Latest news with #Dishoom
Glasgow Times
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow artist's mission to send Billy Connolly mural copy
Not in the flesh, but on the boards on which the artist, Conzo Throb, painted the mural of the legendary comedian in the city centre earlier this year. The boards have been reunited with him, and he plans to give them a new home, he's also set himself the mission of getting a copy of the artwork to The Big Yin. Conzo put together a heartfelt personal package with a handwritten letter and a copy of the artwork and has sent it to Billy in safe hands. Glasgow artist's mission to send Billy Connolly mural copy (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: Amazing new mural of Billy Connolly appeared in Glasgow He spoke to us about the inspiration behind the mural, which he says has "changed his life." Conzo, 37, explained: "It was two funny men that started this fire in me to make this. Billy Connolly, obviously, and the late great John Byrne. "I've had this idea for years of painting Billy Connolly naked specifically, because I was dared to by my flatmate and friend, Panda, to paint a mural next to a big Billy Connolly mural that already exists, and it didn't feel right at the time. "A great wall appeared outside where Dishoom is going to be on Nelson Mandela Square, and it triggered the idea that the time was right to paint this mural of Billy's bare a**e huge on a big 18ft by 16ft canvas." Conzo says the mural has changed his life (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: New mural of Still Game star appears in Glasgow city centre He goes on to credit Billy's book, Windswept and Interesting, for helping him get through a "really tough time" in the past few years, and how learning about the comic's life let him "give himself the permission slip" to follow his dreams. Conzo also took ideas for the mural from the book, he said: "In Billy's book, in the very first chapter, he talks about his love of being naked, the absolute freedom of it, and I figured that's just a beautiful thing to have painted. "A very funny one as well, and to paint it without permission makes it even funnier, and to get away with it and even have people tell you that they loved it and cheered them up was an unexpected but definitely pleasant surprise." Conzo had help from friends and fellow artists Ciaran Globel and Panda, with whom he recently opened their art gallery, Grateful Gallery, in Garnethill. He took some inspiration after the idea had formed from John Byrne's 2002 painting of Billy that hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Conzo said: "In the very left corner was a very small painting of Billy streaking naked, and I just thought it was hilarious because I had a core childhood memory of Billy being naked on the TV, and so do a lot of people." John Byrne was born in Paisley and studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1958 to 1963. He worked as an artist, playwright and theatre designer. Conzo mixed up a special shade of pink for the mural (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: PICTURES: Decorated cabs flock to Troon as part of annual Taxi Outing Conzo made 50 screenprints of the mural, with the very first one being put in the package that's been sent to Billy. Speaking about the special package he's sent to Billy, Conzo said: "When he opens the tube, he'll get this beautiful big newspaper with the front page of his bum that made it the next day. "So, hopefully it's going to bring him a big laugh. That's what I'm hoping for. "First thing, he's sipping his morning tea, and then he just gets this beautiful package of just a good self-portrait of him being naked and just gets a big laugh. "That's the ultimate goal." Conzo sent a package including a personal letter to Billy (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: 'I'll crawl across the line if I have to': Dad to run 95 miles in memory of son Conzo continued: "And yeah, I wrote him a nice little personal letter just appreciation and telling him why I did this as well as about how he and his best pal John Burn totally inspired me and helped change my life route completely over the past three years." "He's helped many people, but it really helped me just give myself a permission slip to chase this whole dream of being an artist and not feeling bad about it or having to ask others if I'm allowed to do certain things. "So, it's just a big ode to these legends. It's like a two-in-one. It really is." Conzo has big plans for the mural boards (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: 'Goodbye for now': Popular West End pub announces temporary closure Now that he's been reunited with them, Conzo hopes to have the boards displayed in public again or auctioned off for charity. The People's Palace is his ultimate goal, for the work to be displayed in the same place as Billy's big banana boots. Conzo's favourite part of the mural is the nipple ring, he explained: "In his book Windswept and Interesting, he talks about how he got his nipples pierced just for fun. "And when he did a movie, he had to take them out for a swimming scene. And throughout this movie, filming in the ocean, his wounds healed up, so he could no longer have his nipples pierced. "I just love that story. It's just funny, it's a nice little detail, it's the tiniest part of the whole mural, and it's a little sparkling, beautiful thing."
Glasgow Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
New mural of Still Game star appears in Glasgow city centre
Legendary Scottish comedy character, Winston Ingram, has been honoured in the painting. The mural, on a wall just off Queen Street, shows the hilarious OAP played by Paul Riley wearing his iconic red jacket and flat-top bunnet. This week, prolific Glasgow artist Tef sprayed the street art, which has already received praise from some Still Game stars. Tef has work across the city, and we reported on his mural of comedian Limmy in Yoker last month. New mural of Still Game star appears in Glasgow city centre (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: 'Am no fae here': New Yoker mural for Glasgow comedian Limmy Tef posted a video of the completed work on social media with the caption "Stevieee" in a nod to the characters hilarious battle with Stevie the bookie in Still Game. Gavin Mitchell, who plays Bobby the Barman in the hit comedy show, was quick to give Tef praise for the mural. He commented on a video posted by the artist, saying: "👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🍺🍺🌵" Applauding the work and hinting towards the famous line "two pints, p***k." Fans flocked to the comments alongside Gavin, one said: "Superb." Passers by stopped to snap a photo of the new mural (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: Amazing new mural of Billy Connolly appeared in Glasgow READ MORE: Stunning new murals unveiled in Glasgow's Govan area Another requested the artist make a mural for another character from the show. They said: "Love this!! We need an Isa one next!" A third will be heading to the mural to grab a snap with their pooch, they said: "My dog is named after Winston I need to find this so I an take a picture of it with my dog." It joins the many fantastic murals across the city, including huge commissioned gable-end work which scale several stories. Nearby, there was a mural painted of legendary Glasgow comedian Billy Connolly on the boards where the new Dishoom restaurant will open on Nelson Mandela Place. The boards were taken down and the artist behind the design launched a plea to have them sent to him.
The National
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
New mural of Still Game star appears in Glasgow city centre
Legendary Scottish comedy character, Winston Ingram, has been honoured in the painting. The mural, on a wall just off Queen Street, shows the hilarious OAP played by Paul Riley wearing his iconic red jacket and flat-top bunnet. This week, prolific Glasgow artist Tef sprayed the street art, which has already received praise from some Still Game stars. Tef has work across the city, and we reported on his mural of comedian Limmy in Yoker last month. New mural of Still Game star appears in Glasgow city centre (Image: Colin Mearns) Tef posted a video of the completed work on social media with the caption "Stevieee" in a nod to the characters hilarious battle with Stevie the bookie in Still Game. Gavin Mitchell, who plays Bobby the Barman in the hit comedy show, was quick to give Tef praise for the mural. He commented on a video posted by the artist, saying: "👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🍺🍺🌵" Applauding the work and hinting towards the famous line "two pints, p***k." Fans flocked to the comments alongside Gavin, one said: "Superb." Passers by stopped to snap a photo of the new mural (Image: Colin Mearns) Another requested the artist make a mural for another character from the show. They said: "Love this!! We need an Isa one next!" It joins the many fantastic murals across the city, including huge commissioned gable-end work which scale several stories. Nearby, there was a mural painted of legendary Glasgow comedian Billy Connolly on the boards where the new Dishoom restaurant will open on Nelson Mandela Place. The boards were taken down and the artist behind the design launched a plea to have them sent to him.
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
You Can Now Spend The Night At One Of London's Most Iconic Restaurants
A two-bed "lodging house," Permit Room Lodgings is set above Dishoom's all-day cafe/bar Permit Room Portobello With eight locations in London, the beloved Indian restaurant group Dishoom is widely praised for its beautifully nostalgic design and fantastic Bombay street food-inspired menus. Now, for the first time, the team behind the restaurants is inviting guests to not only dine but stay the night at the new Permit Room Lodging, which opened this month (June 2025) above its latest all-day bar/café, Permit Room Portobello. Set above the ground-floor restaurant with its own private street entrance, the new accommodation is a private apartment, sleeping four and comprising of two en-suite bedrooms connected to a separate living room. The concept borrows inspiration from the traditional lodging houses in Bombay, comfortable places often run by Parsi proprietors. That same asthetic theme underpins these new digs. 'We kept coming back to wanting to keep things rooted in Bombay, and the warmth that envelops you the moment you arrive there,' says Shamil and Kavi Thakrar, Co-Founders of Dishoom and Permit Room, via press release. 'Bombayites are kind, generous and proud of their city. We thought, what if we could extend our hospitality to our guests even more fully? Some of our most cherished memories are from staying with friends and family in Bombay; the types of visits where the door is wide open and you're ushered inside to be taken care of. What if we could transport our guests to a romantic Bombay residence? These feelings of nostalgia and looking after people to the best of our ability led us to come up with our Permit Room Lodgings.' Working with acclaimed UK hospitality design studio Macaulay Sinclair, which also developed many of the group's stylish restaurants, the team delved deep into Bombay's past to guide the vibe. Research trips took them to local lodging houses, private family homes, and vintage Deco hotels including Bombay's Bentley's Hotel and Sea Green Hotel on Marine Drive. One standout inspiration was Kekee Manzil, the 1920s home of legendary Bombay art patrons Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy, where eclectic charm and layered personality offered a roadmap for the interiors. The end result is a space that feels as much like a cultured friend's apartment as a boutique hotel. Over 30 original pieces of Bombay-sourced vintage furniture now sit proudly in the Lodgings, alongside bespoke beds, reclaimed parquet flooring and arched windows that pour light in. Art plays a major role in this new chapter. Both the Lodgings and downstairs dining area are adorned with works curated by Rajiv Menon Contemporary, the Los Angelos-based gallery known for championing young South Asian artists. Expect bold, contemporary pieces by the likes of Mustafa Mohsin, Maya Varadaraj and Nibha Akireddy. Other highlights at the Lodgings include Mauli Rituals amenities; a bespoke drinks cabinet stocked for cocktail-making; and a record player and hand-picked collection of vinyls, sourced from nearby record shop Rough Trade West, naturally. Books and magazines come courtesy of other Notting Hill neighbours Shreeji News and Books for Cooks. Each guest gets a Key to the City: Dishoom's insider guide to London, full of handpicked spots and local perks, perfect for discovering the area like a resident. But the best perk? Dishoom's famous complimentary chai is just a call away, plus guests get to skip to the front of the line at any Dishoom restaurant during their stay. Rates starting at at £700 per night (with a two-night minimum). The lodgings include over 30 pieces of furniture souced from Bombay Artwork has been curated in collaboration with Los Angeles-based gallery Rajiv Menon Contemporary to highlight modern South Asia art Design comes care of Macaulay Sinclair, UK-based interiors architect with a portfolio that includes Dishoom restaurants in Kensington, Battersea, and Kings Cross Permit Room Portobello is a new all-day cafe and bar from Dishoom, located below the new Permit Room Lodgings
India Today
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
He'll be a bigger name: Sunita advises son not to copy Govinda, make his own style
Govinda's wife, Sunita Ahuja, is confident that their son, Yashwardhan Ahuja, will make a better star than his father. Yashwardhan is expected to make his acting debut with the remake of filmmaker Sai Rajesh's Telugu film 'Baby'. He has previously assisted in films like Varun Dhawan's 'Dishoom' and Tiger Shroff's 'Baaghi'. However, the film is currently on hold after actor Babil Khan's actor's wife talked about Yashwardhan's Bollywood aspirations with The Times of India, and how they often have discussions at home about scripts. Sunita said, "He's working very hard. He dances well. He acts well. And very soon, next year, we will see him on screen. Yash is the one who always asks me, 'Mum, this is the subject, this is the concept.' We have discussions at home,"Sunita advised her son to come up with his own style in a bid to avoid comparisons with his father. She expressed she doesn't want her son's image to be tied to his father and urged him not to copy. "He would make a better name than Govinda as well," she said. Earlier this year, there were rumours that all was not well between the couple, and they were heading for a divorce. They later dismissed the news. In a conversation with India Today, Ahuja's team said that she had filed for a divorce, but things got sorted out later, and they are back together. Sunita recently dropped Govinda's surname from her name and cited numerological and Sunita got married in 1986 but kept the news hidden for four years. They have two children - Yashvardhan and Tina - both of whom aspire to enter the film actor dominated the Hindi film industry in the 90s with his impeccable comic timing and dancing skills. Some of his blockbuster films include 'Raja Babu', 'Coolie No 1', 'Hero No 1', 'Bade Miya Chote Miyan', 'Hero No 1', 'Anari No 1', 'Jodi No 1', 'Bhagam Bhag' and 'Partner.' He has been away from the big screen since quite some time.
