No doubt about it, shopping and eating out are two of the things that Glasgow loves best. But is it the designer boutiques and bars, or the gritty canteens and second- hand shops that best refleot the City’s Character? Katy MoAulay gets out her credit card and spends her way to an answer.
hen the ‘Scotland with Style' banners began to go up around George Square in Glasgow. the citizens of Edinburgh could have been forgiven for having a sniggcr. Let's face it: when it comes to city centre style stakes. the capital has got the raw materials. In the Top Trumps world of high street tourism. lush sunken gardens plus castle on a volcano beats slightly gritty red square. The slogan seemed to make about as much sense as slinging a smiley face onto most dismal landmark to be found next to the M8. Which we tried in 1994. Yet Glasgow’s black and white banners are just the latest in a long line of branding campaigns that have had Edinburgh scrabbling around to try to claw the attention back from Glasgow’s status
as the European City of Culture and UK City of
Architecture and Design. to name just a couple of accolades. It‘s been Madonna-like in its quest to reinvent
6 me LIST 18—25 Aug 2005
itself. but has glamour overtaken Glasgow‘s traditional grit‘.’ The only way to find out was to try a glimpse of the new Glasgow glam and a life of grime to find out what Scotland with Style really means.
GLAM DAME
I didn’t expect suggestions for ways to spend a glamour-filled day to be so difficult. It appears that these days. all that every man and his dog wants to do is buy a new outfit in Topshop/man and spend his evening watching a band in an obscure basement venue.
Not to be deterred. I stick my best foot forward and strap on a pair of LK Bennett shoes. Then I head for the Italian Centre. Versace. Armani. Ralph Lauren. Prada. Moschino and Gucci are all represented. making this the most obvious stalking ground for the glamour puss. And who can resist the best of them all. the coolest clothes
store in the city‘.’ Cruise is the finest example of
Glasgow's glamour: it's full of all the best designer clothes. without any of the vulgar overtones that dog some of the city‘s more expensive outlets. Well. shopping was never going to be a challenge. considering Glasgow’s status as the L‘K‘s second lady of retail.
Expensive eateries are not thin on the ground either. Recommended in Heat magazine‘s ‘Celeb‘ bar guide — so it must be glamorous — is seafood restaurant Salty Dog. It’s located in Princes Square. the city's second most posh shopping emporium. and a quick visit proves that. yes. the celebs do frequent its stylish interior (isn‘t that footballer Billy l)odds in a Dal-white shirt?) and with a 12oz Aberdeen Angus rib eye accompanied by half a grilled lobster on the lunch menu for £30. there‘s plenty to get your teeth into.
After such a stressful morning. I choose to kick back in the comfortable environment of [.angs
Best ol glam: Cruise;
Hotel Spa on Dundas Street. winner of the Sexiest Scottish Hotel award for 2005. Spa packages include an incredibly relaxing aromatherapy massage. Reiki. which bizarrely makes me giggle like a crazy schoolgirl plus more manicures and pedicures than you could shake a stick at. The hotel also has the honour of being the only spa north of London allowed to practise the exclusive Eve Loin facials. A four treatment package will set you back £140.
I don‘t know how rich people do it. Despite now looking like a million dollars. I‘m so relaxed that I‘d rather curl up in bed than continue the fabulous life. It‘s a terrible crime but I decide to ditch a mouth-watering dinner at Le Chardon d'()r. where Brian Maule serves up the kind of dishes you would expect from a former head chef of a world famous Michelin star
‘I'M SO RELAXED I'D RATHER CURL UP IN BED THAN CONTINUE THE FABULOUS LlFE.’
London restaurant. in favour of a nap.
Of course. Mr Maule isn’t the only formerly London-based entrepreneur to choose Glasgow as a new home. Chinawhite. the luxury club on Bath Street to which I am directed as the most obviously upmarket meat market. is another stylish venue that had its infancy in the big smoke. An exclusive door policy ensures that only the well-heeled get to lounge in the cushion-heavy interior. although the website's claim that the venue offers a ‘new level of luxury clubbing to the increasingly discerning local seen (sic). suggests Glasgow may not have departed too far from its roots.