The Britannia Panopticon

The Britannia Panopticon began life in the late 1850s when Glasgow was the Second City of the British Empire and bursting at the seams with humanity. Thousands of workers had flocked to the city to work in the mills , factories , foundries, shipyards and collieries to begin a new life.

What music hall or theatre would be complete without a stage; a simple platform it may seem, but upon it stands hope and dreams, tragedy and comedy, love and passion - all of life glimpsed on simple wooden boards. The Britannia has seen it all and more !

Constructed in the mid-19th century, the Panopticon is the longest-surviving music hall in the UK, and can make reasonable claim to being the oldest in the world.

An all-round entertainment venue, the Panopticon started out hosting standard variety fare-singers, comedians and plays-before expanding into cinema and, under new ownership, a freak show and a zoo. Glasgow’s cinema boom spelled the end of the Panopticon and it closed shortly before the second world war.

Now, with a freshly scrubbed-up facade, the Panopticon holds various open days and events throughout the year, including variety performances and regular screenings of Laurel and Hardy films (the Panopticon is where Stan Laurel made his stage début).

Fans of Victorian history and lovers of all things odd would do well to check out the Panopticon’s website and find out when the next open day is. The building houses a museum of curios and memorabilia, and curator Judith is full of fascinating stories about the music hall’s history. Ask her about the various ghosts that are said to haunt the darker corners!

The two charity shops have been combined into one larger one, which remains one of the best in the city. Keep an eye out for the bargain-tastic sales held in the Panopticon itself.

Ruthven Lane

Glasgow has found a wonderful way of recycling the old, if the vintage shopping trail up Great Western Road has piqued your appetite for bargains; Ruthven Lane is where you come to sate it. Located opposite Hillhead subway, the lane houses a small, ramshackle complex of vendors of pre-loved merchandise, patrolled by cats.

Established in 1986 this quirky store is a cornucopia of original treasures from decades past, with many years’ experience in buying and selling all sorts of accessories and textiles from a very wide range of eras.  The wealth of stock covers antique clothing dating back to the Victorian and Edwardian times, as well as vintage clothing and retro clothing right through to the 80s.

To the left as you go in is Starry Starry Night, a lovely green wooden shack-like establishment which houses a massive collection of vintage clothes and accessories (great for gloves!), including costumes for hire. There really is a bewildering array of beautiful, beautiful clothing, some of it a century old, so be prepared to part with a lot of cash. Also sold on the premises is Bethsy Gray’s marvelous handcrafted silver jewellery.

Most folk react to Relics the same way Luke did when he first set eyes on the Millennium Falcon: “what a heap of junk!” There’s treasure in the trash, however, if you’re willing to have a rummage. Just be careful, and don’t try going in with a rucksack as the navigable lanes between piles of old books and coins and televisions and musical instruments are narrow indeed. Here you’ll find film cameras, furniture and fol-de-rol in abundance. It’s easy to get trapped!

Next-door Glorious (previously The Glory Hole) is especially good for vintage shoes and accessories, and reasonably priced. Look out for their excellent selection of belts, costume jewellery, wigs, hats, and gloves which would make a fine addition to 

Glasgow Film Theatre

The GFT is a beloved Glasgow institution, and the oldest purpose-built arthouse cinema in the UK outside of London. In February it’s the heart of the Glasgow Film Festival, the UK’s fastest-growing (and probably most fun) film event. As a charity dedicated to widening access to cinema, it runs all manner of events and courses and learning programmes. It’s also a great place just to catch a film.

GFT has been leading the way in specialised cinema for forty years. From art house cinema to late night cult screenings and from classic back on the big screen to independent documentaries, there's something for everyone at GFT.

With a more eclectic programme than your average multiplex, the GFT is forever turning up absolute gems that might otherwise pass you by, as well as screening refurbished prints of forgotten classics.  With a classic style you are transported back in time, the monthly midnight shows offer cult favourites like Robocop, Labyrinth and Repo Man in a more boisterous atmosphere than your standard cinema setting.

The GFT has recently added a third screen in the location previously occupied by the cafe/bar. A second round of renovation, scheduled for mid 2015, will add a new bar upstairs as well as restoring the original 1930s butterfly staircase. They are dedicated to offering the people of Glasgow a unique cinema experience by creating a more intimate place to view your favourite movies, other than the larger cinemas chains that have taken over peoples movie watching experience’s.

For such a small cinema, the GFT punches above its weight in terms of celebrity pulling power, hosting events by stars such as James Earl Jones and David Lynch. Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan of the GFT and introduced the UK premiere of Death Proof there. Friends in high places!

BrewDog

If you like beer, you’ll love BrewDog. If you don’t like beer, prepare to learn.

Located In the heart of Glasgow with spectacular views of the directly opposite the gorgeous Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery, BrewDog is a typical “modern” bar, all brushed steel and exposed ventilation, with the saving grace that it happens to sell some of the best beers on the planet.

The bar’s parent brewery has been largely responsible for driving the massive recent expansion in the UK’s craft beer scene. Other small, independent breweries have followed suit, with a number of craft beer bars and retailers opening up across the country, but BrewDog remains probably the most popular, and certainly the most high-profile.

Since day one, the Glasgoe bar has become a fixture in what is one of the UK's most vibrant beer- drinking cities; a lynchpin in our continuing mission to get as many people passionate about craft beer as possible.

That success could be because of the amazing beer range, served by BrewDog Glasgow's knowledgeable, approachable staff.Or it could be because of the regular barnstorming live music; or the fresh - cooked food. Or maybe it's because the big red shadow hanging over the bar comes from Kelvingrove, not Tennent's...

Try a pint of their flagship ale, Punk IPA, to get a taste of what they’re all about. Some of the other offerings on tap are pretty expensive, but you’ll notice that the alcohol content creeps up to around the 15%(!) mark. The best way to try these is one of the excellent beer flights, offering four 1/3 pint samples at a discounted price.

The cheerful, knowledgeable staff will be happy to advise on the best beers for your palette, as well as which go best with their exceptional Aberdeen Angus burgers. Wheelchair accessibility, dog-friendliness and occasional live music are just layers of icing on the cake. Plans are ongoing to open a second bar in Glasgow’s Merchant City in summer 2015.

Lupe Pintos

There are a great many fantastic places to buy food and drink around Kelvinbridge – Valhalla’s Goat and The Cave are both excellent places to stock up on alcohol – but there’s nowhere quite like Lupe Pintos. With a strong focus on Mexican imports, Pintos has a stunning selection of chili peppers and a frankly ridiculous assortment of condiments, most of which will give you the ability to breathe fire. Of particular note is the homemade chorizo: spicy pork sausages that have to be tasted to be believed.

If spicy food isn’t your thing, there’s also an assortment of American delicacies. If you've ever been curious about marshmallow fluff or grape soda, here’s your chance to find out. Pinto also carries Asian, Caribbean and Mediterranean foodstuffs, so as long as you like to cook there should be something here to suit your palette. The owners even sell their own cookbooks if you’re looking for inspiration.

With such multi – cultural soul you are guaranteed to find something new and different to add to your shopping basket, many customers find it impossible to leave empty handed, and with such an array of products why would you want to, Lupe Pintos offers one of the most unique shopping experience’s in Glasgow.

In October of each year Pintos holds a chili cook-off event. Ten local businesses compete to see who can prepare the greatest chili con carne. Customers, often in sombreros, luchador masks or Mexican carnival dress, sample each chili (and perhaps some tequila) and award each business with a score, with the eventual victor crowned as chili cook-off champions and given boasting rights for the year. Despite 500 tickets being available, both the 2013 and 2014 events sold out well in advance.

Want more macho in your nachos? Lupe Pintos is the place to go.

Tchai Ovna's

Tea is celebrated all over the world and is recognised for its way of bringing people together, Glasgow has taken this on board and has seen an increase in small private run businesses with lots to offer to the locals.

A lovely place in Glasgow for a cup of very special tea is tucked away on a cobbled street in the West End; this picture perfect gem is a haven from the chains of coffee shops in the city centre.

With so many teas from all over the world on offer, the menu is like a book. Locals regularly relax and wind down to the famous Yogi Yogi chai tea. The teas are imported and brewed on sight to offer the best possible taste.

The atmosphere here is most definitely laid back. Take a seat inside if it’s cold. The mishmash of tables and chairs is divided by screens and voile curtains. Customers can stretch out on the cushions in the Zen Room at the back and listen to the chill-out music. If it’s sunny, sit outside in the tea garden and try a shisha.

It’s not unusual to hear conversations going on in three different languages here. Tchai Ovna attracts a very international clientèle. Glasgow is known for its diversity and takes pride in welcoming all different cultures to enjoy what it has to offer them.

The vegetarian meals and snacks and home-baked cakes are all very reasonably priced and portions are on the large side.

Tchai Ovna's also holds exclusive gigs. There’s something on most evenings including jazz, folk, blues, sitar recitals and poetry readings. With Glasgow university close by it is never quiet, students gather here often to study or read and in the evenings chill out and enjoy the show. Tchai Ovna’s defiantly brings people together.

King Tut's Wah Wah Hut

King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, also known as King Tut's, is a live music venue and bar on St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. It is owned and managed by Glasgow-based gig promoters DF Concerts. The Glasgow live music venue takes its name from a club in New York, which hosted music, comedy and performing arts events in the 1980s.

If you are you fed up with hearing the same overplayed songs and artists that you find in some places in Glasgow? Take a visit here and you might just discover your new favourite band that you've never even heard of before…

King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, more commonly known as ‘King Tut’s’ is an alternative music venue and bar on St Vincent Street in Glasgow’s city centre.

Previously named as ‘Best Live Venue’ by Radio 1, the venue hosts a range of gigs from up and coming bands to intimate exclusive sets from well-known names. It was opened back in 1990 as a place to showcase new talent and this is exactly the reason many love this place – you always find something different here.

The venue only holds 300 so when it is busy, the atmosphere is electric. It’s exciting to think that you may be witnessing the start of someone’s career on stage. Many big bands have played King Tut’s at the start of their careers – Oasis, The Verve and Radiohead all performed in the space of a few weeks back in the early 90’s.

Recently celebrating its 25^th Anniversary King Tuts us stronger than ever, there are many reasons Glasgow loves this venue; the size, vibe, sounds, crowds and the opportunity to see live music in a great setting is such a unique selling point which makes it perfect for many people. Tut’s regularly wins awards for being the best small venue in the UK. No Wonder