Latest news with #Barras
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
How The Barras became Glasgow's most exciting foodie destination
But elsewhere, thanks to a team who have invested time and effort into curating a line-up of street food vendors unlike any other, The Barras has slowly but surely evolved into one of the city's most exciting foodie destinations. As part of our Barras Reborn series, The Herald sat down with market manager Chris Butler to discuss the influx of independent culinary talent now based in the East End and how this contributes to the shifting identity of a 104-year-old cultural landmark. Pictured: The Pizza Cult at The Barras (Image: Robert Perry) 'I took on the role about a year ago, and one of the first things that I really wanted to change was the area where most of our food places are now,' Butler says. 'Before that, it was a sort of dead space and a real thorn in my side. 'I would go over there and think there's so much potential here, it was crying out for some sort of injection of life.' Before joining the Barras team, Butler spent 10 years employed as a funeral director, but found himself searching for a change after the death of his wife. Considering a career path that would utilise previous experience in the retail and food industries, he fondly remembered working in the bar at The Barrowland Ballroom during his younger years as some of 'the happiest times he'd had'. A conversation with friend and long-term Barras manager, Tom Joyes, followed, and when Butler was offered a new role, their attention quickly turned to the market's food and drink offerings. Pictured: A dish from Colombian Bites, one of The Barras latest foodie vendors (Image: Robert Perry) 'We have a great team of people to work with who have new ideas all the time, especially Tom, who has been here for 40 years,' Butler continues. 'He knows the place inside out, but even he is still learning as he goes because back in the day, The Barras was a totally different beast to what it is now. 'After I started here, we pretty much ripped everything out and began from scratch. 'Christian from our multimedia socials team and I put together a database for businesses applying for spaces here. 'A lot of the interest we were getting was from people who hadn't been to The Barras in a long time, so we made sure to get them down for site visits and share our vision. 'Traders like the Ceylon Cartel got involved after pop-up events. I just liked what they did, all the blades flashing and things while they prepped and thought they'd be a good fit. 'And there's Alan McCurdy, the Crumbleologist, who has thousands of followers on TikTok now. 'He pitched me the idea, and even though I didn't have a space at the time, we knew it would be great, so we got him set up in a stall. As soon as one of the red huts became free, he was relocated there.' When it comes to delivering a market that's full of unexpected foodie surprises from authentic Colombian empanadas to freshly pressed green juice or Neapolitan-style pizza, Butler says it's imperative to maintain a firm understanding of what each unit and stall has to offer. 'We wouldn't have somewhere that just does chips and nothing else,' he says. 'And these days, people want more than just a cheap burger van. 'Every place has to have its own angle to stand out so that no one is serving the same thing. 'We are really diligent about what we want, and I think that's what stops us from becoming another bland food spot. 'It's a real melting pot of styles and nationalities that we've got here.' In an era of TikTok reviews and foodie bloggers, the team also strives to stay ahead of the game by closely monitoring trends and searching for emerging talent that could be a perfect fit for The Barras. 'We can tell what's trending on TikTok through the people that are applying to set up here,' Butler says. 'You'll get five people in a day saying, 'I've got this brilliant idea for a baked potato stall' as if we've not heard that before. 'And when The Great British Bake Off is on, we'll get people saying I want to do this specific type of pastry and just think yeah, ok, join the line. 'But you do have to be social media savvy, because if people can catch onto the right trends and find to deliver them with a sense of credibility and longevity, then it can work really well.' While Butler accepts that The Barras has not traditionally been considered a 'foodie' market, these recent developments clearly demonstrate the power that a diverse and well-thought-out selection of vendors can wield in attracting new demographics. 'We're not stopping here,' he confirms when asked if there are plans to expand the current list of more than 20 food and drink businesses on their books. 'We're thinking about getting a couple of containers over on the spare ground, and we're looking at getting some really good Indian food and a Chinese food stall over on that corner. 'It actually won't be called the spare ground, London Road or D Section anymore. We've decided on a moniker of 'Glasgow Place'. 'It will have its own identity so that whenever we talk about it on social media or anything, people will know exactly what it is. 'There's also talk of a toilet block which will make the place more like a wee food village, and we'll need to find a way to get more electricity for it all. 'We're not resting on the reputation we've built; we're going to keep pushing and pushing for more.' With yet more exciting transformations to come, Butler describes working in an area so important to Glasgow's heritage as something of a 'double-edged sword' as they strive to honour the legacy of The Barras while looking towards a bold new future. 'You're always going to have people who don't understand what you're doing, or object to it because they feel that too much is changing," he says. 'But I wake up every day looking forward to coming into my job because you know that no two days are going to be the same, and you have a chance to make a difference. 'I've just come back from a week off, and no word of a lie, there were well over 100 email applications in my inbox for people requesting stalls. 'Now, not all of them will be relevant to what we're after, but it's all about finding that wee nugget of something that seems like a great idea, then figuring out how to develop that and run with it. 'Especially with our food guys. I know that soon some of them will outgrow us, and that's ok because then we'll have the exciting job of finding someone new to take over. "I just hope that when they do move on, they'll say to people: ''I got my start at The Barras, and I'm where I am today because of it.''
New York Post
20-07-2025
- New York Post
Tourists slam popular European vacation spot for being overcrowded: ‘Hundreds of people trying to see the sunset at once'
It might not be all it's cracked up to be. Summertime is when many tourists travel to European hotspots like Italy and Greece — but oftentimes the experience people encounter there during the busy season is anything but relaxing. According to Jam Press, 27-year-old Gabriella Barras spent close to $3,000 on a four-day trip to Santorini — an extremely popular Greek island many vacationers flock to for its picturesque villages and stunning beaches. She went into her trip with undoubtedly high expectations, but Barras was unfortunately anything but impressed due to the island being overrun by eager tourists. 'I expected Santorini to be a picturesque, relaxing and gorgeous holiday,' Barras told Luxury Travel Daily. 3 Most people expect a quiet, relaxing European vacation when they travel to places like Greece. Jam Press 'The overflow of tourists at every given spot we went to was overwhelming and definitely not the gorgeous, relaxing retreat I was expecting. There were hundreds of people trying to see the sunset at once.' 3 However, this scene is what they often experience instead. Jam Press While it's hard to deny that travel hotspots like Santorini are stunning — sometimes the influx of pushy tourists can take away from the place's charm and history. 'While it was indeed picturesque and the views were phenomenal, I didn't think that there was much old school tradition and culture. It's so commercialised to the point where I didn't necessarily find it relaxing at all.' And Barras isn't the only one who was disappointed by her European summer vacation. 3 Crowds fighting each other to get a peek of the Santorini sunset. Jam Press It's one thing to be in a crowd of people, feeling like a herd of cows in a popular island town — but trying to travel from one place to another using public transportation is another frustrating feat. Traveler, Claire, also stayed in Santorini and struggled fighting the crowds to board a bus to visit another part of the island. 'Trying to get on a bus was animalistic mayhem,' she told Luxury Travel Daily. 'We were getting the bus back from Kamari to Fira, and the bus stop had heaps of people all scrambling to get on it. 'There was no line at the bus stop to make it orderly, so it was a free-for-all.' The overcrowding of summer tourists in European countries has gotten out of hand over the past several months. Earlier this summer, thousands of tourists caused a 'gridlock' of both traffic and people to access Sirmione, a resort town situated on the scenic shores of Lake Garda in northern Italy. Dramatic footage of the rowdy scene was posted to X with the caption: 'Overrun by tourists — chaos, gridlock and hours of waiting. A crisis that must be urgently addressed and regulated. It damages our heritage and turns the experience into a negative one…'
Glasgow Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Tenement Trail returns with Pale Waves as headliners
Tenement Trail will return on October 11, bringing a full day of live music to the city's east end and iconic venues including the Barrowland Ballroom, Saint Luke's and BAaD. Headliners Pale Waves will lead the charge, with a diverse roster of artists including Chloe Slater, Do Nothing, Gallus, and Soapbox. (Image: Supplied) Heather from Pale Waves said: "We're very excited to be headlining Tenement Trail this October. "My dad was born and raised in Glasgow so I have plenty of family still there so the city holds a special place in my heart. Read more: Man charged in connection with death of man in Paisley "Also Barrowlands on a Saturday night is going to be unhinged in the best possible way. "I'm ready for chaos." Tickets are now on sale at The festival has previously showcased now-household names such as Lewis Capaldi, Yungblud and Sam Fender. (Image: Supplied) Chae Houston, founder of Tenement Trail, said: "To still be standing after a decade, we're absolutely buzzing and could not be more proud of this year's line-up. "The scene is better than ever and our line-up of Scottish artists really shows that. "Pale Waves are an iconic headliner, their Barras show will be outrageously good. "Cannot wait to see everyone in October." The event promises 12 hours of live music, with fans able to move between venues throughout the day and into the early hours. Tennent's Lager will return as the festival's official beer partner. Max Fraser, brand manager at Tennent's Lager, said: 'Tenement Trail is a brilliant and exciting display of incredible Scottish music and touring artists and with it happening a stone's throw from our home at Wellpark, we cannot wait to support the festival and see it light up the East End again in October.'
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Much-loved Glasgow multi-venue music festival back for 2025
The festival takes place over 12 hours across multiple venues in Glasgow's East End, including the Barrowland Ballroom, Saint Luke's and BAaD. Headliners Pale Waves will be joined by a mix of artists including Chloe Slater, Do Nothing, Gallus, Soapbox, Sister Madds, The Rooks, The Zebecks, and Vanderlye. Heather Baron-Gracie of Pale Waves said: "We're very excited to be headlining Tenement Trail this October. My dad was born and raised in Glasgow so I have plenty of family still there so the city holds a special place in my heart. Also Barrowlands on a Saturday night is going to be unhinged in the best possible way I'm ready for chaos!" Read More: Tennent's Lager will return to support Tenement Trail as the official beer partner of the festival. Max Fraser, Tennent's Lager Brand Manager, said: 'Tenement Trail is a brilliant and exciting display of incredible Scottish music and touring artists and with it happening a stone's throw from our home at Wellpark, we cannot wait to support the festival and see it light up the East End again in October.' Chae Houston, Tenement Trail founder, said: 'To still be standing after a decade, we're absolutely buzzing and could not be more proud of this year's line-up. The scene is better than ever and our line-up of Scottish artists really shows that. Pale Waves are an iconic headliner, their Barras show will be outrageously good. Cannot wait to see everyone in October!' Tickets for Tenemental Trail 2025 are on sale here
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
New Garnethill gallery to celebrate city's graffiti scene
With the public opening of the space set for Friday the 6th of June, the duo is hard at work. Setting down his tools for a brief chat, Ciaran tells me: 'I've known Panda since I was 16. We've both been part of the street art and graffiti scene in Glasgow, and various other art scenes in the city for all of our adult lives. 'Whenever I'd speak to Panda about future dreams and plans we had, a gallery was always part of that equation — but it was a pipe dream.' Ciaran, who works as a sign painter, met Panda at college back in 2006. Sat behind a rough wooden counter with a box of Crimbles macaroons in arms reach, Panda adds: 'I've had my stall at the Barras for two and a half years. It was really close to Ciaran's studio — he'd come and visit a lot. We'd speak about how we wanted the city to change, and that planted the seeds of doing something together. 'One day I was walking past and noticed that the space was up for rent. I always imagined the side wall having a mural on it, but had never been inside before.' Panda at work in the new gallery. (Image: Gordon Terris) Panda points to the 2008 film Beautiful Losers, which documents the lives of street artists in New York, as the duo's 'North Star'. 'The film is about a lot of American artists from all sorts of backgrounds,' he notes. 'They forge a really beautiful community and become some of the biggest artists in America. 'We've been involved in this since we were so young, so it is strange that something similar hasn't happened here yet.' Panda says that Glasgow's sometimes-reticent attitude to street art has been sparked by the council's approach to graffiti. He pauses. 'Historically,' Panda explains, 'the council has been very conservative on street art and graffiti. They've had a zero tolerance approach, and spent the highest amount of any council in the UK in removing graffiti. 'But when you remove stuff, it makes things stagnant. Yet, over the last five years, things have begun to change, there have been a lot of murals springing up. I think most people are actually pretty positive about street art.' The duo have been friends for nearly 20 years. (Image: Gordon Terris) This sentiment has been echoed on social media, as 46,000 people have followed the gallery's transformation on Panda's Instagram account. Ciaran adds: 'The immediate community here in Garnethill have been super positive about us moving in, because this building has lay in a semi-dilapidated state for quite some time. 'The exterior was subject to a lot of wear and tear, so as soon as we started slapping paint on it, we got a great reaction - the neighbours loved it. 'We've only been working on it for one month, but it's been a complete team effort - inside and out. If it was just me and Panda doing it, we'd be nowhere near finished but everyone has chipped in — it shows how much people want this. 'We've had joiners, stonemasons, glazers, electricians, neon sign installers and others help out.' Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: My trek up the Royal Mile — what do tourists say about Scotland's capital? Calls to bring back this 'unique' detail in Princes Square shopping centre How much has new trains procurement cost taxpayers? Scot Gov refuses to say Top Scottish universities to review trans policies after Supreme Court ruling A crowd-funder set up to help with renovation costs raised nearly £12,000, with more than 300 people chipping in. The gallery will be open five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday; and sell affordable prints, merchandise, and artwork from close friends and fellow street artists. At the core of the gallery will be a rotating floor show each month, showcasing artists from across Glasgow. The first show, entitled 'Friends', is set to run between 6 June and 3 July. Panda says he hopes that the gallery will serve as a social space for Glasgow's arts community. The shop will be open five days a week. (Image: Gordon Terris) The artist has previously shared his experiences of drinking and drug-taking, and how committing to his work has helped to keep him sober. As a fitting tribute to the redemptive power of art, the gallery will open on the eight anniversary of Panda's sobriety. Panda tells me: 'We all used to hang out at the Art School union back in the day, and always went along to shows at Recoat gallery.' 'We want to create something similar — a regular community for artists. We want each show to be an excuse for people to come together.'
