubs on offer, and 

they ‘are all so interesting, mum’. I’m sure 

they are – but how to fit all this into some sort 

of weekly routine? But I suppose, I shouldn’t 

complain, I’d rather there was a choice of 

different things than having little or no access 

to activities at all. 

Having said this, there are some types 

of activities I would be keen for Ruby and 

Leon to try but I cannot find in the West End. 

I recently discovered various groups that 

run really interesting sounding activities. 

However, as my day only has 24 hours, 

travelling longer distances is not really an 

option. But maybe you can? 

One of the things I found is ‘Artsy Classes’ 

(artsyclasses.co.uk). Sadly, they are based 

in Coatbridge and Motherwell but they teach 

basic art skills to children; their programme 

sounds great. However, you can always 

check out the workshops run by The Glasgow 

Menagerie (theglasgowmenagerie.com) here 

in Partick. 

I also like the sound of the Scottish Ballet 

sessions for 16 year olds+ (scottishballet. 

co.uk) on the south side; it is never too 

late to start as their absolute beginners 

class suggests. Or to pique their interest 

at a younger age, Scottish Ballet are also 

holding two new performances of Hansel & 

Gretel specifically for families with children 

from 3 to 8-years-old on the 1st to 3rd of 

November. These specially adapted hourlong 

performance of Wee Hansel & Gretel is 

the perfect way for young children to discover 

the magic of ballet (atgtickets.com/glasgow). 

Or how about Diane Mitchell’s music 

school (dianemitchellmusicschool.com) 

based in Paisley and Barrhead? There are of 

course many private music tutors in the West 

End but I do like the idea of children learning 

together in a group. 

And if none of the above strikes a cord 

maybe learning a new language or receiving 

additional input for a language your young 

person is already learning might just do 

the trick. Where can you do this? At The 

Language Hub of course! Pop in anytime and 

check out our new shop and Cafe at 19 Keith 

Street, G11 6QQ which opened in August. 

We believe we offer something for everyone. 

Ganz bestimmt!


Image I Gregor Reid 

KEEP ON MOVIN’ 

WORDS Hannah Westwater 

Glasgow has hosted its fair share 

of sport extravaganzas, from the 2014 

Commonwealth Games to this 

summer’s European Championships. 

On each occasion, between the fireworks 

displays and gazebo-lined pop-up venues, 

there is talk of how these sporting legacies 

will benefit Glasgow in years to come. 

One example of how this came to fruition 

can be found at Movement Park, a South 

Street charity which fuses sport, community 

and equality of opportunity. 

Teaching fundamental movement skills is 

at the core of the charity’s mission. Offering 

a carefully curated range of activities for a 

flat rate of £20 per month, the team behind 

the centre encourages families to bring 

their children to as many different sessions 

as they like. With a programme spanning 

across judo, parkour, skateboarding, dance, 

yoga and more, the ethos at the heart of the 

charity’s work is that its value is in the sum of 

the activities’ parts – physical literacy is their 

focus, with a view to building their own legacy 

of a healthy, active community. 

‘The average drop-off rate in sport 

is usually between ages 10 and 12, and 

that’s generally because kids don’t think 

they’re good at things,’ says Movement 

Park convenor Stephen Somerville, who 

co-founded the centre with two fellow judo 

players. ‘When we come to the sport-specific 

stuff they think oh, I can’t do that properly. 

So we try to build the confidence which will 

hopefully make them more motivated to 

participate on a longer term.’ 

Stephen explains that despite the vast 

array of activities on offer, each is selected 

with all-round competency in mind. ‘It’s not 

about parkour or judo – it’s about them all


coming together and creating a safe place for 

kids to feel like they can try. It’s building for 

the future.’ 

With an understanding of how a 

disadvantaged background can affect ones 

relationship with – and access to – good 

quality sports training, the charity not only 

keeps its prices low but makes itself as 

accessible to the surrounding community 

as possible. ‘Sometimes a governing body 

can’t dig far enough into the social issues at 

play, whereas charities like us can go a wee 

bit deeper,’ says Stephen. The team works 

closely with local primary schools, providing 

PE lessons and encouraging free play as a 

form of learning. 

Movement Park is also an inclusion hub, 

having adapted to the needs of children 

with disabilities. There are currently 13 

visually impaired children enrolled in the 

judo club, but the charity’s accommodations 

for them go well beyond the walls of the 

converted warehouse in which it’s based. 

Stephen explains, ‘We put a big focus on 

independence training – we look at where the 

kids stay and how to get them here. So we 

have a buddy system, meaning someone will 

go and meet them at Central Station, bring 

them to Movement Park and then take them 

back. 

He adds, ‘What you see when you work 

with kids with visual impairment is that they 

think they’re independent – but only when 

they get here. This means that when they 

leave school, they drop out of their activities. 

We’re trying to prevent that. Being on the mat 

is only a small part of the programme.’ 

The centre also offers an art room and a 

Lego room, which Stephen points out have 

proven particularly valuable when engaging 

children with autism. Movement Park ‘comes 

at the kids from all angles’, promoting 

creative thinking and imaginative play as part 

of a child’s overall wellbeing. 

That element of mental wellbeing was also 

taken into account when the charity turned 

their focus to urban sports like parkour and 

skateboarding. ‘There’s something very 

interesting about them,’ the charity convenor 

notes. ‘In traditional sports, you’re either 

winning or losing. You deem yourself good or 

bad depending on how you do against your 

opponent. 

‘In urban sports, you can take part and 

you can stand at the side with all the gear on 

and be part of the gang. It has ties to music 

and art, and you can be a part of it without 

sacrificing yourself on every turn. It’s more 

of a show rather than a competition. Urban 

sport is a lot more culture-based – at the 

heart of it, you’re just hanging about with 

your pals.’ 

Moving forward, the charity hopes to 

attract volunteers and sponsors who share 

their core values – as well as increasing 

their register of 140 members, with another 

hundred attending on a pay-as-you-go 

basis. The real proof will be in years to come, 

however, when the charity hopes to see an 

uptick in healthy habits being passed on 

through families who otherwise may not have 

had the opportunity to learn the necessary 

skills. 

‘I’ll say it again – we’re all about building 

confidence and competence,’ Stephen 

concludes. ‘Movement Park is a one-stop 

shop for making movement matter.’ 

movementpark.org.uk 


Image I Brodie Reid

26 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

Images I Gregor Reid 

Health – History – Heritage 

Arlington Baths Club 

Begin your fitness regime at the modern 

grand-old-gent that is the Arlington 

Baths Club, in the Woodlands area of 

the West End. 

The club, which is the oldest members 

club in Europe originating in 1871, underwent 

three extensions in its early years and a 

further refurbishment in 1996 courtesy of 

the Heritage Lottery Fund and was recently 

awarded ‘A’ listing status, is known as 

a sanctuary in the heart of the city and 

welcomes its flourishing membership to 

exercise and relax in classical surroundings. 

‘Over the past couple of years we have 

refurbished many member areas of the club’, 

says Andrew McGilp General Manager. 

‘The lounge has been completely modernised 

and the Cool Room refurbished. We made 

a major investment in the Turkish Rooms 

refurbishing both to a very high standard 

and introducing a more comfortable feel to 

promote a real sense of relaxation. 

‘We also installed new state of the art, 

WIFI enabled, cardio vascular equipment 

in the gymnasium as well as upgrading the 

floors in both the CV Gym and Weights Gym. 

‘The Reading Room has been completely 

overhauled with a new floor and painted 

walls. In addition we have undertaken works 

in the pool tank and circulation pipes, pool 

filter and pumps; modernised some of the 

member showers, and undergone a complete 

refurbishment of the family changing 

accommodation. A fresh touch of paint has 

also been added to a number of areas. 

‘All in all these works have enhanced 

the club experience for our members,’ says 

Andrew, ‘and we are particularly keen to 

continue with a programme of improvement 

which will reflect our Victorian heritage.’ 

The club has evolved practical and 

inimitable customs over the last 147 years 

to suit members and a unique building. 

There are many different ways to enjoy the

Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 27 

facilities and plenty for members to do; with 

the 21 metre, 7 lane swimming pool and over 

pool trapeze hoops and bars, freestanding 

Victorian baths, original and unique Turkish 

room, poolside and first floor sauna boxes 

and steam room. 

Alongside staff member James Findlay, 

the club’s YMCA accredited gym instructor 

on-site and available for personal training 

sessions, there is pool lifeguard Anna 

Burakowska who offers one to one swimming 

lessons; Vicky Smythe who offers massage, 

shiatsu and reiki services; Rosina Bonsu 

who offers a range of Yoga classes and 

workshops; Tai Chi classes for beginners with 

Alan Skirving and Pilates classes with Jackie 

Anderson and Lily Pilates. 

In addition, the Scottish Outdoor Club 

hold Scotland’s weekly Skinny Swim, every 

Sunday evening which offers mixed naturist 

use of the pool, Turkish suite, steam room, 

sauna and relaxation areas. 

Regular family swimming sessions are 

held in the pool with group and individual 

swimming lessons and stroke improvement 

lessons available from the William Young 

Swim School, on a Wednesday morning, 

Friday late afternoon and Saturday morning. 

With many current members enjoying five, 

six or seven decades of membership, the 

Arlington seems to be a life-long passion, and 

with the drive for continuous improvement it’s 

easy to see why this West End institution is 

as popular now as it was in 1871. 

arlingtonbaths.co.uk 

To mark its 

involvement 

in the Glasgow 

Doors Open Day 

Festival the 

Arlington Baths Club 

will offer a Special 

Deal to all new members, who join 

during September, of no joining fee 

PLUS 12 months for the price of 10 for 

the first years membership… costing a 

little more than £10 per week. 

For more information please email 

Andrew at info@arlingtonbaths.co.uk 

quoting ‘Westender Offer’.



RRI 

W 

by John Parker 

ell it’s been a really fantastic 

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We did a lot of braiding and also a lot 

of short, choppy cuts, graduated cuts and 

fades. However, many of the artists simply 

opted for a tidy up on their original cut with 

some styling, where we used the fantastic 

Schwarzkopf Professional Products, 

Osis+ Session Label Salt Spray and Osis+ 

Whipped Wax. 

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WIN! Rainbow Room International 

are offering one lucky reader a hair 

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on competitions by the 31st Oct’18.


take a break at Gleneagles 

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Visions of Mary 

by Helen Flockhart 

WORDS NICOLA MAULE MAIN IMAGE GREGOR REID 

There are times that I am so spellbound 

by a painting that only when the critical 

mind jumps to my attention does the 

awareness of that moment shock me. 

Standing in the studio of Glasgow based 

artist Helen Flockhart, pictures laid out 

around the room, I am reminded of just how 

powerful the impact of art can be in evoking 

such a raw, deeply personal response. 

The space is functional, creeping 

postcards of images and inspiration papering 

one wall, a window offering natural light, 

a palette of oils in perfect cones of colour 

on a small table and a quiet that clears the 

way for minimal distraction. Paintings for 

an upcoming exhibition are placed for my 

viewing but given it’s a working studio and 

that Flockhart often works on more than one 

painting at a time, not unusual. Time is also 

pressing – she opens her solo show Linger 

Awhile in Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh mid- 

September before it tours to Linlithgow Burgh 

Halls. The significance of which is noted 

considering this new body of work is firmly 

rooted on the life of Mary Stuart (Mary Queen 

of Scots) – born in the town at Linlithgow 

Palace in 1542. 

Crooked Rib is the painting that holds 

my gaze yet as it moves from one picture to 

the next the cohesion and collective power 

of these works is sustaining. With such an 

awareness of the impact of my response I 

am intrigued by the process and inspiration 

for the collection, drawn to the thread linking 

one woman in history to another as an artist 

centuries later and a viewer – how an image 

can evoke such a projection. 

‘It was an article on Mary’s mother, Mary 

of Guise that first pricked my interest a few 

years ago and I visited Linlithgow Palace last


summer, which had a real presence – from 

there I began reading books which sparked a 

lot of ideas for paintings,’ Flockhart tells me. 

A figure of legend, Mary Stuart has since 

become a narrative of Hollywood – one of 

twisted myths, romance and stereotypes. 

Flockhart was studious in her research, 

delving deep into the written words of those 

who show dedicated efforts in researching 

her life, yet observant to the limits of the 

stories that weave through the national 

conscience. ‘Legend has interwoven over 

time – people seem to adopt a standpoint 

and then research to back up their 

standpoint,’ she adds. 

In this collection the feminine strikes 

forth – theatre, history and beauty all 

pass through the image with the artist 

harnessing key moments in Mary’s life and 

transcending these details with a personal 

and compassionate response. 

Each painting is a reflection - quotes 

such as the widely known ‘en ma fin gît mon 

commencement / in my end is my beginning’ 

embroidered by Mary during her long 

Crooked Rib 

© Helen Flockhart 

incarceration in England is painted onto her 

dress in Lachrymose Window. The symbol of 

The Mermaid and the Hare – a placard that 

was exhibited in Edinburgh (1) denouncing 

Mary as a tainted lustful siren and the Earl 

of Bothwell, whose coat of arms includes 

the hare, as a player in the murder of Lord 

Darnley is also shown in the fabric of the 

dress. 

The painting captures the dominance 

of Mary as a solitary figure with a sense of 

stillness sweeping over the picture – Mary’s 

hands resting on her lap, her gaze straight 

and steady. Scottish ferns, regarded in Gaelic 

culture to have protective powers (2) look 

static, frozen almost as they fill the world 

beyond the window frame. She is held tight 

in a world where time itself is unforgiving and 

constant yet the red of her lips charge the 

energy of the feminine and Mary’s position 

during that period in her life shows one of 

resilience, presence and danger. 

Every one of Flockhart’s pictures is rich 

in colour, dense in texture and filled with 

symbolism. O Elizabeth is a portrait of the 

Lachrymose Window 

© Helen Flockhart


The Mermaid and the Hare 

© Helen Flockhart 

O Elizabeth © Helen Flockhart 

English queen Elizabeth I, seen holding a 

jar in her hand – the captured butterfly a 

symbol of her power over her prisoner, Mary. 

The background to the portrait of Mary of 

Guise Do Not Touch Me Or I Will Prick is 

swathed in layer upon layer of intricately 

painted flowers while lush green foliage 

enfolds a number of portraits – the intrigue 

of what might reveal itself through the leaves 

as the tiger did for Henri Rousseau (d.1910) 

holds my thoughts. 

I can’t help but notice that Flockhart 

herself has long red hair and albeit Mary 

Stuart was of course renowned for her red 

locks I do question her own identity creeping 

into these paintings and find it interesting to 

see the shift in the way she has portrayed her 

figures over the years. In a 1988 self-portrait 

the person is small in stature – a large head 

with a smaller body. Over time there has been 

a definite move towards a lengthening of the 

body and in these works in particular I think 

of the stylised female in the Art Deco period 

of the 1920’s and reminded of a sculpture by 

Eric Gill (d.1940) titled The East Wind 

– the angular proportions of the face 

specifically. This is an artist with a clear 

knowledge of history, from observation of 

these works I also see 17th century Dutch 

influences through the use of perspective in 

The Mermaid and the Hare and the detail and 

precision of draughtsmanship applied in the 

arches. 

Flockhart is a highly skilled painter – her 

new paintings are original, enigmatic and 

provocative. They feel hugely significant and 

relevant, timely of the present while magically 

capturing the deep significance of the stories 

regaled from the past. The thread of history 

runs deep, the line of influence alive and 

enduring. She has the unique ability to keep 

the viewers look within the frame where 

they too are suspended between a feeling 

of safety, held tight within the richness and 

detail of the painted surface with an almost 

disturbed fascination. Flockhart’s voice is 

clear and distinctive and what a force as a 

painter – one of Scotland’s greats. 

(1) apollo-magazine.com/mary-queen-scots 

(2) nrscotland.gov.uk/research/archivistsgarden/index-by-plant-name/hard-fern 

Flockhart attended The Glasgow School 

of Art, graduating in 1984 with a first-class 

degree in painting with works held in many 

British and International collections. 

13 September to 7 October 

– Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh 

12 October to 20 January 2019 

– Linlithgow Burgh Halls


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Writer’s Reveal 

meets Lin Anderson 

WORDS LORAINE PATRICK

There aren’t many things Lin Anderson 

doesn’t know about dead bodies. 

She created tartan noir heroine, forensic 

scientist Rhona Macleod whose cases 

now run to 13 books, and is cofounder of 

Bloody Scotland, the Crime Writing Festival 

which takes place in Stirling this September. 

The author lets Loraine Patrick into the 

secrets of writing a successful book series 

and discusses why crime writing has put 

Scotland on the modern literary map. 

You are on the list for the 2018 McIIvanney 

Crime Book of the Year for Follow The 

Dead your 12th book in the Rhona 

Macleod series. How does it feel to be 

nominated? 

Named after the late, great Willie McIlvanney 

who inspired so many of us to write Scottish 

crime fiction, the McIlvanney prize is dear to 

my heart. It’s therefore a great honour to be 

long-listed among such an array of talent, 

established and new. 

This book has been particularly well 

received, described as an outstanding 

thriller with shades of the Wicker Man and 

a touch of Agatha Christie. One critic said 

the pace is beautifully judged with plenty 

of twists and turns. Can you give our 

readers a flavour of what to expect? 

Hogmanay, in a blizzard on top of 

Cairngorm... what could possibly go wrong? 

My home village is Carrbridge in Cairngorm 

National Park. A couple of Christmases 

ago safely tucked up in front of the fire, 

with a blizzard raging outside, I imagined 

the opening of Follow the Dead. Consulting 

with Willie Anderson, leader of Cairngorm 

Mountain Rescue, I learned of a plane that 

had come down on a frozen Loch A’an near 

the Shelter Stone refuge. The plane was from 

Norway, and the idea of a joint investigation 

between Police Scotland and Stavanger 

police was born. 

For those who haven’t encountered your 

books featuring forensic scientist Rhona 

Macleod how would you describe her? 

Rhona was inspired by a former maths pupil 

of mine at Grantown Grammar School, 

who comes from Carrbridge. She studied 

forensic science at Strathclyde University 

and now works in London. My father was a 

DI in Greenock when I was a teenager, and 


his constant worry was that he would arrive 

at a scene of crime and it might involve one 

of his three daughters. That provided the 

premise of Book 1, Driftnet, only I made the 

protagonist a woman and a forensic scientist 

instead of a male detective. Rhona arrives 

to find a teenager who looks so like her she 

thinks he might be the son she gave up for 

adoption 17 years before. I don’t describe 

her physically in the books. I like the fact 

that readers forge their own image of her. 

You learn about her by what she does in 

difficult circumstances. I would say one 

thing though. She doesn’t openly reveal 

her feelings. That’s where her sidekick and 

forensic assistant comes in. Chrissy says 

exactly what she’s thinking, and through her 

you learn more about Rhona. 

Did you expect right at the beginning 

there would be so much scope for the 

character and so many books could come 

from her? 

No. I saw the dramatic premise of Driftnet 

where she searches for the killer and her 

own son in tandem, being a one off. However 

I loved the characters and the world of 

forensics, as did my readers, so I wanted to 

explore both through more stories. 

You have actually just published the next 

instalment, book number 13 called Sins of 

The Dead. What do you think the secret to 

creating a long running series is? 

Willie McIlvanney once said of Laidlaw that 

he was a man who just happened to be a 

detective. Rhona is a woman, who happens 

to be a forensic scientist. Any crime series 

is never about the crime, but always about 

the character. Readers come back because 

they want to be with those characters again 

and again. These characters are on the 

front line and the world they have to deal 

with is far removed from our own. We live 

vicariously through them. In Sins of the Dead, 

Rhona must face a forensically aware killer, 

who targets her through her knowledge. 

A personal and professional nightmare. 

How long does it take you to write a book? 

It takes about nine months to research and 

write a book. I have a very visual image of 

an opening which I write down. That rarely 

changes. I have no idea the who or the why. 

That’s for Rhona to find out. I investigate in


tandem with her, so I have no idea what will 

happen next. It’s an exciting way to write, but 

can get a bit fraught as we near the end, and 

I’ve yet to discover the whole truth. 

Rhona must be a huge part of your 

life – you did the forensic science 

course at Glasgow University when 

you quit teaching to become a writer. 

How much of you is in Rhona? 

The Diploma course in Forensic Medical 

Science at Glasgow University (my alma 

mater) was fantastic. I still use my notes 

from it and of course the contacts I met 

there. Listening to the real professionals was 

a privilege. I still draw on their expertise, 

particularly forensically, as I want the books 

to be as authentic as possible without being 

a textbook. 

As for myself and Rhona. Well. She’s 

much braver than me, although there are 

a few traits we share in common. I’m not a 

keen flyer, having been involved in a very 

scary incident when I lived in a remote part of 

Nigeria and the light plane I was in lost power 

in both its engines. Rhona also has a touch of 

vertigo as do I. 

Rhona is from the West End. What is it 

about the area that appeals to writers? 

I decided to place Rhona’s lab in the 

University, looking out over Kelvingrove 

Art Gallery and the park. At that time she 

probably should have been in Pitt Street, 

but hey there was no view there and it’s shut 

down now anyway. Professor John Clark 

who ran the diploma course said her lab was 

actually in the Principal’s study at Glasgow! 

I lived in Partick for many years, and love 

the park and the whole buzz of the place. 

Although Rhona’s flat is modelled on a 

friend’s flat in Edinburgh near the King’s 

Theatre with a back view on a convent 

garden, in reality it’s in Park Circus because 

I’ve always wanted to live there. 

Aside from writing you are the co-creator 

of Bloody Scotland, the annual crime 

writing festival held in Stirling. This year it 

runs from 21-23 September. Tell us what is 

happening behind the scenes. 

Bloody Scotland is a bit like a crime novel. 

It takes around nine months in the planning, 

and our aim is to inform, inspire, entertain, 

and surprise our audiences so they’re never 

quite sure what will happen next. It’s the 

best fun ever and very Scottish in its quirky 

uniqueness. We love that our readers and our 

writers mingle together and that you have the 

opportunity to see the wealth of talent both 

homegrown and international. Scottish crime 

writing is our other national export. 

Alexander McCall Smith was on hand 

to help launch the festival this year. 

I believe you are neighbours – are you 

good friends? 

As well as being neighbours, Sandy and 

I both lived and worked in Africa. When I 

interviewed him at the launch we talked about 

our shared love of baobab trees, eating flying 

ants (they taste like butter) and the joy and 

wonder of Africa’s music and people. It was 

a delight for us that he was able to open the 

festival this year. His busy schedule means 

that he’s usually in the States in September, 

so we finally worked out a way to have him 

with us. 

The Festival also celebrates the life and 

times of Muriel Spark with a Crimes 

and Misdemeanours event. What 

Competition! 

We have two signed copies 

of Follow The Dead 

to give away. Visit 


and click on competitions 

by the 31st of October 2018. 

Follow the 

Dead 

£2 

OFF 

* 

RRP £7.99 

*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers 

at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road 

branch only, by 31st October 2018.


impact do you think she has had on the 

contemporary writing scene? 

We felt it was very important that we 

celebrate Muriel Spark. She has been a 

powerful influence on many Scottish writers, 

including Ian Rankin who was writing a thesis 

on Muriel when he began work on Rebus. 

It’s also significant to note that in the recent 

Scottish Novel World Cup run by the Scottish 

Book Trust the two finalists were Ian with 

Knots & Crosses and Muriel Spark with The 

Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – and Muriel won! 

A couple of my favourite events are the 

annual Scotland v England football match 

and a performance by the Fun Loving 

Crime Writers – a group of crime writing 

musicians comprising of Christopher 

Brookmyre, Val McDermid, Doug Johnson 

and Mark Billingham. It is nice to see 

such good relationships develop between 

writers. Is that an important part of what 

the Festival is about? 

Definitely. You can’t stop those crime writers 

from showing off. On stage or the football 

pitch. It’s in their blood ! And, let’s face it 

they’re very talented. Also the crime writing 

fraternity are very supportive of one another, 

and we champion new writers at Bloody 

Scotland, both through our Pitch Perfect 

event and our Spotlighters. 

Irvine Welsh closes this year’s Bloody 

Scotland – perhaps a slightly new 

direction for the Festival? 

Crime writing is a very broad church and 

looking at our programme this year you’ll find 

even more variety. We’re featuring 14 different 

languages in the last Bloody Scotland before 

Brexit. And let’s face it there’s plenty of 

murder and mayhem in Irvine’s books. We’re 

delighted that this year he will be in Europe 

just when we need him. 

Finally Lin we have two copies of your 

book to give away – for those who don’t 

win a copy why should Westenders buy a 

copy? 

Well, if they weren’t intrigued by my earlier 

pitch for Follow the Dead, Sins of the Dead 

came out on 9th August and takes place 

entirely in the West End. Beware what you 

wish for! 

bloodyscotland.com


1 

BY BRIAN TOAL 

WESTENDER’s 

COVER TO COVER 

R.J. Mitchell worked as a beat cop in Glasgow’s ‘D’ 

Division for 12 years before deciding to concentrate 

on writing full time. Clearly, his time on the force 

has furnished him with a plethora of anecdotes and 

stories which serve as stimuli for his crime novels. 

The Shadow 

of Fear 

by RJ Mitchell 

The Shadow of Fear is his fifth 

foray into crime thrillers and it’s 

certainly a page-turner. The first 

chapter had me hooked and 

appalled at the same time as the 

horrible events inside Barlinnie’s 

‘C’ block are revealed in all their 

gory glory. The introduction of 

the main character, Ludovic Fear, 

is brutal but gives the reader a 

keen sense of his capabilities 

and skill set as he challenges the 

ruthless brutality of jungle law in 

‘The Big Hoose’. 

Fear finds himself pulled 

inexorably into the vortex that is 

Scotland’s criminal underworld, 

where his skills as an ex-SAS 

operative are invaluable as a 

means of dealing with nasty stains 

which need to be rubbed out. Fear 

is clinical and proves his worth 

with every task, but with every 

task he becomes more and more 

mired in the tangled web of The 

Cyclops, the criminal kingpin of 

Central Scotland. 

The build-up to the heist – 

which is the main reason for 

Fear’s recruitment – is full of pace, 

twists and turns and the reader 

genuinely has no idea how it will 

turn out. Added into the mix is 

the sultry chanteuse, Charlie, 

who also happens to be the beautiful daughter of MacPherson, 

a.k.a. The Cyclops. Of course, Fear falls head over heels in love 

with her because his life wasn’t complicated enough, what 

with trying to rebuild his shattered reputation following his 

incarceration, trying to maintain a tenuous relationship with his 

ten-year-old son and pull off the heist of the century! 

If it’s action and pace you want, this is right up your street. 

The chapters are short, adding to the pace, the characters are 

complex but painted vividly, the setting is familiar to a Scottish 

reader and the storyline genuinely absorbing. 

I became really frustrated with the preponderance of basic 

spelling and grammar mistakes, as the novel clearly hasn’t been 

edited very well – a cursory glance would have caught many 

of these errors. However, don’t let that put you off. It’s a great 

diversion from real life and may introduce you to a new crime 

writer to rival McDermid or Mina.


The Hidden 

Ways 

by Alastair Moffat 

2 

As a keen walker, I found this 

book fascinating as it opens 

up a whole world of hidden or 

forgotten walks throughout 

the Scottish countryside which 

you won’t find in your standard 

tourist guides. 

Alistair Moffat is an awardwinning 

writer, historian, STV 

bigwig and Fringe Festival 

director, so when it comes to 

Scotland’s culture and history 

there are fewer writers who 

can speak with such authority. 

The book is split into 

ten chapters, each one 

dealing with a ‘hidden road’. 

The Romans feature in a few 

chapters, from their use of 

roads such as Dere Street 

to get into the heart of the 

Scottish borders, or their use 

of coastal entrepôts such as 

Earlsferry and Berwick upon 

Tweed to transfer troops 

quickly up the coast for incisive 

raids further inland. 

One of the most intriguing 

chapters deals with a series 

of defensive structures 

from Stonehaven into the 

Grampians, which were 

designed to stop a putative 

German invasion during WWII, 

as the threat of an invasion 

from newly conquered Norway 

was taken extremely seriously. 

Perhaps the most beautiful 

chapter is the envoi entitled 

‘The Snow Road’, where Moffat 

is back home near Kelso and 

observes the way in which a 

path is momentarily revealed 

when the snow accumulates 

in a certain way, a hidden 

road which he’d been around 

all his life but never noticed. 

How often do we fail to see 

what’s right in front of us? 

Kirsty Logan is a prize-winning 

writer from Glasgow and in 

her latest work of fiction she 

has created a magical island 

world full of stories of selkies, 

mermaids and people who turn 

to stone when it’s their time 

to go. 

However, this isn’t a 

fairytale or a fantasy in the 

traditional sense, as there are 

events depicted which are 

all too ‘real’, although ‘real’ is 

a relative term. Heartbreak, 

love, loss and tragedy are all 

interwoven with elements of 

the fantastical to make this a 

truly enchanting story. 

The Ross family move to 

the island to renovate an 

old, crumbling guest house. 

The father was a boxer and 

the mother a ballet dancer, 

and throughout the novel are 

references to these two worlds 

– worlds which collide and 

complement each other in a 

strange but beautiful way. 

The children (Islay, Mara 

and Barra) all suffer in their 

own ways, but there is always 

enough glimpses of potential 

happiness to give the reader 

hope. The chapters alternate 

between the present and 

the past, with the latter 

illuminating the former. 

The climax is moving and 

fitting and was an emotional 

end to a novel which moved 

me from the start. 

‘Gloaming’ is the Scottish 

word for that time between 

day and night, and with this 

motif running throughout 

the novel, Logan helps us to 

appreciate that beginnings 

and endings are not nearly as 

important as what we do in 

between. 

The Gloaming 

by Kirsty Logan 

3


Guilty Pleasures from 

Westender’s American 

in Glasgow 

Image I Gregor Reid


Scottish berry cobbler 

by Liberty Vittert 

K 

Shopping List 

For the filling: 

250g of EACH blueberries, 

raspberries, blackberries 

100g granulated sugar 

1 tbs corn flour 

2 tsp lemon zest 

2 tbs lemon juice 

For the crumble: 

96g plain flour 

150g granulated sugar 

110g brown sugar 

45g oats 

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 tsp nutmeg 

½ tsp cloves 

½ tsp salt 

115g unsalted butter 

For serving: 

vanilla ice cream 

L 

Summer is over, and what a summer we 

had. It was actually sunny enough that I am 

looking forward to fall jackets, ankle boots, 

and of course, fresh Scottish berry cobbler. 

Some of the sweetest fruit is found in early 

fall. Stick those puppies in the oven with a 

hot bubbly spiced crumble, top with some 

Colpi ice cream and babycakes, I promise, 

you will be the most beloved person in the 

neighborhood. 

This dish takes 10 minutes, and that is when 

I got the man of the house to do it (when he 

makes toast, he calls that cooking). My favorite 

thing about this dish, besides its deliciousness 

of course, is the fact that you can bake it, cover 

it with cling film, pop it in the fridge 

for up to a week and stick it back 

in the oven about 20 minutes 

before you want to serve it! 

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 175C. Grease 

a large pie pan or 8 ramekins (for 

individual servings). 

2. In a medium bowl gently mix together 

all the ingredients for the filling. 

Set aside. 

3. In an electric mixer with the beater 

attachment (or using a pastry cutter), 

mix all the ingredients for the crumble 

until it reaches a sandy texture. 

4. Place the filling in baking dish(es) and 

liberally apply the crumble on top. 

5. Bake for 45 minutes. 

6. Serve immediately with vanilla ice 

cream. 

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@ 

Honu 



Reviewed by 

Roberto Parrucci 

Walk west from the looming shadow of 

the Partick train bridge on Dumbarton 

Road, there’s a pleasant surprise to 

be found for the aspiring Thornwood foodie. 

Restaurants and cafes with a strong sense 

of identity and an original idea of food are 

making their way, finding the area open and 

responsive to their new and exciting ideas. 

Honu is one such place, an establishment 

full of striking surprises that could make you 

seriously consider shifting your nightlife that 

bit more west. 

The place boasts an atmosphere new to 

these parts, bright and well-appointed, a 

long line of small tables and quaint wooden 

benches welcome you, all that timber 

creating a warm, cosy feeling. ‘The wave’ 

wallpaper in light blue, and the adjacent 

window-mirrors give the real sense that the 

Pacific Ocean is not so very far away at all. 

Honu’s concept is a delicate taste of Pan 

Asian/Pacific Rim cuisine with influences 

from Japan to Korea, from US to Canada. 

What brings everything together though 

is the combination of delicious food and a 

remarkable selection of homemade cocktails 

as a welcome counterpart to your meal 

– Martini house special being a personal 

favourite. 

The food is a real kick to the taste buds, 

with ample portions and well-seasoned 

produce – the presentation colourful and 

captivating to the eye. 

A starter of Korean chicken bites to share 

are served with sweet and sticky Gochujang 

sauce and sesame. The chicken was 

perfectly breaded, golden and crispy on the 

outside, tender and juicy on the inside. 

As a main course, we opted for two filling 

options and an unconventional surprise. 

The Poke bowl with rice, teriyaki, 

vegetables and tempura king prawns 

is a pleasure for the body and the soul. 

The different ingredients of this plate stand 

on their own but the mix of colours and 

the composition of the plate evokes an 

immediate sense of happiness. 

Thai Kheo curry, a fusion of Thai spices, 

coconut milk, pepper, kaffir lime, crispy 

shallot, spring onion, steamed rice and 

chicken is just as delicious as it might be and 

a perfect balance of spicy and sweet and 

sour. 

What definitely got our attention, however, 

was the sweet chix waffle. It comes served 

with fried chicken, hazelnut ice cream (yes, 

ice cream!), and maple syrup accompanied 

with skinny fries. Just the kind of oddity that 

you think will never work and then literally 

bursts with remarkable flavours for a give-ita-try 

foodie. 

With a growing number of options in the 

burgeoning Thornwood area, Honu is an 

exciting and friendly addition offering high 

quality handmade cocktails and exciting 

innovative food. What really keeps an area 

vibrant is its willingness to accept worthwhile 

change without whitewashing its past and 

the people who really ‘make Glasgow’, well 

Glasgow. 

Honu 

562 Dumbarton Road G11 6RH 

0141 334 9000 

honuglasgow.co.uk


gregorreidphotography.com 

PORTRAITS CORPORATE 

FASHION

@ 

brel 


Reviewed by 

Emily Donoho 

When you think of Ashton Lane 

you can’t help but think of Brel, 

the iconic Belgian themed gastropub 

that’s been a staple of the West End. 

Inside it has narrow wooden alcoves and 

hidden corners, the atmosphere of age and 

distinction, with winding stairs leading to 

a private function room, but what makes it 

unique is its capacious beer garden. 

It was refurbished in spring of 2017, with 

tiered seating on the grassy hill and a fiftyseat 

outdoor dining area. So long as you get 

there before outdoor licensing laws force 

drinkers inside at 10pm, you can enjoy your 

beverage of choice on the hill. I made use 

of one of the new benches at the top of the 

hill, as nice a place as any for a relaxed pint. 

Expect it to be busy on the first sunny days 

of the spring, although it was only moderately 

busy on a sunny Wednesday this summer. 

Brel has weekly events bringing people to 

the pub, from fondue nights to raclette nights 

(both involve cheese), and you can book it 

for a fire pit or a barbeque. They have an 

extensive dinner and lunch menu, and if you 

get there before 6pm, you can have mussels 

and chips for only £6. I didn’t make it before 

6pm this week, but I will. 

Their drinks menu will delight any beer 

aficionado, especially if Belgian beers are 

your thing. No surprise, given it’s a Belgian 

pub. There are 66 beers, including local 

Scottish ales and many rare ones from 

Belgium, the US, Germany, and elsewhere. 


On tap, they have an international 

collection as well, which includes Leffe 

and Affligem from Belgium, as well as 

St. Mungo’s, Joker IPA, Maltsmiths, Amstel, 

Birra Moretti, Guinness, and Strongbow. 

They have a reasonable range of whiskies, 

which you’d expect to see at most pubs in 

Scotland, a few gins, and a decent collection 

of wines. There is something for everyone. 

The real downside? It’s expensive, even 

for the West End. The Leffe on draught was 

£7 for a pint. The local ales were cheaper, 

but still priced high, with the Joker, for 

instance, at £4.90. The menu shows the 

bottled beers roughly within this range as 

well. That said, the food prices were average 

for quality pub food, so it is really only the 

drinks that cost more than you might expect. 

But if you want a bowl of mussels, the 

best beer garden in the West End, or you 

fancy experimenting with a Belgian beer, 

it’s worth the extra pound or two. Brel is at 

37-43 Ashton Lane and is open from 12pm 

to 12am Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 

and open from 12pm to 1am Friday and 

Saturday. 

Brel 

37-43 Ashton Lane G12 8SJ 

0141 342 4966 

brelbar.com


Award Winning 

foodies 

WORDS CLAIRE PORTER 

Glasgow’s West End has an ever-growing food scene, with innovative 

bakers, brewers and chefs trying new and interesting things to 

please discerning Glasgow diners. Three businesses in particular are 

leading the way for food and drink in the area, collecting an array of 

awards along the way. Claire Porter chats to them and finds out their 

perfect recipe for success. 

If you had walked down Argyle Street in 

January 2017, you would most likely not be 

familiar with the name Six by Nico, or if 

you had visited Hilton Glasgow just a couple 

of months ago you would probably have 

never heard of the Tea Lounge by Dilmah. 

And if I had asked you in 2015 if you had 

visited the Butterscotch Bakery on Hyndland 

Road, I suspect the answer would have been 

‘not yet’. 

In less than three years, these three 

businesses have come onto the scene and 

made a lasting impression on the foodies 

of Glasgow. None more so than Chef Nico 

Simeone of Six by Nico. Born in Glasgow, to 

Italian parents, Nico was raised in a family 

of Mediterranean food lovers. His earliest 

memories are of his mother’s Italian cooking, 

helping her prepare large family meals in 

the kitchen. His impressive career has seen 

him work at Michelin starred Number One 

at Balmoral, where he was awarded Young 

Scottish Seafood Chef of the Year award, 

aged just 20! 

Going out on his own in the summer of 

2015, Nico opened 111 by Nico in Kelvinside. 

Nico’s philosophy was to create a unique 

fine-dining experience for his guests, whilst 

also launching an apprenticeship programme 

for young people. This unique programme 

offers young people that have faced 

enormous challenges in life the opportunity to 

share Nico’s passion for cooking, giving them 

the drive and the tools needed to become top 

chefs themselves. 

With his first venture becoming a roaring 

success, it was time for Nico to embark on 

his next project, Six by Nico a name you will 

no doubt now be very familiar with. But if 

you’re not, the concept behind the restaurant 

is an evolving menu focusing on particular 

types of international cuisine. Think of it as a 

series of fine dining pop-up restaurants that 

change every six weeks. 

Their latest menu titled ‘Holy Guacamole’ 

is a tribute to modern Mexico with its 

contemporary and refined take on Mexican 

food. Speaking on the menu, Chef Nico said, 

‘I think our Mexico themed tasting menu 

gives guests the opportunity to try different 

colours, textures and flavours that they may 

not have discovered before. Mexican food 

is fantastic with a lot of flair, colours and we 

aim to offer a diverse and delicious range of 

dishes that bring the culture and history of 

the country all together in one bite.’ 

It is vibrant menus and flavours just 

like this that keeps the Finneston hot spot 

booked out a month in advance and their 

experimental efforts haven’t gone unnoticed 

in the culinary world either. Nico recently 

won ‘Innovative Chef of the Year’ at the 2018 

Scottish Food Awards, an amazing accolade 

for the chef and his team who have built the 

business and its glowing reputation at an 

accelerated speed over just a few years.


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The next upcoming thematic menu, titled 

‘Cooking the 70s’ promises to transport 

diners through the decade of disco with 

each dish. So if you want to try some far-out 

delights including old classics such as prawn 

cocktail or even a contemporary take on 

Spam be sure to secure your spot soon. 

Another West End entrepreneur that 

knows a thing or two about building a 

business from the ground up is Rachel 

Nelson, Director of The Butterscotch Bakery. 

Growing her business from a dream and a 

deep passion for baking, the team’s sweet 

treats have become a West End favourite. 

If you haven’t visited the bakery on 

Hyndland Road yet to give you a better 

idea what to expect, their beautiful cakey 

creations would make any Great British Bake- 

Off contestant green with envy. Visitors to the 

bakery also have the option to sit in and enjoy 

a selection of drinks along with their cake and 

take in the fittingly kitsch decor, the perfect 

setting for afternoon tea. 

The bakers of Butterscotch Bakery 

have picked up several awards in the past 

few years but most recently won multiple 

awards at the Scottish Bakers Awards 2018 

including National Gold for their Jammy 

Dodger and the Best Biscuit in Scotland 

for their scrumptious shortbread. When 

speaking about the award, Rachel said, ‘The 

Butterscotch Bakery has been in business for 

less than three years and each year we have 

improved our success rate at their prestigious 

awards. To win the Best Biscuit in Scotland 

with our shortbread is a great reward for the 

efforts of the staff and everyone associated 

with Butterscotch’. 

With a focus on using only high quality, 

free-range, local, fair-trade ingredients it’s 

no surprise that their cakes and biscuits 

received the industry seal of approval. But it’s 

not just the fantastic flavours that make the 

bakery’s customers come back time and time 

again; it’s the imagination and creativity that 

goes into the cake designs. The team behind 

Butterscotch pride themselves upon being 

able to take every customer brief and turn it 

into a cake form; their speciality is Scottish 

themes with a portfolio including Highland 

Coos, Bagpipes and Scotty Dogs. 

Unlike the previous two businesses, the 

Tea Lounge by Dilmah is a real newbie to the 

Glasgow food and drink scene, opening its 

doors in June 2018. The beautiful lounge in 

Hilton Glasgow offers an elegant experience 

with a wide range of fine hand-picked teas, 

cocktails and mocktails, all paired with


delicious sandwiches, tasty fresh scones and 

a selection of cakes you won’t be able to take 

your eyes (or hands) off. 

Glasgow has been chosen to join 

Sri Lanka, Dubai, Jakarta and others around 

the world in hosting one of Dilmha’s luxury 

lounges. Interestingly, the opening also 

represents a homecoming for Sri Lankan tea. 

The tea industry in Sri Lanka was founded by 

pioneering Scot, James Taylor who is often 

viewed as the ‘father’ of Ceylon tea as he 

first established tea plantations in Sri Lanka 

in 1852. 

Merrill J. Fernando, the Founder of Dilmah 

(one of the three largest tea brands in the 

world) has an unmistakable devotion to his 

product and with the tea lounge he hopes to 

bring a truly unique and artisanal experience 

to the city. Dilmah tea is handpicked, made 

in the traditional style, packed fresh to retain 

richer flavour, purity and natural goodness. 

The company itself belongs to tea farmers, 

who care for their workers, their children and 

customers equally, in their endeavour to bring 

relief to workers in Sri Lanka. 

Along with the companies ethical values 

Fernando also brings with him an impressive 

reputation that includes the Global 

Businessman Award at the Ada Derana 

Sri Lankan of the Year Awards. On the 

opening of the tea lounge, Fernando said, 

‘The relationship between Sri Lanka, 

Scotland and tea is more than 150 years 

old and we are very proud to have the 

opportunity to bring our countries closer 

together.’ 

These may be three very different 

businesses but what links them is their love 

for what they do and their drive to bring a 

unique dining experience to the people of 

Glasgow. Awards are great it’s true, but it’s 

baked in passion that will keep us coming 

back for more. 

sixbynico.co.uk 

thebutterscotchbakery.co.uk 

Tea Lounge by Dilmah at The Hilton 

Glasgow, 1 William Street G3 8HT


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Legal Matters 

Don’t bank on it! 

by Donald Reid, chairman at Mitchells Roberton 

There are lots of small businesses in the 

West End. They need working capital 

and bank support to operate 

successfully. 

Banks, as we all know, are happy to lend 

money to anyone who can show they don’t 

need it. For the rest of us they want the shirt 

off our backs. 

Last week I was asked to provide 

independent advice to the director of a 

small company running a shop. The shop 

had traded well for some years and was 

increasing its bank facility to fund expansion. 

But the Bank wasn’t happy just to lend 

to the company. It required the trader to 

provide her personal guarantee as well. 

Now the whole point of having a limited 

company is to protect yourself from personal 

exposure in the event of the company failing 

and going into liquidation. 

Conscientious traders, which my client 

is, work very hard to prevent that happening 

but sometimes trading conditions can 

deteriorate overnight. Say like when the big 

banks all collapse at once. It is therefore 

prudent management to limit liability. 

What this Bank was doing was demanding 

of this careful trader that she abandon her 

limited liability so far as the Bank’s lending 

was concerned, and undertake to go into 

her own pocket to pay off the Bank if the 

company should default. 

My job was to advise her as to the risks 

she was taking in giving the guarantee. 

We met to discuss it. I said to her that a 

guarantee is a bottomless pit: did she want 

to jump down it? She told me the bank 

had assured her this was very unlikely to 

happen but their internal procedures require 

them to insist on a guarantee. I asked if she 

could afford to pay up on the guarantee 

if things did go wrong despite all her hard 

work and careful management. She said she 

wasn’t sure, but felt she had no choice as 

the intended expansion of her business is 

essential to its ongoing success. 

In discussion with the Bank I was able 

to get a cap on the maximum she would be 

obliged to pay up if the worst happened. 

This was still a frightening figure but better 

than no limit at all. I warned her that no matter 

how pleasant and re-assuring the Bank might 

be when setting a facility up, they will be 

utterly heartless when it comes to enforcing 

a default. 

If Donald can help 

please contact him 

on 0141 552 3422, 

or email dbr@mitchells-roberton.co.uk. 

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors 

& Estate Agents 

George House 

36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD 

0141 552 3422 

www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk


Accountancy 

Matters 

by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison 

How to survive in a 

post GDPR world 

Businesses are reeling from the GDPR 

panic that spread like wildfire last May. 

Overnight businesses around the world 

blocked sites, shut down activity, and flooded 

inboxes with mixed messages: ‘please stay’; 

‘don’t go’. 

Most businesses misunderstood 

GDPR which was about improving overall 

management, storage and usage of data 

not simply about e-marketing and customer 

databases. 

Tinged with regret business leaders 

believe they may have over reacted and 

are feeling the pinch now lucrative revenue 

streams are shut off. 

You may have had a similar experience 

and are unsure how to re-engage customers 

and improve overall business strategy. To 

run a resilient and successful business you 

should review the company strategy every six 

months not dust it off every five years. 

Regular reviews enable you to forecast, 

plan and adapt at a manageable pace. 

You remain confident you are staying on track 

to meet the organisation’s five year plan. 

Even more importantly you won’t be making 

last minute decisions. 

How can a business expert help? 

Seeking expert advice from a business 

strategist is a cost effective way of accessing 

specialist knowledge to help you understand 

your business better and make informed 

strategic decisions. 

With a solid business strategy you’ll 

effectively manage risk, boost growth, 

and run a resilient, agile business. What’s 

stopping you? 

Get in touch today for expert business and 

tax advice. 

Murrison & Wilson, CA is a full service 

accountancy firm specialising in 

business and tax planning for private 

individuals, self-employed and small 

to medium sized businesses. 

With a free consultation, fixed and 

competitive fees why not get in 

touch on 0141 290 0262 or email 

info@muwca.co.uk. 

Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants 

10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ 

0141 290 0262 

info@muwca.co.uk 

muwca.co.uk


Homes & Interiors 

Up-Shop 

by Susan 

Robertson 

Very Vintage 

Buying vintage for our homes has gone through various 

seasons as a trend. It’s been everywhere then over 

and out again, but it feels like now – there’s a balance 

available that brings a creative freedom and wide 

range of options, and Susan Robertson looks at how we 

harness that to bring the old together with the new in 

our West End homes.


There is often a blurring of lines in what is 

described as vintage, and what is antique but in 

general, vintage items often loosely represent an 

era, at least 20 years old – so yes – that’s actually 

the 1980s now! Antiques however need to be 100 

years old to merit the term. But the swathes of 

programmes and articles on the subjects over 

the years have really helped to familiarise us 

with the terms and bring a confidence to using 

mixtures of old and new in our homes. 

There’s a softness and an approachability that 

comes from solid, older items in our homes, 

maybe it depends on your age but for me, there’s 

a real appeal about a piece with a story to tell 

and a statement to make, and I think most 

people now find the idea of flatpack furniture 

a little bit depressing. Everyone has their own 

preferences but you can buy some great, quality 

pieces that are beautifully crafted and sourced 

from artisans all over the world now, in the 

time it would take me to battle with a flatpack 

instruction manual. 

You can go for a genuine antique and source 

something that really stands up in its own right 

to make a statement in your room without doing 

anything to it. Or – you can source a new item 

that fits the bill well. Alternatively – you can 

find something you like and try your hand at 

adapting it a bit yourself. Add a bit of creative 

flair to something that you find in a charity shop 

for example, or revisit some of your existing bits 

and bobs and see if anything can be given a new 

lease of life. 

For a while the concept of upcycling became a 

bit confused as a dodgy DIY trend that everyone 

thought they could do, regardless of skillset 

– so often the idea conjured up images of rickety 

dressing tables that had been poorly sponged 

by hand in chalky white paint. Thankfully this 

is no longer the case and there is an array of 

information available to help with your own 

projects, or you can really get the best of both 

worlds simply by identifying the best designers 

and stockists working in the area. 

So we’re lucky to have some great experts 

and inspiring shops right here on our doorstep 

– a favourite browse of mine since my days living 

in Partick is UP, on Dumbarton Road. Owner 

Stephen Higgins can turn any old bric-a-brac 

into cutting edge design statements so if you’re 

thinking of something a little bit different, nip 

in here first. There’s an eye-popping range of 

impeccably upcycled furniture, homeware 

touches and vintage quirky bits that you can 

choose from, or if you’re on the hunt for a project 

– get some great design inspiration from what 

he’s already done and some expert tips on your 

own creative ideas. He even stocks the paints for 

you to try your hand yourself. 

The Store Interiors



I asked Stephen for some tips. He said: 

'Look for the fun pieces. Focus on just adding 

a single piece of colour or quirky item to any 

room. It’s important that you don’t overdo it, 

or it can look contrived. Concentrate on one 

standout piece to really bring your character 

into your room.' 

Stephen also suggests, 'Look at things in a 

slightly different way considering how they can 

possibly be adapted. For example, could the legs 

be changed to create a different look, or could 

you add legs to raise the height and change 

the function? Could a splash of paint hide any 

defects and tie the piece into the room’s colour?' 

And my favourite piece of advice from 

Stephen, 'Forget about what rooms you would 

normally find pieces in – there are no rules – 

change it up.' 

Whatever you do, try to be realistic about 

your skills and available time. You may end 

up botching an item that you’ve previously 

loved by just being a bit over-confident about 

it – or using the wrong materials. I spent ages 

sourcing a perfect shaped old writing bureau 

then spoilt it a bit by impatiently not preparing 

it properly and, with hindsight, I should have 

used different paint. So, if you decide to change 

an existing piece yourself or add a creative 

touch – double-check you’re doing it right and 

you have the time, space, and tools you need, 

and plan your approach carefully and enjoy it. 

Otherwise – commission Stephen to do it for 

you so you get the best of both worlds – a one-off 

design statement tailored to your own space and 

character. 

We often get constrained by conforming to 

what things were originally built for, by trying 

too hard to ‘match’ or ‘scheme’ either with 

colours or styles and we find ourselves caught 

into the ways that previous trends created their 

looks or effects and this takes away from the fun 

and creativity of creating something new so, 

keep your eye on what you think looks good, and 

what works for you practically in your home, 

rather than expected ‘norms’ and that’s when 

you’ll really make something unique. 

Alternatively – have a good rummage about 

the West End, there are great new places 

opening up every day, and it’s worth your while 

to step off your usual routes and have a wander 

around other corners. I recently dropped into 

CoLab on Dowanhill Street. It stocks carefully 

chosen lifestyle brands in a contemporary 

environment, and you can sit down for 

coffee while you’re in there. You’ll often find 

something unique and edgy here, and at the 

time of writing, they had upcycled, industrial 

cubes featuring reclaimed film posters which 

could be used as stools or side tables, and cool 

industrial mirrors made from upcycled oil 

drums. 

CoLab Store 

CoLab Store, 11-13 Dowanhill St 

0141 570 1766 

The Store, 26 Munro Place 

0141 950 1333 

Up-shop.uk, 557a Dumbarton Rd 

0141 357 2579


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Purple Palettes 


With a new season, comes a new palette for our homes and wardrobes, 

and as we move away from the fresh citrussy colours of summer, the 

trend colour of prominence is deep purple. Think dark plums and 

burgundy tones, and deep navy blues with warm undertones. Just a 

few touches around your home, can give a whole new depth and help 

to ease us into the cooler months. 

Blamire Tapas Dish, 

£8.99, Cassiopeia 

Birthstone Ball, 

£11.99, Liquorice Tree 

My Happy Soap, 

£8.50, 

CoLab Store 

Elie Pacific Cushion, 

£62, Bluebellgray 

Effie Desk Lamp, 

£32.95, Nancy Smillie 

Bluebellgray, 162 Hyndland Road, 0808 164 1030, bluebellgray.com 

Cassiopeia, 165 Hyndland Road, 0141 357 7374, cassiopeiaonline.co.uk 

CoLab Store, 11-13 Downhill Street, 0141 570 1766, colabstore.co.uk 

Liquorice Tree, 431 Great Western Road, 0141 339 0648, liquoricetree.com 

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




Well no-one can complain that we 

didn’t see some sun this year, and as we 

move into a new cooler season, Susan 

Robertson looks at how we bring this 

transition into our homes. 

Farrow & Ball 

Oversized 

Industrial 

CoLab Store 

by Susan Robertson 

An oversized clock looks 

great as a statement on 

the wall! 

One of the key trends this year is for 

everything oversized. Catwalks are being 

strutted in baggy jumpers and long soft jersey 

dresses, and our homes always tend to reflect 

the styles being worn. 

I remember the first time I saw a video on 

social media of someone knitting a huge 

blanket with mammoth stitches working up 

their arms. I thought it was a joke at first, then 

quite simply wonderful – and it’s now added 

to my list of things that look quite cool to do 

but I’ll likely never attempt. With these viral 

videos however, a trend was born. And now we 

have these brilliant chunky big knits adding 

comfort to our autumn evenings. 

What often works well in a room, is contrast. 

Not only of colour, but of texture so, taking 

these warm soft knits as a starting point, we 

can develop a theme around them – they work 

remarkably well against cool, hard surfaces 

and look brilliant against an industrial feel 

room. Think of natural brick or concrete 

walls, or opt for matt black, deepest navy or 

cool palest grey paint as a backdrop and then 

layer in the different elements from there. The 

furniture should be big and oversized too.


Keep to a couple of key items and make them 

the largest the space can take, without making 

it impractical. Think bold size choice, in a way 

that still allows loads of space, but let a few 

items breathe and ‘own’ the room. Select them 

carefully to contrast with the walls in dusky 

burnished metals and chunky dark wood. 

Add soft leather seats and dark metal stools. 

Once you have the palette and the core 

furniture pieces, that’s the framework from 

which you can then create – and this is where 

the additional flourishes really start to come 

into their own to pull the room together. 

Add texture and softness with the knits in 

throws and cushions in pale creams and deep 

blues. Break up large, cold concrete or dark 

polished floors with soft chunky rag rugs and 

faux fur. Use large floor cushions in sturdy 

denims and linens to complement huge sofas 

and armchairs you can disappear into. Just a 

few confident touches of the chunky softness is 

lovely against the roughness of the industrial 

look. 

Add to that some additional big features to 

add interest and depth. An oversized clock 

looks great as a statement on the wall – go for 

an antique station clock or a huge mirror is also 

great as this bounces the light and alters the 

atmosphere of the room. Choose a big metal 

mirror frame with no airs and graces and let it 

dominate a section of the room. Choose bright 

abstract art that can be allowed to roam freely 

over a whole wall section. 

A huge modern sculpture or a cheeky neon 

sign can take over a full corner and create a 

talking point, and a dark metal pendant light 

or vintage chrome spotlight floor lamp finishes 

it all off well. 

Make sure that you have the space to do 

this and keep it balanced. It should be bold 

and oversized but still kept purposeful and 

deliberate – think loft living and minimal, 

adding the large touches in a way that makes a 

confident statement but doesn’t make you feel 

like a borrower sitting diminutively at your 

own dining table! 

Then lastly – add some huge candle sticks 

to add extra natural light sources, pewter 

and metal look great. If there’s an option for it 

– a wood burner is a great option with this look, 

or a solid fireplace and grate. Add finishing 

touches in glass, metal and concrete. Pale grey 

concrete plant holders with simple green plants 

look great on surfaces, complemented by mixed 

hanging glass terrariums or huge smoked glass 

vase bowls with big white lilies finish off the 

theme really nicely. Then once you’ve pulled 

it all together, it’s the perfect room to melt 

into – enjoying the different textures and the 

calming simplicity of this timeless look as you 

adjust to the new season in your comfortable 

home. 

The Store Interiors


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 

QUOTE WESTENDER AND RECEIVE 15% DISCOUNT 

The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP 

0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk 

Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk 

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0141 404 6242 • GLASGOWSLATERS.CO.UK 

TheStore - HIS - Emma.indd 2 07/12/2017 09:48


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