PARIS ON CROW RD
French flair takes over at West End spot
ACHANGE is as good as a rest they say. Having tried the latter over lockdown, the owners of Pianola & Co decided to retire their cosy restaurant on Crow Road after three years of trading under that guise and look to their next endeavour.
Enter Wee Paree, a fun French cafe with Glasgow sensibilities. They opened their doors and launched a new menu this week.
The interiors have been spruced up, the Mona Lisa is on the wall and you’ll now spot the Eiffel Tower on the rouge red sign, along with the playful phonetic spelling of Paris as it is pronounced in French. If you want the full Gallic experience for brunch, available 9am-4pm, then ask for The Paree Plat: French toast, croissant, conference pear, seasonal berries, cream, butter, jam, honey and French cheese, served with freshly squeezed orange juice and tea or coffee.
For a more subtle introduction to the new culinary focus, order a Croque Monsieur. A cheesy baked beans and bacon croissant is available for hungover students.
For dinner, highlights include chicken stew with mash, beef bourguignon with potato beetroot rosti or the obligatory steak frites. Lots of wine choices to help enliven things. Set to be another local favourite from the team that brought you nearby Kothel cafe. You’ll find them at 240 Crow Road.
Meanwhile, The Clutha Bar has had a colourful makeover with new murals from local street artists forming a backdrop to their outside seating area. Visit for pizza and a pint to see for yourself.
FINNIESTON CLOTHING UNVEILS SHIP-BUILDING INSPIRED COLLECTION
Inspired by Glasgow’s industrious heritage, nascent local fashion brand Finnieston Clothing have introduced a line of clothes inspired by Clyde shipyards of the past.
The collection uses Scottish lambswool, weatherproof textiles and organic cotton to create Clyde-built T-shirts and jackets from designs based on vintage photographs.
They feature details including replica badges and logos unearthed by local historian Ian Johnston.
Ross Geddes, founder of Finnieston Clothing, first launched the label after being inspired by the local creative community. “I knew it had to be a Scottish brand. Even if people don’t get the connection to Glasgow, I’ve found international customers think Finnieston is a nice sounding name. This year I saw a chance to do something that connected to the city’s industrial heritage.”
What followed was a deep-dive into the folklore of the shipyards. “Ian is a family friend, he has an attic that’s basically a museum, I used to go there once a week, we’d look through these amazing old pictures and I was struck by the collarless jackets I saw and the shipping or yard logos, the fonts and the stories behind each one.
“It was old writing that I liked and enjoyed. I knew there was something untapped that hadn’t been explored before in a clothing line.
“One of the jackets we’ve produced is based on workwear I saw in pictures of riveters. The clothes are industrial-inspired but they still feel very current.”.
Ross explains one of the T-shirts has text lifted from a picture taken at the Fairfield shipyard in 1915. “We took the text from a picture – there’s five guys, submarine engineer apprentices and they are standing in front of a board, it’s almost like their class picture. We’ve reproduced the writing and made sure it is true to the history. The same for the John Brown & Co T-shirt.” Ross says the research has really captured his imagination and he is now starting to get involved with local groups devoted to promoting and preserving Glasgow’s shipbuilding heritage. The fashion pieces have struck a chord with a new generation: “We’ve had a lot of young guys getting in touch with us through the website, they are ordering some of the range because their granda worked in one of these yards and the clothes are a way for them to connect to their own family story and I love to hear that.”