01 June 08

City Focus

City Focus Glasgow

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Citynights GLASGOW
Gigs, bars, girls and boys out to party – it’s all going on in Glasgow!
TO employ a famous Glaswegian phrase, Glasgow’s nightlife is “pure, dead brilliant”. With some of the friendliest inhabitants in Europe and what seems like a drinking den on every corner, you cannot go wrong in the city of Franz Ferdinand and Glasvegas.

Kicking things off in the centre, bundle into NICE N SLEAZY, home to arguably the city’s finest jukebox. Or maybe try a pint of “heavy”, the lovely smooth ale that the locals love, at the SCOTIA BAR, reputed to be Glasgow’s oldest hostelry. If you are peckish, legendary Glasgow deli/café FIfi& ALLY has just opened another excellent outlet in the centre.

If you want to posh things up a bit, ease into the smooth and sexy Merchant City, where the moneyed crowd hangs around re-imagined old banks and funky bars. Check out THE CORINTHIAN, with its massive cupola and oldworld grandeur, and the recently refurbished BAR 91 – my favourite candlelit retreat.

For fine dining, feast on the likes of seared scallops with proscuitto and perfectly cooked sole at THE BUTTERY, which has got even better after its recent takeover by the Fat Ladies. More informal Scottish produce is available at BLAS RESTAURANT, where you can enjoy the likes of Ullapool smoked salmon and Ayrshire cheese.

As you approach the wee hours, head to the buzzing Byres Road and ÒRAN MÓR, a happening bar with food and live music. Glasgow’s clubbing crowd head to perennial favourites like the SUB CLUB and THE ARCHES – the latter also a cultural venue. And KING TUT’S WAH WAH HUT is a hip live music space that brings in big names and local bands alike.

The Glasgow Gig
Radiohead
Gig of the month has to be mighty Radiohead, who are performing on 27 June in a massive show in the city’s favourite green lung, Glasgow Green. Snap up a ticket if you can, and head there to experience one of the world’s top alternative bands and the famously up-for-it Glaswegian crowd.
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT WWW.RADIOHEAD.COM; OR FOR TICKETS, CALL TICKETMASTER ON +44 (0)844 499 9990, OR VISIT WWW.TICKETMASTER.CO.UK

Glasgow
On The Cheap
Although Glaswegian taxis are famously inexpensive, the Underground is an even cheaper way of getting around, with single fares costing £1.10 (€1.40). The cheapest eats are available at “chippies”, while many of the city’s better restaurants also have a pre-theatre menu – a great way to eat in style without blowing the bank. Most museums and galleries are free, so if you’re strapped for cash give your brain a workout!

Citystay GLASGOW
Whether you’re away on business, or looking for a weekend crash-pad, Glasgow has a wide range of hotels to suit most pockets

On a Budget
Adelaides
One of the most characterful budget places to stay in Glasgow, this two-star guesthouse is tucked away in a lovely 19th-century building that also houses a historic church. The rooms may never win any style awards, but they are clean and perfectly comfortable.

Little twists at this friendly and welcoming oasis include some of the cheapest breakfasts in the city, and there’s even an on-site nursery. So you have all the basics covered here, from food and shelter, through to spiritual guidance and someone to look after any kids you have in tow.
DOUBLES FROM £54 (€68), WITHOUT BREAKFAST. TEL: +44 (0)141 248 4970, WWW.ADELAIDES.CO.UK

Cream of the Crop Radisson SAS
With its futuristic lines and swathes of glass, the striking façade of the Radisson SAS gives the impression a spaceship has swooped down on Glasgow’s city centre. The theme continues inside, with the sort of lobby beloved by fashion photographers. Wellgroomed, black-clad staff await to check you in, while swish lifts offer views of the city as you are whisked up to your room.

Many rooms in this multi-award-winning hotel look out over the city’s skyline, and have floor-to-ceiling windows. Plus there’s free internet access in all rooms, so bring your laptop. The health club is also handy, with a well-equipped gym, a decent sized swimming pool, a sauna and a hot tub.
DOUBLES FROM £120 (€152), INCLUDING BREAKFAST. TEL: +44 (0)141 204 3333, WWW.GLASGOW.RADISSONSAS.COM

Not Breaking the Bank
Marks Hotel
With 103 guest rooms, new kid on the block Marks Hotel likes to call itself a boutique hotel, and it certainly feels small and intimate when you step into the lobby. Yet there is nothing “bijou” about the rooms, with even standard rooms a decent size. This impression of space is reinforced by the slanting cruise ship-style windows that lean out over the city’s rooftops. Just be careful when you come out of the shower!

Nice extras include plasma-screen TVs and free wireless internet access. Also check out the One Ten Bar & Grill, the stylish hotel restaurant that serves great Scottish beef and seafood dishes, and is actually worth staying in for. Breakfasts include delicious Scottish smoked haddock, and eggs Benedict for those in search of some comfort food.