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Contents
Image I Gregor Reid
Contents
6 Fashion pages
westender
Regulars
underwear shoot
13 4 Editor’s A Jian London Letter
Christmas
31 The West End
14 Mum’s West Notebook End Live
with Greg Kane
19 Fashion, A west beauty end & health
Christmas gift guide
8 Suited and Booted
28 Up Front
Fashion
gypsy brewing
21 WIN! At Rainbow Room
30 Restaurant review
International
31 WIN! A 3 course meal
with wine at Rio Cafe &
WIN! Shopping A weekend
at 29 The Mother’s Bruce Day Arms
32 Gift Sweet GuideLiberty recipe
34 Author’s Bookgroup
meets Phil Differ
Going out
39 Jingle Belles at
Kennedy 16 West End + CoLive
40 with WIN! Greg A Kane style
makeover 19 Top Things at Rainbow
Room International
41 Art Festive & culture Offers
at Esteem Beauty
42
22 Writer’s
100 years
Reveal:
of
Erskine
with Gary
celebrated
Sutherland
at
26
The
Cover
Hunterian
to Cover
44 Health Matters
47 Food Mum’s & drink Notebook
49
35 Restaurant
Top Things
Review:
52
Rossini
Interiors
West
article:
End
Christmas
37 Bar Review:
in colour
Munro’s
55 Country comforts
56 Hygge at home
Westender living
58 Atlas kitchen
makeover 40 Smart Spaces
66 45 Spring Legal Matters Forward with
Mitchells 46 Art Deco Roberton Decadence
4 | www.westendermagazine.com
Editor’s
Letter
By the time this edition hits the West
End’s leafy streets I’ll have returned from
my first ever ski holiday to the Cairngorm
Mountain ski resort, and be looking forward
to another season camping in the Trossachs
and up the west coast (fave place last year
was Portban overlooking Islay and Jura
– heaven).
We joined the Glasgow Ski & Snowboard
Centre at Bellahouston (ski-glasgow.co.uk)
last year to take lessons and a nicer bunch
of people it would be hard to meet. Every
instructor, without exception, has been
excellent (and patient!). Why now? Well I’ve
waited long enough, I reckon. I had always
fancied skiing and as I hit my mid-forties
reckoned if it wasn’t now it may be never.
My youngest and I have been learning
together and that has made the whole
experience extra special.
Read my blog about our stay in
Nethy Bridge online sometime this
February, I’ll put a post out on social media
when it’s uploaded – so keep up-to-date
by joining us on Facebook, Twitter or
Instagram, or keep checking our website at
westendermagazine.com.
This edition is packed with gigs to book
(West End Live P.16), things to do (Top Things
P. 19) and books to read (Cover To Cover
P.26) – you will not be bored this spring!
We have a fantastic interview with author
Gary Sutherland on P.22. If you are looking
for a great read as well as inspiration to get
out and about as the weather improves, he’s
your man. Ever fancied walking the West
Highland Way? Enter our competition for
a copy of Gary’s new travelogue Walk This
Way and laugh your way to the start point in
Milngavie.
The spring holidays are also racing
towards us so Michele Gordon of The
Language Hub has compiled a list of her top
West End classes and events to keep the kids
entertained this April. There’s loads on from
Dippy the Diplodocus’ visit to Kelvingrove,
exciting outdoor activities with West End
Adventure, to outdoor games in our parks run
by Glasgow Life. Head over to P.31 and start
planning your West End fun.
Suzanne Martin
www.westendermagazine.com | 5
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EDITOR
SUZANNE MARTIN
PHOTOGRAPHER
GREGOR REID
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
EMILY DONOHO, AMY GLASGOW,
MICHELE GORDON,
GREG KANE, TRACY MUKHERJEE,
LORAINE PATRICK,
SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL
HAIR & MUA
TERRI CRAIG
STYLIST
JACKI CLARK
WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM
INFO@WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM
07905 897238
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& INSTAGRAM
Publisher: Westender Magazine
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resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.
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www.westendermagazine.com | 7
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www.westendermagazine.com | 79
Sharp
dressed
womanmake photography
up
Gregor Reid
stylist
jacki clark
terri craig
10 8 | | www.westendermagazine.com
suit, next. Shoes, schuh. necklace, next. glasses, iolla
opposite page - suit, asos. bralette, bonbon at the scottish design exchange. shoes, schuh. necklace, cassiopeia
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16 | www.westendermagazine.com
LIVE
March
Kathryn Joseph
Friday 1st March 7.30pm
Glasgow University Debating Chamber
When you stream Kathryn Joseph’s
music it comes across poised,
thoughtful, beautiful. Go see her live
and all that is there, but there’s also
a power and confidence that really
sucks you in and bowls you over.
Watching her you begin to believe that
she really can right all the wrongs
and offer you all the best life choice
guidance you’ll ever need. I find her
totally beguiling watching her sit
at that piano singing those songs.
And I’m not alone, her music has been
celebrated by The SAYAWARD folk (She
won the prestigious Scottish Album
Of The Year Award in 2015). A national
treasure of Scotland she is.
Choice Tracks:
Kathryn Joseph 'We Have Been Loved
by Our Mothers'
Mashrou’ Leila
Sunday 10th March 7pm
Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk
Mashrou' Leila are one of the most
notable indie pop bands to come out
of the Middle East, to be specific from
Beirut in Lebanon. Now if ever an
indie band had a reason to grind an
axe it would be these guys. To my ears
their music is beautifully arranged
electro Euro pop augmented with the
signature sound of razor sharp Arabic
violin. Frequently compared to Arcade
Fire, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys they
follow in the footsteps of legendary
Arabic singer Fairuz in bringing
their unique sound to the rest of
the world. Shout out goes to their
flamboyant frontman Hamed Sinno who
is so compelling to watch – hints of
Freddy Mercury.
Choice track:
Mashrou’ Leila ‘Are you Still Certain’
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Wednesday 27th March 7.30pm
SWG3, swg3.tv
Low slung Gibson Les Paul, check…
Long blonde hair, check… Black ripped
skinny jeans, check… Monster rock
chops on that there guitar, check…
Rock God poses, check… but wait,
this isn’t some testosterone filled,
sexually ambivalent hair metal
dude, this is Joanne Shaw Taylor. An
English born blues guitarist who can
trade with the best of them. All these
Bluesmen feeling sorry for themselves
clutching their guitars for comfort
need not look any further than Joanne
Shaw Taylor for salvation. Compelling
to watch.
Choice track: Joanne Shaw Taylor
‘Break My heart Anyway’
www.westendermagazine.com | 17
by Greg Kane
April
Shawn Mendes
Saturday 6th April 6pm
SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com
Shawn Mendes is the epitome of
millennial success. This is a teenager
who, aged 14, gained millions of fans
over the course of only a few months
after he started posting short videos
of himself covering songs. A familiar
strategy for achieving global success
nowadays. Today at the ripe old age of
19-years-old and already on his third
album for Island Records he’s now
gone all funky and grown up. I suspect
there’ll be a Hydro full of screaming
girls – and father’s and boyfriend’s
pained faces. Notwithstanding he’s
quite good tho.
Choice track:
Shawn Mendes 'Particular Taste'
Hauschka
Tueday 9th April 7pm
Mackintosh Church
Prepared piano music anyone?
A technique that involves inserting
objects between a piano’s strings
and hammers to expand its sonic and
operative possibilities… Anyone?
Ok then, but I’m a piano player and I
love this building up just off Maryhill
Road, so it’s kinda ticking my boxes.
Volker Bertelmann, also known as
Hauschka, is an Academy Awardnominated
composer, pianist and
experimental musician whose music
lends itself to movie soundtracks and
he subsequently has a very impressive
entry in IMDb to back it up.
Very beautiful music in a very
beautiful place.
Choice Track: Hauschka 'Curious'
Jody Watley
Wednesday 17th April 7pm
Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk
Jody Watley is the Godchild of soul
legend Jackie Wilson, she married
Prince’s bassist André Cymone, sang
all those Shalamar hits back in the
80s and was one of the stars of the
New Jack Swing scene in the late 80s,
early 90s. Listening to her music on
Spotify takes you back to the synth
funk days of old… All Di’d guitars,
deep bass lines, Kawai drum machines,
big plate and gated reverbs. I loved it
all… still do if truth be told.
She still sounds and looks great.
A night of 80s funk ahead of you.
Choice track: Jody Watley with
Shalamar 'Night To Remember'
18 | www.westendermagazine.com
J O R D A N H I L L BOWLING CL U B
SINCE 1899
• Jordanhill Bowling Club (JBC) at the
heart of the community since 1899
• Enjoy an outdoor sport in a beautiful
location
• Membership open to all aged 8-108
and all abilities
• Play as a hobby or in club, district or
national competitions
• All equipment and coaching provided
free to new bowlers. (Casual clothes
and modern club polo shirts is the
normal now)
• Be part of a team, meet new friends
and play a sport invented in Scotland
• Huge discounts on memberships for
new members
To be part of JBC or just have a look around contact John on 07946661226
or just walk in and visit us. You could be our future club champion.
Looking forward to meeting you.
@jordanhillbowlingclub
www.westendermagazine.com | 19
Top Things To Do
in the West End
by Tracy Mukherjee
Top for Dynamic Dinosaurs
We seem to have a special relationship here
in the West End with the prehistoric era.
Not so long ago, the Botanics were overrun with
terrifying triceratops and vicious velociraptors.
This spring it’s the turn of both Kelvingrove
Museum and Kelvin Hall to play host to these
gigantic beasts. First, step back to the crazy
cretaceous period and visit Trix the T. Rex at
Kelvin Hall from April till July. This 66 million
year old dinosaur was initially discovered in
Montana but these days is resident in the
Netherlands. Trix is the only Tyrannosaurus
Rex touring in the world so don’t miss this
opportunity to visit Kelvin Hall during her
visit and find out more about the life of this
fascinating creature.
Dippy on Tour sees the Natural History Museum
of London’s most famous inhabitant leaving
home for the first time since 1905. Dippy the
Diplodocus was one of the largest animal that
ever lived. Living 150 million years ago, he is now
on a natural history adventure across the UK.
Here in Glasgow, he will be helping residents
of our city to experience the wonders of nature
right here on our doorstep. With numerous
events running throughout Dippy’s visit, visitors
will have a chance to see how prehistoric animals
are linked to what we see around us now. The
RSPB will show how there are Dinosaurs In Your
Back Garden, looking at the connection between
birds now and those extinct. In March, dinosaur
experts discuss if dinosaurs could live now in
Dinosaurs Back To Life.
All these amazing events will be leading up to
Dippy’s Nature Discovery Day at the end of
April. The day coincides with Glasgow’s Nature
Challenge 2019, where visitors in and around
the city will be asked to race against the clock to
record as many different species of wildlife as
they can (look out for Bioblitz in the Botanics on
16th March). Incredible events for young and old
alike, it’s a perfect time of year to be embracing
and celebrating the nature around us.
T. Rex in Town, 18th April –
31st July, Glasgow Kelvin Hall
kelvinhall.org.uk/trex
Dippy On Tour 22nd January – 6th May
Kelvingrove Art Galleries and Museum
glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/dippy-ontour-a-natural-history-adventure
Top for a Top Read
Glasgow’s annual book festival Aye Write!
returns to the magnificent Mitchell Library in
March. The festival, which has become a firm
favourite in our cultural calendar, celebrates
the best of local, national and international
literature. Audiences gather to hear new writers,
emerging talent or famed international authors
discuss their works in the hallowed halls of one
of Europe’s largest public libraries. With events
also taking place at the Royal Concert Hall, the
subjects under discussion cover every genre of
literature and media.
The list of authors and speakers is extensive.
Big name authors such as Val McDermid and
Alexander Smith McCall are in attendance along
with well known names from broadcasting like
Simon Mayo and Louise Minchin. Workshops are
aplenty covering every type of writing: give it a
go in creative writing, children’s books, poetry,
writing for radio/television drama; the list goes
on and on. There are also talks from the world
of food and travel literature, historic writers and
discussion on some of the most iconic books
ever written. Wee Write! makes a welcome return
too with the family day on Saturday 2nd March.
As award-winning authors and illustrators
encourage younger readers to develop their love
of books, we can but hope this fantastic festival
runs for many, many more years to come.
Aye Write! 14th-31st March
ayewrite.com
20 | www.westendermagazine.com
Top Things To Do
in the West End
by Tracy Mukherjee
Top for Comedy
Can you believe it’s a year since the last
Glasgow International Comedy Festival? The
annual March Giggle Gala returns across the
city bringing Glaswegians the best from the
international comedy circuit. Now Europe’s
largest comedy festival, stars will be attending
from the UK and beyond. Venues in the west
include Oran Mor, The Stand, Websters and
the Tall Ship, but there are an abundance of
shows dotted around a myriad of establishments
nearby. Comedians to watch out for include
the fabulously dry Rich Hall at the Garage on
Sauchiehall Steet, Scotland’s very own Craig Hill
at Oran Mor and the hilarious Mark Nelson (he
of the politically savvy daughter) at the Stand.
Darren Connell, of Scot Squad fame also treads
the boards of the Stand in his Abandon All Hope
show. We’ve yet to see if his alter ego Boaby will
make an appearance with Officer Karen!
Glasgow International Comedy Festival,
14th -31st March, various venues
glasgowcomedyfestival.com
Top for Theatre
Oran Mor’s now iconic A Play, A Pie and A
Pint has hit its 15th anniversary and will have
produced no less than 500 plays; quite an
achievement given the lunchtime theatre slot.
To recognise this landmark achievement, some
of the favourite productions from over the years
are making a return to the theatre. Plays by Liz
Lochhead, Dave Anderson and Morag Fullerton
are all on the Spring Season list, as well as new
works by less well known, yet no less talented
playwrights. Famous icons making a welcome
appearance include Chic Murray, Elvis, Jocky
Wilson and Humphrey Bogart… in dramatic form,
of course. The latter returns for the 500th play,
Casablanca – The Lunchtime Cut. This play
was voted for by the Oran Mor audience as the
favourite to have an anniversary encore.
Looking down this list of dramas, musicals
and comedies in this celebratory season, rest
assured a lunchtime theatre date is on the cards
this spring.
A Play, A Pie and A Pint Celebration
Season, Oran Mor, Byres Road
oran-mor.co.uk
Top for Top Art
We all have our favourite forms, genres, pieces
of art and over the years these pages have
signposted some utterly incredible local galleries
and some true national heroes e.g. Rennie
MacIntosh. I’m safe in saying that I haven’t
made previous reference to this chap who’s got
a few pieces being shown down at Kelvingrove.
His name? LEONARDO DA VINCI!!!
Twelve of the most intricate drawings by da
Vinci will be on show at Kelvingrove up until
May in the showcase Leonardo da Vinci: A Life
in Drawing. Lent to Kelvingrove Art Gallery
and Museum by Her Majesty The Queen from
the Royal Collection, the museum is the only
Scottish venue to exhibit these pieces. Across
the UK, 144 drawings in total are going on show
in a national celebration to mark 500 years
since the artist died. The drawings range from
anatomy to mechanical design, portraiture; even
weather sketches. With a number of da Vinci’s
own explanatory notes, this is an incredible
opportunity for visitors to get an insight in to the
mind of arguably the world’s greatest ever artist.
Kelvingrove is already home to one of the finest
collection of European art, so this is the cherry
on the cake. But my, what a glorious cherry it is…
Leonardo da Vinci:A Life in Drawing,
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum,
February - May 2019
glasgowlife.org.uk/news/leonardoda-vinci-a-life-in-drawing-coming-tokelvingrove-in-2019
RRI
M
Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Competitions | 21
by Roxy McMullin
y journey from 2018-2019 was
incredible. When I started with
Rainbow Room International I was
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started my level 2 training and completed
this in December. I did a few models every
week to progress through training quickly
and I was very determined. I worked on a
lot in a short time frame, which has allowed
me to move onto my level 3 training and do
more advanced work on clients. Once I have
finished this I will be a fully qualified stylist.
Rainbow Room International have given
me so much help throughout the process
and working in the Great Western Road
salon and the Academy has really increased
my confidence, as everyone has been so
supportive. I am always looking for models
each week for training to complete different
cuts, colours and other hair services.
If anyone is interested in being a model,
please contact the Rainbow Room
International Academy on 0141 221 0400
for further information and ask to be
booked in with myself, Roxy.
follow – Rainbow Room GWR
Alan and Linda Stewart
Rainbow Room International
607 Great Western Road G12 8HX
0141 337 3370
rainbowroominternational.com
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are offering one lucky reader a hair
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on competitions by the 30th Apr ‘19.
22 | www.westendermagazine.com
Writer’s Reveal
meets Gary Sutherland
WORDS LORAINE PATRICK
Even with the weather getting better and
the first signs of spring around, the
challenge Gary Sutherland set himself in
Walk This Way brings out the blisters in me.
Trekking 240 miles along three of Scotland’s
iconic walks is quite a challenge. No rest
breaks, walking 20 miles a day, on his own…
does not immediately sound like a recipe for
fun. Nevertheless, Gary’s travelogue Walk
This Way is an amusing and light-hearted
account of the landscapes he sees and
people he meets with little made of his weary,
sore feet.
Gary – thanks for taking time to catch
up with Westender Magazine – the first
question has to be why?! Why do these
three walks in a row?
www.westendermagazine.com | 23
I never viewed walking as an activity I’d
enjoy. I love cycling and running and living in
Glasgow I’ve seen ‘The Walkers’ with their
colossal backpacks getting ready to tackle
the West Highland Way. I always thought
it wasn’t for me. Having spent years living
on the doorstep of Scotland’s most famous
long-distance trail and doing a good job
of ignoring it, I finally decided I needed a
new challenge and wanted to test myself at
something that was completely alien to me.
I tend to bite off more than I can chew and
am nothing if not ambitious. I found out that
the Great Glen Way starts where the West
Highland Way finishes so I thought: ‘Why
not just carry on?’. I then realised that I
could add the Speyside Way to the mix and
make it a hat-trick of iconic walks. And that
I could walk from Glasgow, where I live, to
the Moray coast where I grew up. There was
also the lure that perhaps no one had done
this sequence of walks before. My mind was
made up. I just needed to get my hands on
some walking gear…
What were the highlights?
The highlights of my trek were crossing
Rannoch Moor, climbing the Devil’s Staircase
near Glencoe, walking towards Ben Nevis
on the final day of the West Highland Way.
The standout moment of the Great Glen Way
was reaching Loch Ness. I couldn’t believe I’d
got there on foot from the edge of Glasgow!
Wandering through Malt Whisky Country on
the Speyside Way was both a blessing and a
danger. Beautiful scenery but a fair number of
distilleries and some inviting pubs. Reaching
the shore of the Moray Firth on the final day
of my 240-mile march across Scotland was
the absolute highlight. I felt a mixture of
elation, exhaustion and relief.
Did you have a favourite walk?
My favourite of the three was without doubt
the West Highland Way. It’s world famous
for a reason. The epic mountain scenery,
the wild moors, plus there’s a lot of
camaraderie among the walkers on what has
become a well-trodden path. But not one
that’s overly busy, at least not in springtime
when I set off on my solo journey.
How would you compare and contrast the
three walks?
The West Highland Way was the most visually
stunning of the three walks but also the most
difficult. I found the Loch Lomond section,
along the boulder-strewn wooded shore,
far more awkward than I had anticipated.
There’s also a steep climb out of Kinlochleven
towards the end that fairly tests the legs.
A good deal of the Great Glen Way is on the
towpath of the Caledonian Canal, which was
easier on the feet. You could cycle much
of the Great Glen Way – and people do.
The Speyside Way is the shortest of the
three walks (66 miles, compared to 75 for the
Great Glen Way and 96 for the West Highland
Way) and the terrain is easier. It’s mostly
forest walks, old railway lines and wandering
across farmland with occasional glimpses of
the River Spey. But passing through lovely
villages like Aberlour and later reaching the
sea makes it worth it.
You were brought up in Hopeman but you
now live in Glasgow. Did the final walk –
the Speyside Way – feel like a long walk
home?
Trekking through Speyside did feel like a
homecoming and that was the intention,
the ultimate reward for my efforts. When I
reached Grantown-on-Spey, I knew I was
nearing the end of my long journey. From the
slopes of Ben Aigan, above Fochabers, I saw
the Moray Firth and that gave me a muchneeded
shot of adrenalin for the closing
miles. My family – including my granny, my
mam, my wife and kids – were there to greet
me at Spey Bay, where the river flows into the
sea, and that was a very special moment.
What was the biggest concern for you
setting out on the journey?
I guess the distance involved was the main
thing. In total, the walk was almost 240
miles and I was determined to hike the three
long-distance trails consecutively over 12
days, with no rest days. So that’s 20 miles
per day. I felt fit (through my regular cycling
and running) and I packed light, just a small
backpack. I had booked a combination of
B&Bs and hostels. No way was I carting
along a tent! A big concern was getting
blisters. No matter how fit I was, blisters
could be a source of real pain. But I received
some great advice in an outdoors shop in
Glasgow, where I bought good walking shoes
and proper walking socks – indeed a ‘sock
24 | www.westendermagazine.com
system’ of thin liner socks beneath thicker
woollen socks – and would you believe it,
I didn’t suffer a single blister during the entire
trip!
You say you are not a keen walker – what
were you scared of?
My two main fears were heights and the
prospect of extended periods of isolation.
I had a wobble on Conic Hill on my first day,
looking down on Loch Lomond. It’s not even
that high a hill, but I do suffer from vertigo.
I later froze half-way up the Devil’s Staircase,
gazing back at Glencoe. My legs completely
locked. Luckily, I had company and a fellow
walker talked me over the Devil’s Staircase.
In terms of isolation, I was worried in advance
about perhaps having to cross Rannoch Moor
on my own. Which is how it turned out…
in torrential rain and high winds. Halfway
across the moor, I decided to make a run for
it. Legging it across the moor – this bleak,
inhospitable place – I burst out laughing at
the ridiculousness and exhilaration of it all.
I do think the biggest challenge of all – more
than the distance – was deciding to do this
cross-country trek on my own. I’m a bit of a
scaredy-cat and did struggle with extended
periods in dark forests. I have a vivid
imagination! I kept seeing things through
the trees. Imagination is great for a writer,
but not so much when you’re trekking in the
middle of nowhere, miles from civilisation
and haven’t talked to anyone all day.
The Great Glen Way and Speyside Way
were considerably quieter than the West
Highland Way.
your own, you’ll bump into people during the
day or swap stories with fellow walkers over
a pint in the evening. Near Bridge of Orchy,
I met a bloke from Glasgow who was moving
gingerly on account of two really bad blisters.
I really sympathised with him but he turned
o u t to b e a m a c h i n e – h e j u s t ke p t g o i n g .
We met up in Fort William at the end of
the West Highland Way and toasted our
achievement with a dram. There was a real
international cast on the West Highland
Way, which shows how famous the trail
is. I bumped into Americans, Germans,
Zimbabweans and an unfeasible number of
Belgians. The Belgians are mad for the West
Highland Way. Who knew?!
This is not the first travelogue you have
written – you cycled round Scotland with
your brother – what do you enjoy about
this genre of writing?
The beauty of travelogues is that they
combine body and mind. You do the
challenge, the journey – whether it be cycling
around Scotland, walking across Scotland,
golfing Scotland’s islands, all of which I’ve
done – and gain a real sense of achievement.
Then you sit down and tackle the next
mountain – of writing a book. I’ve seen a
great deal of Scotland now through my
book adventures and met lots of fascinating
characters. I never tire of the country I
call home. There’s so much to see and
experience.
What were the walkers you did meet like?
There’s a real spirit of camaraderie on the
West Highland Way. Even if you’re walking on
Competition!
We have two signed copies of
Walk This Way to give away.
Visit westendermagazine.com
and click on competitions
by the 30th of April 2019.
Walk
This Way
£2
OFF
*
RRP £8.99
*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers
at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road
branch only, by 30th April 2019.
www.westendermagazine.com | 25
You are a supporter of libraries and a
frequent visitor to the libraries in the West
End, why?
Most of my writing is done at home but
sometimes I’ll venture out for a change of
scene, often to the Mitchell Library and
sometimes Hillhead Library. I love libraries
and as well as finding them to be good
places to write, I also make a point of taking
books out on loan so that I’m supporting
libraries. They’re special places and should
be cherished.
You have a background as a sports
journalist and also taught English abroad,
but you have always been drawn to settle
around the West End of Glasgow, why?
I grew up in the fishing village of Hopeman
on the Moray coast, went to the University
of Aberdeen where I gained an English
Literature degree, then moved to Glasgow.
My first flat was in Kelvinbridge. I now live in
Bearsden with my family but I’m often in the
West End. I enjoy cycling into the West End,
along the towpath of the Forth & Clyde Canal
to the locks at Maryhill, then following the
River Kelvin down to Kelvinbridge. My wife
and I enjoy taking the kids to Kelvingrove
Park. The West End has nice coffee shops,
pubs, curry houses and I also enjoy going to
gigs at venues like SWG3 in Finnieston.
How would you sum up this book and why
should Westenders get hold of a copy?
Walk This Way is a tale of courage,
endurance, cataclysmic quagmires, ludicrous
ledges, feral goats and a baffling number of
Belgians. The book is intended to inspire and
raise some smiles along the way. Westenders
are only a few miles from the start point of my
journey in Milngavie. I’d encourage people
to experience the West Highland Way. And if
you get to Fort William and aren’t completely
shattered, keep going!
Gary Sutherland appears at Glasgow’s
Aye Write Festival on Sunday 31st March.
For tickets visit ayewrite.com.
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26 | www.westendermagazine.com
1
The Language
of Kindness
by Christie Watson
BY BRIAN TOAL
WESTENDER’s
COVER TO COVER
Christie Watson was a nurse for twenty years and
is now the patron of the Royal College of Nursing
Foundation. This is a truly astonishing book which
made me laugh, cry and reflect in equal measure.
Watson takes us on a journey
through her nursing career,
encompassing years in A+E,
midwifery, PICU, oncology and
several other specialities. In each
chapter there is a clear focus on
a type of patient, but the thread
which glistens throughout the
whole book is the element of
kindness.
The author is frank and
unashamedly depicts her terror
and revulsion at times with what
she had to contend with as a
student nurse. What I found
particularly humbling was the
candour with which she conveys
humans in various states of illness,
dying and despair. There are no
pulled punches here and she is
ever keen to remind us of the
stark differences between the
role of a nurse and the role of
a doctor.
Often the doctors arrive in a
whirlwind, diagnose or operate,
then leave. The nurses have
done all the preparatory work to
ensure that the child will sit still
long enough to have a needle
inserted into their bones, or that
the hysterical mother remains calm
long enough for the doctors and
patient to remain calm. The nurses
also occupy roles far beyond the
criteria stipulated in the nursing
manual: singing songs to children,
comforting grieving relatives
and innumerable other acts of
kindness.
The mundane, everyday roles of washing, toileting, wiping,
brushing, changing, feeding and watering are all part and
parcel of the nurse’s day, but at any moment a call can send
them scrambling to someone in arrest. This constant lurch from
calmness and mundanity to adrenaline and drama is clearly
exhausting and takes a heavy emotional toll on the nurse.
There is a very touching section where Watson deals with
the death of her father. This will be difficult to read for those
who have lost a loved one to cancer, but it helps the reader to
understand that nurses have personal lives with their own joys
and sorrows too, although these have to be left behind at the
start of a shift.
Watson also makes some pretty unequivocal statements
about the dearth of funding for nurses and the clear staffing crisis
in the NHS. The story of her daughter using sellotape to repair her
shoes illustrates this better than any facts or figures. I read the
Waterstones edition, which has an interesting afterword. This is
an important book for us all to read as we are all affected, or will
be affected, by the issues Watson raises. We all need kindness.
www.westendermagazine.com | 27
The End We
Start From
by Megan Hunter
2
This is a book which was
recommended to me recently
and I’m eternally grateful to
its advocate as it’s one of
the best books I’ve read in
a long time. The paperback
version came out in 2018, so
it’s still fairly recent. It’s a
post-apocalyptic novel set in
Britain and follows a family
struggling to survive in extreme
conditions. Like many novels
of this genre, we are never
really told what caused the
catastrophe and the action
begins in the days following
the breakdown of society.
We follow a young couple
and their baby as they try
to navigate their way away
from London north to the safe
haven of Scotland (hurrah!).
Inevitably, the British stiff
upper lip gets them so far and
society seems to be coping
in a way, at first. However,
circumstances dictate that
the husband leaves to seek
supplies but doesn’t return,
leaving mother and child to
continue the trek alone.
For fans of Cormac
McCarthy’s The Road, you will
recognise the sparse writing
style, the nameless characters,
the minimalist prose and the
pace and drive helped by the
brevity of the paragraphs and
chapters. I consumed this in
one sitting. The End We Start
From offers a bleak portrayal
of how easily society can break
down and how close we all
are to our basest instincts.
Nevertheless, there is hope
at the end, and that hope is
where we start from.
They take from the rich to give
to the poor.’ This is the slogan
of ‘Payback’, a team of teens
determined to right the wrongs
of an unjust society by ripping
off those who rip off the poor
and distributing their takings
to those who most need it.
It’s an intriguing concept
and an entertaining 21st
Century twist on the Robin
Hood legend. We have the
usual suspects: the tough guy,
Gedge; Rendall, the narrator
of the novel; Coke, the tall,
brooding one; Kallie, the expert
climber; and finally, there is
Ferg, the tech expert. All in all,
there’s a character for every
teen to relate to.
The novel races along with
short chapters, most of which
deal with a separate crime.
The end of the summer is
approaching and one assumes
that the group will disband
when they head off to uni, but
fate has other ideas in store
for them. Gedge has something
to hide and endangers the
whole group, Rendall attracts
the attention of the police and
the whole drama climaxes in
a stunning train journey north
with bad guys and police all on
the trail of the gang.
A breathless chase across
the moors of the Scottish
borders culminates in a very
exciting denouement. This is a
highly entertaining teen novel
which may also serve to make
young readers more aware of
social justice and inequality in
our society.
Payback
by M.A. Griffin
3
28 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 29
For You Mum…
Stuck for gift giving ideas this Mothering Sunday? Let us help!*
*Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 31st March in 2019 – you have been warned, no excuses!
Bath Salt & Lip Balm Gift Set
£10, Spirito
Good Golly Miss Molly
Bespoke Occasion Hat, £270
The Shop of Interest
Blunt Metro Compact Umbrella
£54.99, CoLab Store
Earl of East – Greenhouse Candle
£20, Hoos
Dansk Sun Drop Earrings
£29.90, Cassiopeia
West End Suppliers
Cassiopeia, 165 Hyndland Road
0141 357 7374 cassiopeiaonline.co.uk
CoLab Store, 11-13 Downahill Street
0141 570 1766 colabstore.co.uk
Hoos, 715 Great Western Road
07788 480 421 hoosglasgow.co.uk
Spirito, 317-319 Crow Road
0141 337 3307 spiritogifts.com
The Shop of Interest, 1058 Argyle Street
0141 221 7316 theshopofinterest.co.uk
30 | www.westendermagazine.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 31
The West End
mum’s notebook
by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk
Some of you already know how much I
look forward to spring every year. Days
become longer, there are fewer cold
days and hopefully no repeat of the Beast
from the East!
March starts off with the Aye Write
Festival which runs from the 14th to 31st
March at the Mitchell Library (ayewrite.com).
The festival has been an annual occurrence
since 2007 and celebrates the best in
national, international and local writing
bringing national and local speakers to
Glasgow’s iconic library and allowing
audiences to enjoy appearances from big
name writers and emerging talent alike. Do
look out for the Wee Write! part of the festival
as it will run during the first week in March.
The special family weekend is scheduled for
the 2nd and 3rd March.
I am very pleased to say that The Hub will
be part of the Wee Write! school programme
this year. This means council nurseries and
primary schools can book slots with The
Hub at their local library where we will read
a book to the children chosen by the nursery
or school in a foreign language also chosen
by them. We are very much looking forward
travelling all over Glasgow and meeting many
new children. Sadly, Partick Library, our
very own local library, will not be one of the
venues as it remains closed for most of 2019
for refurbishment. However keep libraries in
mind when you are looking for bug book and
other children’s sessions: Hillhead, Whiteinch
and the Mitchell libraries will be your nearest
ones.
March also sees the return of the
annual Glasgow Comedy Festival
(glasgowcomedyfestival.com). There are
some venues based in the West End like
The Stand and The Oran Mor, for children’s
comedy it is the Mask and Puppet Centre
in Kelvindale. They will be hosting several
shows as part of the festival which should
be fun for primary school aged children.
Although Ruby and Leon are getting slightly
too old for most of the shows, I do like to take
them whenever I can for support. The centre
is continuously raising funds to refurbish and
rebuild a new theatre and community centre.
It recently extended its services in hosting
an after-school group for the local area
(maskandpuppet.co.uk).
And then the schools close on the 29th
and we are sliding into April and two weeks of
school holidays. This year, the Easter holiday
weekend actually falls outwith the Easter
school holidays too. So, what will we do? I am
pretty sure Ruby and Leon will want to attend
their usual kids camp at Scotstoun Leisure
Centre, they have basically been looking
forward to it since the last one in October.
These kids clubs are run by Glasgow Life and
run at most leisure centres across the city; for
the West End, check out Maryhill, Scotstoun
and Kelvinhall leisure centres. They are very
32 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 33
reasonably priced and offer a variety of
activities to suit all.
But just in case the kids have a sudden
change of heart, I want to be prepared and
have other suitable and fun filled options at
hand. One activity on our list for definite is
West End Adventure (westendadventure.
co.uk). This is a fairly new community interest
company – same legal set up as The Hub
– based in the West End which is all about
the outdoors and was founded in 2017. This
not-for-profit organisation offers a wide range
of land and water-based activities including
problem solving, kayaking, rock climbing,
canoeing, abseiling, archery, and bushcraft.
The list of activities looks very adventurous,
and it is a great camp according to one of
Ruby’s friends who attended one of the
holiday weeks last year. It’s nice to know that
you do not have to travel far to allow your kids
outdoor adventures in the middle of our city.
Their Easter holiday camps will run from the
1st of April at £35 per day or £175 per week.
And if you feel envious, do not despair,
they also offer plenty of similar activities
for adults, whether you need something for
team building or for a special occasion with a
group of friends.
An absolute must this year will be, of
course, a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery
to see Dippy! The Natural History Museum’s
iconic Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton is
currently visiting Glasgow as part of a road
trip across the UK. Dippy has ventured out
of London for the first time since 1905 and
has been at the gallery since the 22nd of
January. He will stay until the 6th of May so
make sure not to miss him. If you do go and
visit, maybe time it with one of the RSPB
Scotland sessions as part of the Kelvingrove
Art Gallery and Museum timetable ad make
a day of it. These activities usually run on
Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4pm and
fees are donation based only and will fully go
toward the costs of the sessions. Children
learn about local nature and animals living in
Kelvingrove Park (whatsonglasgow.co.uk/
event/005324-the-rspb-at-kelvingrove).
I like how you can make a whole day
of being in and around the art gallery. If
the weather is good, we try to get over to
the bowling greens for a game of bowls.
It’s great how you can just walk in and play
on the greens if there is space. Or maybe you
prefer tennis? However, the courts for this
have to be booked in advance as they are
popular and the slots are limited to a certain
period of time.
During school holidays, at least in
summer, it is also one of the places to go to
for the outdoor play activities organised by
Glasgow Life. They set up stations, obstacle
courses and bring all sorts of different
games, balls and toys for everyone to use
and enjoy; all for free too I may add.
One other lovely afternoon out is a trip to
the Clydeside Distillery at the former site of
the Tall Ship. Tim Morrison, whose ancestors
laid the foundations for Morrison Bowmore
Distillers, fulfilled his ambitions of reviving
distilling in Glasgow, helping to restore the
dock his great-grandfather had built and set
up the distillery in 2017. We recently booked
a guided tour and Ruby and Leon really
enjoyed it. They learned a lot about what
Glasgow used to look like from old photos
in the exhibition part. We had a Spanish tour
guide who knew everything there is to know
about making whisky and accommodated
the kids with non-alcoholic drinks while
all the adults tasted some of Scotland’s
finest. There is also a café for light lunches
and coffee and cakes and if you require a
special gift for someone check out their shop
with a great selection of Scottish whiskies
(theclydeside.com).
You can always combine this visit with a
walk over to the Riverside Museum or the Tall
Ship. They also put on holiday activities for
children of different ages.
And if none of this really takes your fancy,
or you have tried all of them before the
holidays are over, you can always come to
The Language Hub or take a break in our new
Café Hub two doors along from our learning
h u b o n Ke i t h S t r e e t (19 & 7 Ke i t h S t r e e t).
We will be running weekday activities
between the 1st-12th of April for children and
adults alike, not all of them involve language
learning so make sure to check out our
website in March for more details.
Also check out a fairly new
facebook page (facebook.com/
GlasgowWestEndMumsandDads) which
recommends and discusses topics of interest
to parents in the West End, you might find
some further helpful tips on things to do
during the holidays. This leaves me to wish
you all ‘Frohe Ostern und viele bunte Eier’
and see you soon.
34 | www.westendermagazine.com
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Hyndland
Train Station
www.westendermagazine.com | 35
@
Rossini
Reviewed by Amy Glasgow
Is there anything more satisfying than a
hearty Italian? In recent years there has
been somewhat of a revolution when it
comes to Italian dining. In what can only be
a positive move, more and more traditional
eateries are appearing, focusing on seasonal
ingredients and dishes that truly represent
the vast Italian cuisine.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing
wrong with a bowl of carbonara or a
magherita pizza, but it’s nice to see
authentic, Italian-run businesses like La
Lanterna, Eusebi Deli and Celino’s sharing
success in the West End.
A relatively new restaurant that fits this
bill is Rossini, owned by Maurizio and Ester
Rossini. Their first venture, the award winning
North Star café, was and is a huge success
but head chef and owner Maurizio opened
Rossini in order to bring the traditional dishes
of his home region, Apulia, to the streets of
Glasgow, along with their knowledgeable and
ever-friendly service.
We started our meal with an appetiser
of arancini, for who can resist the call of
smoked mozzarella and n’duja, which was
the clear standout of the three flavours on
offer. The other two, one filled with meat ragu
and the other with saffron and peas, were
somewhat forgettable, though the exterior
was beautifully crisp and golden brown.
I was similarly intrigued by the Panzerotto,
which translates as ‘the belly of the dough’.
It is, essentially, a calzone. Filled with a
molten tomato sauce and mozzarella and
deep-fried, this Puglian street food is quite
indulgent for antipasti and worth your time,
but in future I would pass on the fried squid
and king prawns, which didn’t have the
freshness I craved.
The selection of pasta dishes on the
menu is representative of Maurizio’s home
of Puglia, with a number of unusual options
never before seen in Glasgow. The menu is
a breath of fresh air, with just two ‘classic’
Italian dishes on the menu, one of which is
lasagne and not to be scoffed at. This is not
the kind of lasagne you make at home with a
jar of Dolmio, but a rich, meaty and authentic
alternative.
Don’t overlook the array of more unique
dishes though, especially when the pasta
is freshly made in-house. I opted for the
paccheri (meaning ‘slaps’); large tubular
pasta served with smoked mozzarella, cherry
tomatoes and crispy pigs cheek. The pasta
was perfectly al dente and sat in a delicious,
warming sauce, but the pigs cheek was not
‘crispy’ by any stretch of imagination, though
it was soft, it was not distinguishable from
pancetta.
Despite having quite a sweet tooth,
I would unfortunately have to suggest giving
desserts a miss at Rossini’s, whose specialty
is very much savoury. The ones we had
(pistachio and saffron panna cotta and a dark
chocolate and almond cake) were both fairly
unremarkable, although given the generous
portion sizes and reasonable price tag,
you may be too full to order one!
Rossini
39-41 Hyndland Street G11 5QF
0141 337 3135
rossiniwestend.com
Image I Brodie Reid
36 | www.westendermagazine.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 37
@
Image I Brodie Reid
munro’s
Reviewed by
Emily Donoho
My trip to Munro’s for this edition’s
bar review has given me a taste for
artisan Scottish gin. As we looked
over the drinks list in the pub, I noticed that
they had more than a dozen gins from all
over Scotland. As the gin thing seems to be
taking off, I decided to try one from Aviemore.
Gin, it turns out, has come a long way since
I was an undergrad buying cheap and nasty
gin to mix with whatever we had to hand.
This one was excellent.
For other liquor enthusiasts, Munro’s
has a fair selection of Scottish single malts,
blends, and bourbons, a wide range of rums,
and plenty of liqueurs and shots. And the
beer selection is excellent as well, a range
of European beers like Weithenstephan,
Birra Moretti, Staropromen, and Lagunitas,
to Scottish beers such as Schiehallion,
Tennent’s, St Mungo’s, and two guest cask
ales, which were Kelburn Dark Moor, from
Glasgow, and Coorie Doon, from the Late
Night Hype brewery in Clydebank. As I’d
never come across the Clydebank brewery
before, I tried that one. I’m always a fan
of pubs who sell beer from small, local
microbreweries.
Munro’s is a welcoming pub, with lovely
wooden signage and huge windows looking
out onto Great Western Road, letting in
natural light and patrons can watch people
and traffic on the busy road outside. Inside, it
feels warm and cozy in spite of being a large,
relatively spacious bar. The interior is divided
into several rooms, some with re-upholstered
sofas and booths, exposed brickwork for a
rustic feel, and in the middle, near the bar,
sits a table made out of a giant recycled
cable drum. Other evidence of ‘upcycling’
includes rugs hanging on the walls, alongside
other items from junk shops. It’s also dog
friendly.
The pub, formerly the Captain’s Rest,
takes its name from Munro’s Motors,
a car dealer occupying that corner of Great
Western Road in the 1960s. But it also
has allusions to the munros, Scotland’s
mountains over 3000ft, with photos of the
mountains in the pub and portraits of Hugh
Munro, the first British mountaineer who
claimed he climbed all of them.
For a quiet pint or a G&T or a meal (they
also serve excellent food), Munro’s is an ideal
pub. It’s located at 185 Great Western Road
and opens from 11am to 12am seven days
per week.
Munro’s
185 Great Western Road G4 9EB
0141 332 0972
munrosglasgow.com
38 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com
Magazine Promotion
Legal Matters
The other
man’s grass
Words from Donald Reid, chairman at Mitchells Roberton:
If Donald can help please email him at –
dbr@mitchells-roberton.co.uk, or call 0141 552 3422.
We like the West End. That’s why we
live here. Pleasant streets,
community buzz, eateries and
boozers galore, lots of fancy wee shops,
trendiness on tap whenever a self-respecting
boulevardier requires it.
There’s a downside of course. Space
is limited. Houses and flats are crowded
together and on top of each other. You can
hear your neighbour’s Smeg dishwasher.
Parking is a problem. If you get a space at
your door you don’t ever want to move your
car again.
Sometimes you think how nice it would
be to live in the country. A house on its own
down a grassy track. Gentle sheep bleating
soothingly. Fresh water drawn from a rushing
stream. Strolls in the evening along to your
neighbour’s smallholding. City madness
forgotten.
Oh foolish one. Peel back the layers and
you’ll find the country is a lawyer’s paradise.
That grassy track belongs to a nearby farmer
and he says you’ve no right to use it. The
small-holder bangs your door at 6am to tell
you her llamas have escaped because you
haven’t maintained your boundary fence.
And anyway, your boundary fence is in the
wrong place and you’ve stolen eight square
feet of her 20 acres.
The nice lady on the other side has
unhelpfully gone and died and her son has
turned up to tell you that your septic tank
is discharging into his burn and if you don’t
install a new one somewhere else (cost
£20,000) he’ll block the pipe and report you
to SEPA. You don’t even know what SEPA is.
Your water supply turns yellow and you dread
to think what might be happening upstream.
Then a group of ramblers appear in your
front garden and say they are deploying an
ancient right of way which they uncovered in
recent research. You suggest that if they went
down that other way they would reach the
same place more easily. Not the point, they
say: public rights must be protected.
You think wistfully of the Kelvinside neds
throwing innocent wee beer cans into your
lightwell. Off you go to your lawyer with a
shopping list of points for advice. She tells
you it’s part of country living. Weren’t you
warned? The bill she sends you feels very
urban.
So count your blessings, townies.
You don’t need to escape. You already have.
Mitchells Roberton Solicitors
& Estate Agents
George House
36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD
0141 552 3422
www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk
Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 39
Accountancy
Matters
by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison
HMRC is tracking your digital footprint
What is a digital footprint?
A digital footprint is the mark left every
time a financial transaction is made – a visa
payment, a car purchase, even a post on
social media. Data from digital footprints is
gathered, monitored and analysed by HMRC.
Therefore, revealing where you are, what
you do and what you spend your money on
allowing HMRC to assess who is paying the
right amount of tax and catch tax cheats.
HMRC digital footprint tracker:
‘Connect’
Tracking digital footprints is a huge leap
forward for HMRC as it no longer relies solely
on information from tax payers.
HMRC draws on the electronic information
via its super computer, ‘Connect’, designed
to identify those paying too little tax.
HMRC is refining processes, learning
more, increasing accuracy and building an
accurate picture of UK tax payers. HMRC is
spotting more tax anomalies and tightening
the net around tax cheats.
HMRC had quick wins found in the
most unexpected places. For example tax
cheats were caught spending thousands of
undeclared income on lavish family weddings
posted on Facebook.
9 digital footprint examples
1. Visa and Mastercard transactions
2. Land Registry records
3. DVLA
4. UK and overseas bank accounts
5. Internal tax documents
6. Earnings
7. Online marketplaces
8. Social media
9. Web browsing and email records
Tracking digital footprints will grow even more
important with HMRC’s quarterly returns
under Making Tax Digital. We have the tools
to help you easily track your finances and
keep the tax man happy.
Murrison & Wilson, CA is a full service
accountancy firm specialising in
business and tax planning. Get in
touch for a free consultation plus
fixed and competitive fees.
Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants
10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ
0141 290 0262
info@muwca.co.uk
muwca.co.uk
40 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
Loud + Clear
by Susan
Robertson
Smart Spaces
Our homes are where we spend much of our
down-time, and increasingly our work time, so we
should make sure our surroundings reflect and enrich
us as much as possible. In this age of fast-paced
technological advancement, we have many options at
our fingertips to make our lives easier, and to integrate
our work and hobbies into our homes.
www.westendermagazine.com | 41
As technology has evolved so quickly, we often
find ourselves surrounded by a growing mass of
wires and speakers. So before you scrabble about
for a new set of batteries for one of your umpteen
remote controls, Susan Robertson has asked some
local experts how technology and design can work
hand in hand to create the best tech experience and
environment in our homes.
Allan Boyd, Managing Director of Loud and
Clear said, 'Music and movies are a big part of
many of our lives, but the technology we use
regularly, is often an afterthought in our design
processes. We firmly believe that the better the
technology looks and sounds in the comfort
of our home – the more you can enjoy it. With
advances in technology this no longer requires
a great big pile of black boxes in the corner and
some grand monolithic speakers. Equipment
can be hidden away and controlled seamlessly
with an easy-to-use app. Speakers can be hidden
in walls or in ceilings or can become statement
interior pieces in custom fabrics or exotic wood
finishes. Music and movies can be streamed
online from services like Spotify and Netflix so
there’s no more need for teetering piles of CDs
cluttering up our space.'
So, perhaps it’s time to clear out the old
DVDs, CDs, wires and aerials and have a fresh
look at how we can make our homes, lives and
technology work more effectively together.
Allan explained. 'Many of our clients don’t
fully appreciate what is possible from their
film and music collection and that we really
can create "the band playing in the room"
experience without comprising their living
space. Within the Finnieston showrooms
there are three music/cinema rooms laid out
and furnished as a domestic living room. In
this relaxed environment we can let clients
experience systems until they find their
optimum level.'
Allan and his team also offer a range of
complimentary interior design services
including smart wiring, lighting design and
control, acoustic room treatment and heating
control. So you can really create a bespoke smart
home that is tailored precisely to your individual
needs and the design of your home. He has
recently collaborated with interior designer, Lisa
Trainer of Red Door Interiors.
Lisa said, 'The development of technology in
a digital world has surged its way in to how we
live our lives in every way. Evolving, adapting
and being informed of these changes is crucial
to architects and interior designers in the whole
process of a design from initial concepts to
planning and specifying lighting, heating, air
conditioning, blinds and curtains, audio visual,
TV, computers and security all combine to
present high performance multi-room use and
design possibilities.
42 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
Both Allan and Lisa stress that involving the
experts as soon as possible in any new project is
key to its success.
Lisa feels 'The onus is on the designer to
be creative and visual from the start and to
replace standard functional items like light
switches, radiators and sockets with an invisible
"behind the scenes" network of power and
programming. This must all be considered at
the very start of a project with the specialists
involved in coordinating and engineering the
electrics and other controls.'
She continued, 'Planning connected multiuse
spaces that can accommodate working,
socialising and relaxing are all factors in the
architectural and design process and should be
a collaboration of specialists working together
to create spaces for the future, that still feel like
home.'
So, as the options presented by technology
advancements become greater and more
accessible, there is some more thought required
to make the best use of what’s available to us,
and to integrate it seamlessly into a clever
design to create a functional and beautiful
environment.
As Lisa explains, 'Increasing environmental
considerations as well as the ever-changing
advancements in this technology-led way of life
have only added to the need for designers to be
more creative and holistic in their approach
to design. I believe this can be achieved by
Red Door Interiors
careful consideration of a living space, its
uses, functions, flexibility and lifestyle of the
client. The combination and integration of
custom-made luxury textiles, wallpapers, craft
made furniture and other lifestyle products
in contrast to the functionality of the tech is
the perfect harmony for me as a designer in
achieving a well-balanced space.'
We may often overlook the technology aspect
in any upgrade or redesign of our homes, but
it’s a great opportunity to revisit our needs and
wants for how our homes can function best
for our needs, as well as looking and feeling
the way that we want. We’re fortunate to have
exceptional expertise on our doorsteps to walk
us through the process.
Loud + Clear | 520 St Vincent Street
0141 221 0221 | loud-clear.co.uk
Red Door Interiors | 100 Beith Street
07803 138 557 | reddoorinteriors.co.uk
What are the key considerations when
choosing a tailored approach to sound and
vision within the home?
Think about what you want to get from any
system. Is it ultimate performance for a
movie night, an amazing sounding hi-fi to
play your records on and/or integrated smart
lighting and heating control to enhance your
living space?
How can people decide what level of equipment
they need?
Make sure you experience before you buy,
get professional advice from the outset, and
spend some time in planning.
What’s the best way to integrate new technology
into traditional buildings?
Choose your timing, systems typically need
an element of cabling so best to consider
when a room is about to be decorated, or
you’re moving, developing or extending.
www.westendermagazine.com | 43
44 | www.westendermagazine.com
The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP
0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk
Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk
READERS
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0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk
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Homes & Interiors
Spring Forward
www.westendermagazine.com | 45
It’s one of those little sayings that stick in the mind but no-one knows
where it came from – ‘spring forward, fall back’ reminds us that we’re
in the new season where the clocks are changing again and the days are
now lengthening. This little saying helps to make sure we put the clock
an hour forward and not back and adjust our bed-times accordingly.
This range of clocks give us some lovely options to be found locally for
keeping time, whether that be for getting up in the morning, or for
adding an elegant touch to your living room wall.
Wall Clock from
House Doctor,
£82.50, CoLab Store
Thomas Kent Mantel Clock,
£26, Spirito
Mint Covent Garden
Alarm Clock,
£25.95, Nancy Smillie
Nickel Art Deco Style Clock,
£215, The Store Interiors
Edinburgh Wall Clock,
£115, The Store Interiors
CoLab Store, 11-13 Dowanhill Street Hyndland Road, 0141 570 1766, colabstore.co.uk
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
46 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
ART DECO
decadence
by Susan Robertson
There’s a great comfort in revisiting styles of
past eras, they combine throwback memories
and associations with days or generations
gone by, and offer the opportunity to learn
what works and what
doesn’t from styles
tried and tested.
The Store Interiors
Few movements have impacted more on the
world of design than Art Deco. The bold and
glamorous international style of the 1920s
and 30s touched on all elements of fashion,
architecture, interior, fine art and even car
design. The style is easily recognised by its
strong use of geometry and symmetry, sleek
lines and distinctive motifs and fonts.
The origins of the movement can be traced
back to France at the turn of the century,
when the French government sponsored
a trade exhibit to reclaim the country’s
position at the cutting edge of fine art and
design, and the term Art Deco is generally
accepted to come from the exhibit’s title:
‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs
et Industriels Modernes’.
www.westendermagazine.com | 47
It draws from various influences during
the modernism era, and Fauvism, Cubism
and Bauhaus styles are amongst the themes
that played an important role. The move was
a transition to more minimal, geometric,
clean lines, with sharp angles and bold curves.
It epitomises the ‘roaring twenties’, a time of
technological and commercial advancement,
and often highlights graphics representing
speed, trains, travel and discovery with
Egyptian and Mayan motifs often featuring in
designs.
The style was globally successful, and has
had several resurgences since, in the 60s and
the 80s in particular, and it has never really
gone out of style, but it’s enjoying another fresh
comeback today.
You’ll be aware of some of the influences on
some of our Glasgow architecture – notably in
the Beresford Building on Sauchiehall Street,
Kelvin Court on Great Western Road, and the
wonderful old Odeon cinema building on
Renfield Street. The style is bold and striking
in architecture representing great elegance
and opulence, and it looks great in many forms
inside our homes too.
Whether you add the odd touch here and
there, or you go full steam ahead on a Deco
redecoration, it’s easy to add that ‘flapper’s
flair’ to your home.
I personally love the ambience of the style,
as a great fan of Agatha Christie when I was
growing up, I associate the era with escaping
into stories of Hercule Poirot’s shiny home
with minimal fuss and black and white shiny
tiles. Think velvet upright armless chairs,
shiny floors and thick rugs, golden accessories,
marble and glass furniture with sharp lines
juxtaposed with bold curves and colours.
The full authentic look is beautiful to look
at but has its limitations in liveability and
comfort, particularly unrealistic is the merging
of marble or glass furniture, with boisterous
kids. So, depending on your lifestyle and home,
it’s a style that you can infuse with modern life
as much, or as little as you like. The style has a
timeless feel to it and the graphic advertising
posters look great as small touches in frames on
the wall. Gold metal bar trolleys epitomise the
era and the solid marble look can be effectively
brought into through accessories such as
lamps or sculptures. The bold black and white
colourings are indicative for floors and walls,
but you can soften the look into warm pallettes
of pinks and golds balanced with shiny polished
warm, wooden floors and soft fabrics.
There’s also a great range of furniture and
accessories available that effectively mix
modern design with touches of the art deco
glamour, so you could find a new item of
modern furniture with gold metal feet for
example to give a sense of the opulence of the
era, without needing to conform exactly to the
authenticity of the time. You can have great fun
selecting key themes or pulling out features
that you like best in the style and merging them
with the realistic needs of your family and
lifestyle to either create a full-blown art deco
interior or simply a tasteful nod to the style and
movement that you want to portray.
And don’t be afraid to mix and match.
As long as you think carefully about the look
and feel that you want to create, there’s no
reason why you can’t have a few touches of
different styles merged with the needs of a
modern home. Make sure that it’s not a mishmash
mess, but that you select a few items that
complement each other and balance them
together in a room. For example, the art deco
style closely followed art nouveau and there
were likely homes at the time that had touches
of both. All of these styles and movements pull
in influences from various artists and designers
of their time, feel confident to do the same in
your home.
Both items
The Store Interiors
48 | www.westendermagazine.com
Westender Magazine
Interiors & All Trades
Keeping your home working for you. Whatever you need whenever
you need it – find reliable local tradespeople here.
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telephone: 07841 235 727
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50 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 51
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