The Willow Meadow...

Had a great plan for today. I had a meeting with a recruitment agency at 10am and after that was going to treat myself (and hopefully you) to something I've always wanted to do. A tour of the City Chambers. I have been told they are something special inside and even in the reception area you get a taste of the beautiful architecture. However, when I went in to ask about the tours they were all cancelled today because there was a function on. :(

So plan B ...
I've been meaning to do this street since started this blog. But been giving it the "dissy" a few times. And yet she is one of Glasgow's great streets, if not actually the most famous of all. Sauchiehall Street.
Suppose not been doing it because the street seems so familiar to me. Been enjoying finding new parts of Glasgow. But had a stroll along Sauchie today. Took some photos of those old familiar sights and gave me a chance to research them. And in the end did end up finding out lots I didn't know about this street and also some gaps...

Here is what I saw down Sauchie "The Day"...

First up is the Tennents sign on Lauders pub on the corner with Renfield Street. Now had a wee rummage around and can find a photo of this corner in 1930. The pub is there but it doesn't say Lauders. And the building above is Bruce's Furniture Galleries. There is a sign where the Tennent's sign is saying "Bruce's for furniture". So when did the Tennent's sign go up? Been there as long as I can remember. Anyone have any other information?

And next up the beautiful facade of the Savoy centre which is a bit of a concrete box behind this. Once again can find an old photo of this wonderful building and seems to say William Smith Ltd. Presume it was some kind of store ? Anyone know more ?

Next up the street this is an easy one to research. :)

The famous Willow Tea Rooms at number 217. These were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1903 for Miss Catherine Cranston. They have been fully restored and are a lovely example of Mackintosh's work. Popped in there today and it was full of happy customers enjoying the unique surroundings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Tearooms for more info.

Next along we have the distinctive dome of the McLellan Galleries.

And here is the detail over the door showing a statue of Queen Victoria.
The Galleries were built in 1856 and are named after their builder, Archibald McLellan. Following his death, Glasgow City Corporation bought the building, and it was used as an exhibition space. In 1986 the Galleries were ravaged by fire but was restored and reopened in 1990. This renovation changed it from a general temporary exhibition space to what was then the largest high-quality, air-conditioned, temporary exhibition space outside London.

My memory of here ... I was actually standing under the building when it was on fire!!

And no it was nothing to do with me!!

But I was walking past the building on the way home from a night out and got shouted at by a fireman to get clear. Whoops!! :)

Couldn't be a walk up Sauchie without a photo of this. Now I've never studied the Kama Sutra. :)

However have studied the menu at the Kama Sutra many times. This is my favourite Indian Restaurant in Glasgow, which is a city with many, many good Indian restaurants.

Ok this is the bit where I get to talk about the name of Sauchiehall Street. This pub actually gets it right. Sauchiehall is derived from haugh meaning meadow and saugh meaning willow trees. Sauchiehaugh is the correct spelling. The willow meadow. Takes a big stretch of the imagination to see this as a meadow full of willows these days though!!

This is also where the Willow team rooms get their name.

Took a photo of the corner of this building just along from the Sauchiehaugh. I love to see the original writing on a building. But once again can't seem to find out who or what Grieve in Sauchiehall Street was ?

It is above what is now the Bank of China.

Next door this is one of Glasgow's most distinctive buildings. Very different from all the red sandstone and scupltures I've been posting up these last few weeks. This was Glasgow's first "skyscraper" as it was when it was built in 1938 as the Beresford Hotel to provide accomodation for the Empire Exhibition. It became student residence for Strathclyde Uni in 1964 and then private apartments in 2003. There seems to be mixed opinions on this building but I love it's Art Deco design because it is so strikingly different. With the sun shining on it today it simply lit up the whole of this part of Sauchiehall Street.

Had to post up a picture of this. Just beyond the Beresford is the Garage Nightclub with the cab of a truck on the side of the building. And yes I have been inside this simply huge club to enjoy it's unique mix of cheesy music. But my lips are sealed on saying anymore. What happens in the Garage stays in the Garage !! :)

And if you have ever enjoyed a night out in the Garage then you must have also had chips in the early hours of the morning (probably with curry sauce) from the legendary Mr Chips. Though you may not remember doing this !!! :)

Moving swiftly along to protect the innocent (and the guilty :) ) We pass the Royal Highland Fusiliers museum which I posted up last week. So have a look back at the Waterloo posting if you want to see it again. But the photo above is the building next to it.

This building has the most beautiful angel statue on the top. It opened in 1912 as the Vitagraph cinema. It stopped being a cinema in 1984.

It has been a bar or nightclub ever since. Gone through various names over the years but I seem to remember that this in my day was the Velvet Rooms :)

http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/glasgow/vitagraph.html

Across the road is the Variety Bar. This is a real landmark on the corner of Sauchie and Elmbank Street.

And almost next door, this cafe is technically in Elmbank Street but think it counts as a Sauchiehall street area building. It claims to be the oldest cafe in Glasgow dating back to 1898. And it still does a very good pie, beans and chips. I know cause I was naughty and treated myself to that here today. All this blogging is hungry work :)

Headed down Elmbank Street to take in a couple of more buildings. Ok not technially in Sauchiehall Street anymore but think these also count as Sauchiehall area buildings. Firstly the King's Theatre. This was built in 1904 and has played host to countless stars over those years.

As I've said before I'm not a big theatre goer but been here a few times between pantomimes and musicals.

If you have a look at the what's on for this theatre over the coming months you will see what a variety of talent it brings to the city. Everything from Scooby Doo, the Russian State Ballet performing Giselle, the Rocky Horror Show, Blood Brothers in February (I know someone who would love to go see that!! Maybe get tickets... ) ... oh and the pantomime this year is Alladin. Oh yes it is !!! :)

http://www.ambassadortickets.com/whatson.aspx?VenueId=653

And across the road from the King's is the Griffin pub which was also built in 1904. These two buidings have been companions for 105 years. And this is the pub with the chalk board sign that has been giving me (and hopefully some of you) much amusement.

Dare me to go ask who makes up the sign ? Or shall we leave that as a mystery ? :)

Here is today's ...

Well that was my quick stroll up the Willow Meadow. The Street obviously extends well beyond this past Charing Cross and when have time will take a tour of that very different Sauchiehall Street as well. But for today headed south down to base camp at Cadogan again. More leads to follow up.

So learned a few things today and also have some gaps that perhaps you can help me with?

As always, be well, be happy!!