mamma- Mint edition
The gay scene can have a bit of a tendency towards tack. a leaning towards glam before taste. For Glasgow though. undisputed capital of the style bar. things seem to be taking a turn for the better. With the opening of the Polo Lounge at the tail end of last month. the city now has a new bar/nightclub which hopes to offer the vibrant gay community something a little different.
Situated slap bang in the heart of Merchant City. the venue has two very different environments. The bar is on the ground floor. fitted out according to the current trend for luxury and opulence. with open fires. lush velvet curtains. richly polished tables and decadent ivory coloured chaise longues. Downstairs. elements of the classic gentlemen‘s club are carried through into the separate nightclub. with leather spined books incongruously siding the wall-to-wall mirrored dancefloor. Designed by Keith Hobbs. the man responsible for Quaglino's and the Conran Shops in London. and Archaos and Yoyo in Glasgow (owned by the same company incidentally). the Polo Lounge is aiming at the slightly older gay crowd.
The man with a firm hand on the tiller of the Polo Lounge is one Brendan
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Nash. Nash has a wealth of experience relating to the gay scene: in London organising the hugely successful Bang club nights and in Glasgow where he managed Club X for a period of time. As well as his interest in the Polo Lounge. he is also currently editor of G2 magazine. a new Glasgow orientated gay publication which is the only sole city gay magazine outside
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The Polo loom: gentleman’s club and lament dance actlon
London. Regarding the Polo Lounge. his hope is that the venue will appeal to the kind of people who have stopped going out. possibly the kind of person who describes themselves in The List personal ads as being ‘non-scene‘. The doors to this world are opened at 5pm each evening and the bar stays open until lam through the week. At the weekend the venue comes into its own.
staying open until 3am. allowing customers the choice of shimmying down in the basement club or staying civilised on the ground floor. On Sunday afternoons. the Polo Lounge opens at 2.30pm for danish pastries. gateaux and the Sunday papers. (Rory Weller)
The Polo Lounge. 84 Wilson Street. Glasgow. 0141 553 I22].
The Burrell Restaurant
Evening Opening from 7pm Last orders 10pm. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only. Free parking. No smoking.
For reservatlons please call (0141) 632 3910
Xmas menu Lunch - £9.95
Dinner - £18.95
Food for thought
The Burrell Restaurant otters an excellent menu in the unique surrounings ol Collection in Pollok Country Park.
Enjoy a superb 3 course dinner at £16.95 or 2 courses at £13.95 with a fine selection of wines.
The Burrell
TITBITS Edinburgh
I The Point Hotel on Bread Street is about to embark on phase two of its development plans which will alter radically the current tatty face of much of the street. Come next summer. Andrew Doolan Architects will have extended the Point Hotel to include 44 new bedrooms. more extensive restaurant facilities. a new café bar and a distinct pub. Watch this space for further details. but until then take advantage of the Point‘s current range of menus with a two-course lunch coming in at £6.90 and their Winter Gold dinner menu. which changes weekly. at £8.90 for three courses. Dishes
include fricassée of shellfish cooked in white wine and cream served in a light pastry case or try the saddle of lamb roasted with Drambuie and kumquat stuffing.
Alternatively. head for the an deco style bar which is especially
buzzing on Friday nights due to the half price Happy Hour 5—6pm. live music and the weekly raffle for a magnum of champagne. Saturday nights tend to be a little calmer with couples having a quiet evening to a background of live jazz.
12 ASHTON LANE
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25 years of traditional Scottish cooking
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Tel 01 41-3 34 5007
110 The List l3 Dec l996-9 Jan I997