Huge global retailer to open brand-new Braehead store
The popular brand is known for selling a wide selection of home goods, accessories, stationery, and much more.
(Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Global retailer to open second Scots store in Braehead
READ MORE: Top retailer which featured on BBC show opens new Braehead 'store'
(Image: Newsquest) According to the firm's website, it has over 1,000 stores worldwide, including several across Greater Glasgow.
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The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
How the Barras is reinventing itself with themed market events
But in recent years, with their special themed market events, other communities from around the world have been given the chance to host a celebration of their culture in Glasgow's East End. Before a Turkish weekend filled with freshly cooked pides and traditional teas in 2023, or the seafood-focused Festival of the Sea last month, the first of these events to prove a huge success was the Hong Kong market, launched in 2021. Pictured: The Hong Kong market has become an annual event at The Barras (Image: Gordon Terris) 'I still remember around four years ago when I visited The Barras for the first time, it was quite dead. Half the stalls were empty,' Benny, a Barras stall holder and volunteer who has been involved with each edition of the now annual event, says. 'I needed somewhere to run my business and was able to pick a spot in the market, which is how I got to know the manager, Tom Joyes, quite well. 'One day, he asked if we could work together, and I told him I would be able to help run a market because a lot of people have had to move from Hong Kong to the UK due to political situations.' With a plan now hatched Benny began reaching out to a community of Hong Kongers living in Glasgow and further afield to help transform the less-used London Road side of the area into a vibrant street market with over 125 traders in attendance. 'We prepared for about two months before the market,' he continues. 'Tom had said to me, 'You can do whatever you want with it, as long as it is authentic. Just don't give me fish and chips or anything.'" 'I told him that wouldn't be a problem, because that's not the kind of food we like. And the sweet and sour thing is so lame to us. As long as he didn't mind some things like chicken feet being served in The Barras, then yes, we could do that.' Pictured: The event attracts huge crowds to the city's East End (Image: Gordon Terris) When the first day of the market began, the team was surprised to witness queues of people forming from Moncur Street to the Gallowgate in search of authentic traditional dishes from Hong Kong. 'We didn't expect it to be so busy that first year,' Benny admits. 'I worried people would be disappointed with the long wait, but they were very encouraging when we apologised and told them it was all homemade food and that the stallholders were doing their best to keep up. Read more: 'The event gave us a huge sense of encouragement, and as new immigrants living in the city, that's how we really felt 'People Make Glasgow'. They were so good to us, and that gave us a lot of confidence for the next year.' Pictured: Vendors serve thousands over visitors across the weekend (Image: Pictures taken by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) Knowing that the event had made a lasting impression, the Hong Kong market next year came back bigger and better, with more space to play with and different sections dedicated to crafts, food, and learning. Though the weather was not on their side, with high winds sweeping through the streets, meaning many of the decorations prepped for the event had to be shelved, the second edition of the market was again a huge hit. 'We thought ok, people seem to love this event,' Benny says, 'and again it gave us the chance to show people how new immigrants want to contribute to the city.' Dubbed 'Hong Kong 3', the third market took place just last month, as visitors old and new packed onto the streets surrounding The Barras sheds to get a taste of speciality dishes like imitation shark fin soup, Hong Kong-style French toast or deep-fried pig intestines. Pictured: Queues line up to try authentic dishes (Image: Pictures taken by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) Although food stalls form an integral part of the festival, Benny says the event means far more than the chance to explore a new cuisine. 'There are all kinds of crafts, and we bring Hong Kongers from all over the UK to Glasgow to share what they are making. 'We also have a historical section dedicated to showing what has been happening in Hong Kong over the last few years, and why we escaped to come here. 'There's a lot of food to try, but more than that, we want people to learn about our history, our culture and our cities so that they know the whole story.' (Read more: How Scotland's growing Hong Kong community is thriving despite surveillance fears) Looking towards the future, Benny hopes that the event will continue to grow each year, providing a platform for talented Hong Kongers to share a glimpse of their culture and attracting new visitors to The Barras. To achieve this, he is looking to liaise with Glasgow City Council to try to expand the areas they are allowed to use for stallholder spaces around the market. Pictured: Live performances take place across the weekend (Image: Pictures taken by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) In the meantime, the Barras team has plenty of other events in the pipeline, such as a celebration of Colombia, complete with salsa dancers or an Italian-themed market sure to be a hit with pizza and pasta lovers. 'The exciting thing for us is always thinking, 'what can we do next?'' Barras Market manager, Chris Butler, says. 'It's always got to be pushing the envelope from each event to the next, and if it's not being done 'properly' then we won't do it. 'We want something like the Hong Kong market to be as authentic as it possibly can be. 'For Hong Kong 3, we had 45 stalls running the length of the street and a big marquee acting as a food hub. 'We're already thinking about what we can do differently next year, because there's always got to be something new to attract people to The Barras. 'It can't just be because you used to come down here with your mammy or granny, we want to be relevant and interesting, which to us means having an event on at least every couple of months. 'We want people psyched about whatever is happening next, and that drives us to keep going.'
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Huge sporting event faces TV blackout for first time in 70 years with no BBC deal agreed
One of the big events in the sporting calendar could end up not being shown on television next year despite its long history with the BBC, with no broadcasting agreement reached yet The Commonwealth Games faces a potential television blackout in the UK. The competition, which started in 1930, is still yet to secure a broadcasting agreement, despite there being a year until its start date. Glasgow will be playing host to the competition in the summer of 2026, 12 years after hosting the event in 2014. The BBC has served as the main broadcaster of the sporting spectacle since 1954, but discussions about an arrangement for next year are still being had. It's been reported that certain BBC executives harbour doubts about the event's ongoing significance, given the declining number of nations prepared to host it. Glasgow was previously confirmed as emergency replacement hosts in September last year, after multiple cities withdrew from hosting, due to financial concerns. Before Glasgow hosted the games in 2014, chiefs at the BBC agreed a broadcasting deal in 2011. When the event was in Birmingham in 2020, an agreement was wrapped up two years prior. According to The Sun, sources close to the BBC claimed "an agreement is still some way off", with other officials at the Beeb also feeling that there is a "waning appetite" for the event. The overwhelming majority of the event's funding now stems from the £100million compensation the Australian state of Victoria provided to Commonwealth organisers following their withdrawal. Both the UK and Scottish Governments declined to guarantee the expenses of staging the event, pointing to broader strains on public spending. Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, offered a brighter picture of the current situation, saying: "This week we have just announced Sky New Zealand as one of our broadcast partners. We also have Channel 7 in Australia, and there will be news on a UK broadcaster later this year." A spokeswoman for the Games also told the Daily Record: "We're in positive discussions with broadcasters across the Commonwealth, including the UK, and further announcements will be made in the months ahead." Scotland First Minister John Swinney has declared his confidence that Glasgow is "well-organised and well-prepared" for a revamped Games that will spark the public's enthusiasm. He said: "All of our experience tells us that, on major events, the people of Scotland – and especially in Glasgow – get engaged." Swinney also supported Glasgow's choice to rescue an event which has faced criticism in certain circles as being an antiquated connection to Britain's colonial history. He told the BBC: "The Commonwealth is still a very important forum for international co-operation and partnership between countries. And, frankly, we need more international co-operation and friendship and collective endeavour in a world that is becoming increasingly fractured." The competition has been dramatically reduced due to financial concerns, with only 11 sports taking place across four locations. Track and field will be hosted at Scotstoun Stadium, rather than Hampden Park, whilst aquatic competitions will return to the current Tollcross facility. The total expenditure for the 2014 competition reached £543m, but this occasion will see just £114-130m allocated. Petria Thomas, chief of the Australian Commonwealth commission, said: "We're incredibly grateful and fortunate that the Scottish have stepped up to the mark here. "It was obviously highly disappointing that the Victorian government pulled out and it left the Commonwealth sport movement in a very difficult position. It's fantastic that the Games will be on in Glasgow. "Obviously a little bit of a different look to them this time with fewer sports which is a shame. But it's the reality of the position that the Commonwealth sport movement was put in, unfortunately."
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Daily Record
Braehead Arena drops merch charges to support grass-roots musicians and venues
They are also adding an optional £1 donation on every ticket sold to support grass roots music through the Live Trust. A Scots arena has become the largest venue in the UK to drop all fees on merchandise sold by artists at their shows, which will make a massive difference to the income of performers – commissions and fees can mean they hand over up to 25 per cent of merch sales. Braehead Arena is the first arena and the biggest venue to commit to not charging artists fees for selling merch - and is adding an optional £1 donation to every ticket sold to support grass roots music through the Live Trust. The Arena – home of the Glasgow Clan ice hockey team - has partnered with Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events to work on developing a programme of world class live music, entertainment, comedy and sporting shows and events. With a bigger focus on live music in the Arena set to bring even more big names, previous shows have included Oasis, Alice in Chains, Paul Weller, Kelly Clarkson, INXS, Blondie, SUM 41, Bob Dylan, Jean Michel Jarre, Snoop Dogg, Blink-182 and Beyoncé. New CEO Russ Smith insists it's vital that larger venues in particular throw their weight behind supporting artists to safeguard the future of music – so Braehead Arena has taken action to show its desire to help musicians is genuine. Russ said: 'Braehead Arena is the perfect venue for artists on their way to the very top of the game – with a capacity of 5,300 we are a vital bridge from theatre scale to the biggest arenas and stadiums. 'With the nature of record deals in the streaming era, we understand that merch has become an essential income source for artists at all levels. 'It's important that we demonstrate we're really for music and for musicians – we are not just trying to jump on a trend. We really care about this. 'That's why we have taken the decision to drop all fees and commission charges on merch sold here by or for artists playing the Arena. 'We hope this commitment will help ensure a bright future for music and musicians, especially here in Scotland where there's so much talent we should all be proud of.' The venue is also adding an optional £1 donation to every ticket sold for all live music shows, which will be donated in full to the Live Trust to help grass roots venues and artists survive, again ensuring future paths to arenas and a starting point for emerging talents. Russ said: 'Including the optional £1 donation is about making sure the incredibly rich culture of music in Scotland in particular is protected and encouraged. 'By supporting smaller venues our gig goers will be helping future stars take those early steps on the pathway to headlining arenas like Braehead. 'It is very much an optional donation though. I know times are tough for everyone right now but hope fans will see the benefit of adding the extra £1 – we offer free parking for all shows here which may help.' The huge moves by Glasgow's second largest arena come as they announce a strategic partnership with Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events, who manage venues around the UK and are committed to the fee-free merch sales pledge at their other sites too. Carl Bathgate, Commercial Director at Ghostwriter, said: "We are extremely proud to be the live music partners of Braehead Arena as it fills a clear gap in terms of capacity in Glasgow. 'Our aim is to deliver a much-needed versatile space that provides more opportunities for artists at this level to connect with their fans and create unforgettable live experiences. 'As the first arena in the UK to adopt our model, Braehead joins our growing family of venues committed to supporting artists by not charging commission on merchandise sales. 'With rising costs of touring and the shift to streaming, artists depend more on merchandise sales to let them earn money and continue touring. 'We're firmly committed to doing everything we can to support artists, promoters and our customers, helping to sustain live performance as a vital and accessible part of the music industry." Helen McGee, Ghostwriter's Head of Venues, added: 'We're delighted to partner with Braehead Arena and firmly believe there is a real need for a venue of this scale in Glasgow. 'As a member of the Music Venue Trust board, I'm especially pleased to see a venue of this size recognise the pivotal role that grassroots venues and the wider community play in the development of artists and industry professionals at every level.' Braehead Arena is now operated by TDL Media. These announcements mark the first steps into a bold and exciting new era for the Arena. The venue is also committed to Braehead Ambition, a strategic partnership between SGS UK Retail, TDL Media and XPE launched to align the marketing, management and leasing of Braehead Shopping Centre, Braehead Arena and XSite to boost visitor numbers by more than a million people annually. The retail and leisure complex currently attracts 16.3 million visitors annually, benefits from supporting road networks, ample free parking and a wide variety of pre-event on-site dining options. Braehead Arena also boasts fantastic transport links with Glasgow's international airport only 10 minutes away.
