MILL Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire Marianna Palka and the power of creativity The innovative youth work of the YMCA Halcyon days of Paisley’s nightlife
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CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 04 INTRO A warm welcome back 06 EVENTS The essential listings 14 LOCHWINNOCH ARTS FESTIVAL An institution evolves FEATURES 16 MARIANNA PALKA Get to know one of Scotland’s most potent artistic forces. 20 PAISLEY YMCA Changing perceptions and horizons. 24 GOLDEN YEARS Celebrating Paisley’s illustrious spell as a hub for nightlife 44 A LOVE LETTER TO RENFREW A historic borough examined 46 SIGHTS OF THE CINEMA Open Road’s film-inspired tours 52 PAISLEY 2030 Peer into the future 54 RENFREWSHIRE TALKS Local journeys 66 DIG IN! Paisley Food & Drink Festival 74 PEOPLE Glenburn singer/songwriter John Rush LIFESTYLE 30 MEN’S FASHION This season’s essentials 32 IN BLOOM Striking looks served up at Juni Bar 40 BEAUTY All of spring’s must-haves 41 HEADLINES CLINIC Healthcare innovations 42 A HELPING HAND RAMH in Renfrewshire 48 INTERIORS Kike Palvik on lighting 50 PROPERTY A new year boom 51 WILD ROSE FLOWERS A fresh start 68 LUNCH AT CAIRN Culinary delights in Kilmacolm 70 DINNER AT LA BANCA Neilston Road’s finest 72 TASTE BUDS’ AFTERNOON TEA Savoury magic CULTURE 56 THE ARTS Music, film, literature and more
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INTRODUCTION
A WELCOME BACK FROM THE EDITOR CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
MILL Marianna Palka and the power of creativity The innovative youth work of the YMCA
Halcyon days of Paisley’s nightlife
Cover photo by Wes Frazer on the set of Collection directed by Marianna Palka
Robert Blair, Editor
Keep in touch with Robert and the Mill team via social media or email editor@millmagazine.co.uk
We want to hear from you. Get in touch via email: info�millmagazine.co.uk 4 MILL
Published by Mill Magazine Ltd. Studio 102 Embroidery Mill, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley, PA1 1TJ. Editor: Robert Blair Design & Sales: Paul Dickson Beauty Editor: Susie Cormack Bruce Interiors Editor: Kike Pavlik Men’s Fashion Editor: Josef Mcfadden Sub Editor: Alistair Forrest Contributors: Lesley Adams, Scott Cadenhead, Paul Cameron, Chris Costello, Alyssa Drysdale, Wes Frazer, Antonio Fucito, Mark Gillies, Darren Gibson, Caroline Gormley, Thomas Graham, Alan K. Gray, Lawren Matthews, Gus Michael, Dave Muir, Colin Orr, Hannah Power, Amber Smith Natalia Sondej, Rebecca Weinberg and Renfrewshire Foodies Thanks to: Aaron Brown and Warner Davis
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All the best
Robert Blair
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Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire
ISSUE 009 - MARCH/APRIL 2020
Let’s face it, no-one likes winter. Once December’s influx of cheer wears off, all you’re left with is dark mornings and a lingering sense of ennui. No matter how much we all pretend, those ‘cosy’ nights in lose their appeal when Netflix’s enquiries of “are you still watching?” become a common occurrence and the thought of visiting a beer garden with your friends appears closer to a work of science fiction than a genuine possibility. Yet with the arrival of spring, this tide of melancholy gradually begins to turn. Suddenly, we’ve got a bit more of a spring to our step and, as you’ll see from what awaits you in this issue, Renfrewshire residents aren’t lacking in reasons to be joyful. Taking a deep dive into everything from innovative organisations and the culinary wizardry of local eateries to the psyches of some of the finest creative minds that our vibrant community has to offer, we at Mill came raring out of the gate after our two-month hiatus and to say that we’re delighted to be back is an understatement. Within these pages, you’ll see that the tone for the year ahead has been set and it’s one that’s brimming with good tidings for Renfrewshire as we know it. Dive in and, as always, let us know what you think.
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pm fri 24 April, 4pm–10 m p 9 – n o o n 2 1 , il r p A 5 SAT 2 Y E L IS A P , E S O L C Y E B AB
Paisleyfoodanddrink
WHAT'S ON FRI 6 MAR 7pm
We pick out some of the highlights taking place on your doorstep in March and April
I AM ME SCOTLAND CHARITY RACE NIGHT
A charity that hinges around tackling disability hate crime, I Am Me Scotland are taking over Paisley Indoor Bowling Club for a fundraising night. The £10 ticket fee provides unlimited access to the buffet and one free raffle entry. With all funds earmarked for their #makeadifferenceprogramme, racehorses are also for sale at just £10 and each winner will earn you a prize.
MON 9 MAR 7pm
STARGAZING EVENING
Among the most popular recurring events that they offer, 9th March provides another window for would-be astronomers to take in the unmitigated beauty of the night sky at Castle Semple. Guided by a local expert, the excitement around this attraction never wanes so book your tickets – £5 for adults, £2.50 for the kids – as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Castle Semple Visitor Centre.
EVERY SUNDAY
SLOW STITCH SUNDAYS
Catherine McAteer is aiming to make tranquillity synonymous with sewing via Slow Stitch Sundays. Held between 12-3pm, the embroiderer places a therapeutic atmosphere at the forefront but is nonetheless affording attendees the chance to add their own contributions to The Renfrewshire Tapestry. In our opinion, £5 per session is a small price to pay for needlework-induced inner peace. Wevolution, 7th March to 31st May. 6 MILL
PAISLEY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTION AND AILEEN STRACHAN THU 12 MAR 7.30pm
Shortly after the legendary artist and playwright, John Byrne, returns to his birthplace to ring in his 80th year, Paisley Museum’s Aileen Strachan and the PPI will outline their plan for championing the Ferguslie-born icon’s seminal work into the next decade and beyond. Coupled with an overview of Paisley Museum Re-Imagined, get yourself to UWS Paisley, room D133 for 7.30pm for an evening of stimulating discussion from the storied society.
WHAT’S ON
SUN 15 MAR 7.30pm
BUBBATREES
Hailing from nearby Glasgow, Bubbatrees are rapidly scaling the ranks of the central belt’s music scene and are picking up plenty of accolades along the way. Self-described as a “dark pop” outfit that invoke the ominous sounds of post-punk and new wave, the trio spent 2019 supporting a litany of hotly tipped artists including Walt Disco and Yorkshire’s King No-One. Set to descend upon The Bungalow alongside a slew of their fellow up-and-comers, tickets are a mere £5 or £3 for students.
10-15 MAR
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: CRYSTAL
Renowned for their unprecedented spectacles, the famed Cirque du Soleil are uprooting from their home nation of Canada to astound the UK once more with Crystal. Debuted in 2017, Braehead Arena will be treated to this trailblazing hybrid of circus performance and an ice show that intermingles majestic skating with the unprecedented aerial feats that made their name. What’s more, it’s your opportunity to see this show during its debut voyage to the UK. Join Crystal as she “dives into a world of her own imagination. Feel the adrenaline as she soars through this surreal world to become what she was always destined to be: confident, curious, and creative. Crystal invites you to suspend reality and glide into a world that springs to colourful life with astounding visual projections and a soundtrack that seamlessly blends popular music with the signature sound of the revered, pioneering organisation.” Tickets available now via their website at intu.co.uk/braehead
SUN 15 MAR 11am
SUNDAY CONTINENTAL
Looking for an injection of culture to bring the curtain down on your weekend? Look no further than Sunday Continental. Held in one of the town’s most beloved venues, this monthly moment of tranquillity runs from 11am-1pm and will provide everyone with invigorating live music and a steady stream of refreshments for just £5. Expect it to become a Paisley Arts Centre staple. Also on 19th April.
20-21 MAR 10am
SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS FAYRE
Hot on the heels of the success of last year, Church Street’s very own landmark will play host to a special arts and crafts fayre. Free to attend, organisers have promised “stalls with a variety of unique handmade gifts and treats” from 10am-3pm each day. Johnstone Town Hall. MILL 7
WHAT’S ON
FRI 27 MAR 7.30pm
SUN 22 MAR 2pm
Famed comedian Arabella Weir is heading to Paisley Arts Centre and is bringing her critically acclaimed one-woman show for good measure. A clever interpolation of her instantly recognisable catchphrase from The Fast Show days, Does My Mum Loom Big In This? has been described as simply “comedy gold” by The Guardian. Get down to see whether it lives up to the praise that’s been heaped on it to date as Weir grapples with the perils of life as a single mother. Tickets via Renfrewshire Leisure.
MOTHER'S DAY AFTERNOON TEA DANCE
Treat your mother and grandmother to a well-deserved cup of tea and a cake at the Glynhill Hotel & Leisure Club in Renfrew. Live music will be played by Jamie McArthur throughout the afternoon, covering songs appropriate for all ages from the 60s right up to modern times. Both adults and children are welcome at the cost of £19 and £9.50 for under 12s. Tickets can be found at glynhill.com. Written by Alyssa Drysdale.
SAT 28 MAR 1.30pm
BOTTLE LAMPSHADE MAKING WORKSHOP
Overseen by local home décor service Beautiful Wild Textiles, learn how to craft a 20cm drum lampshade that’ll sit snugly on a bottle. Requiring only the aforementioned receptacle and a fabric of your choosing, the organisers have promised that “tea, biscuits and a blether” are thrown as part of the £35 price tag. Reduced to £7.50 if you procure your fabric from them, this two-and-a-half-hour workshop is a great way to cast off the monotony and learn a new skill in the process. At The Haberdashery, 45 High Street, Paisley.
SUN 29 MAR 7.30pm
SUN 29 MAR 1.30pm
THE BRIAN LAURIE ACCORDION SHOWBAND AND ROCKUS CHOIR
Brian Laurie is bringing his multi-awardwinning showband to Methodist Central Hall, Gauze Street, Paisley for an afternoon performance alongside the ever popular Rockus Choir. Priced at £8 for general admission with concessions available for seniors and children, 50% of the profits will go towards the bands PPA while the remainder is earmarked for Marie Curie. Tickets available now via eventbrite.co.uk.
8 MILL
ARABELLA WEIR: DOES MY MUM LOOM BIG IN THIS?
RODDY WOOMBLE
Perhaps best known as the catalytic force behind esteemed Scottish indie rockers Idlewild, there’s plenty more to Roddy Woomble than The Remote Part or their 2013 comeback record Everything Ever Written. Possessing a rousing brogue and knack for affecting lyricism, catch him in support of his upcoming Everyday Sun EP that he’s releasing just a day prior. Paisley Arts Centre, Saturday 28th March.
Keep Safe Scotland – Helping people Keep Safe
THE PIAZZA SHOPPING CENTRE
I Am Me is a community charity that aims to change attitudes and behaviours so that disabled and vulnerable people in Scotland feel safe in their communities. Download the FREE Keep Safe Scotland App Email us to get your FREE Keep Safe Card – Quoting MILL @iammescotland
www.iammescotland.co.uk
I Am Me Scotland
@ iamme@renfrewshire.gov.uk
WHAT’S ON
1-20 APR
SAT 28 MAR 11am
RSPB LOCHWINNOCH DINOSAUR EGG HUNT
A self-led jaunt around the woodland trail, the whole family can get involved in trying to find these paleological artefacts at one of Lochwinnoch’s most tranquil areas. Enabling visitors to scour the area for the ancient eggs, all you need to do is nip into the visitor’s centre ahead of time and then you’ve got the run of the place. £2 for kids, £4 for adults.
OAK TREE ARTS CAMPFIRE CLUB
Billed as “a fusion of traditional storytelling with role-play and creative writing”, Oak Tree Arts’ Campfire Club gives the wee ones a chance to galvanise their imaginations. Aptly named, attendees congregate around a special indoor campfire to be regaled with classic tales from around the globe. Afterwards, they work together to spin their very own yarns. £5 for ages 3-5, free for 0-2. Wevolution, Moss Street, Paisley, also on 3rd May.
EASTER EVENTS 3-19 APR
PAISLEY EASTER TRAIL
Taking place over the spring holiday, the Paisley Easter Trail gives fun-loving families the chance to “follow the trail around the town’s local businesses and enter the prize draw for your chance to win an amazing Easter hamper.” As if that wasn’t enticing enough, it’s also free! Keep an eye on paisleyfirst.com for more information.
TUE 7 APR 1.30pm
GINGERBREAD MAN
Conceived by Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre, their latest show escorts viewers into a “world made entirely of biscuits” and the hijinks of the Gingerbread Man. Commissioned as part of the Puppet Animation Festival, the show sees its confectionery-based star in his attempts to evade a tenacious fox and encounter a whole host of other characters along the way. Set to be performed at Johnstone Town Hall, this much-loved tale is a “visual feast designed for young children and their families.”
SAT 4 APR Midday
GLENBURN EASTER FUNDAY AND TRAIL
If you’re in the market for a family-friendly afternoon that harbours plenty to do for the kids, look no further than Glenburn’s Easter Funday. Those in attendance can use their ingenuity and work out the clues to the trail, hone their skills at the arts and crafts areas or make tentative steps into body art with glitter tattooing. Topped off with a café, local stalls, face-painting, a petting zoo, bouncy castles and a guest appearance from the Easter bunny, tickets are just £5 per child. Glenburn Community Centre, Fairway Avenue, Paisley. SAT 11 APR 11am
JOHNSTONE EASTER FUNDAY
Johnstone Business Consortium will be hosting their annual Free Easter Egg Hunt in Houston Square Johnstone from midday to 1pm. There will also be a car boot sale 11am to 2pm, cost per vehicle is £10 for a car and £15 for a van. MILL 11
WHAT’S ON
WED 8 APR 2pm
VERY MILD PERIL
Predicated on visual and non-verbal storytelling, the amusingly titled Very Mild Peril is heading to Johnstone Town Hall. Staged as part of the Puppet Animation Festival, organisers invite those four and up to a compellingly interactive world “where one false move could cause a series of very mild disasters.” With its tongue wedged firmly in its cheek, tickets are just £5 plus booking fee.
For fans of all things Marvel, DC & beyond, the Paisley Comic Con is here to celebrate a love of all that’s been spawned across those meticulously inked panels. Boasting upwards of 6,000 attendees during previous instalments, this fun-filled day will not only showcase the best and brightest independent publishers, writers and artists, but will incorporate everything from cosplaying to video games, their tabletop counterparts and much more. Kitted out with a vast and enticingly well-stocked market hall that’ll grant you access to an array of books, toys collectibles, arts and crafts and more, this consolidates all that fans of the wide-reaching cultural phenomenon could ever hope for. At a time when the prescience and impact of comic books is at an all-time high, this is an exciting addition to Paisley’s annual schedule and one that’s sure to persist in hearts, minds and itineraries for years to come. Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, get more information at paisleycomics.com. SAT 18 APR 11am
SUN 26 APR Midday
QUARRIERS LADIES LUNCH
An institution in recent years, this year’s Quarriers Ladies Lunch will be held in the tasteful yet opulent surroundings of one of the iconic Grand Central Hotel. In the wake of the praise that met her previous appearance, X-Factor and The Voice alumni Barbara Bryceland will once again serve as the centrepiece of the entertainment alongside the incisive yet unfalteringly hilarious Janey Godley. Complete with a sparkling champagne reception, scrumptious food and a goodie bag thrown in for good measure, contact events@quarriers.org.uk or call 01505 616054 for tickets. 12 MILL
Dinner & Dance 2020 SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
We invite local businesses in the Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire area to purchase one of the Sponsorship Packages listed below in support of our annual fundraiser.
Gold
£275
• Five tickets to the event • Logo and company contact information featured in event programme • Tagged in all social media posts related to the event
Silver
£170
• Two tickets to the event • Logo and company contact information featured in event programme • Tagged in all social media posts related to the event
Bronze
£100
• Logo and company contact information featured in event programme • Tagged in all social media posts related to the event
RAMH Dinner & Dance 2020 will take place on Friday 15th May 2020 at the Lynnhurst Hotel, Park Road, Johnstone, PA5 8LS, 7pm - Midnight Tickets are £40pp Tables of 10 are available Welcome drink, three course meal, auction, raffle, music and more!
If you would like to purchase a package, or are interested in supporting the event in another way, please contact Jade Gallagher on 0141 847 8900 or jade.gallagher@ramh.org
WHAT’S ON
It takes a village Now in its 19th year, Lochwinnoch Arts Festival continues to go from strength to strength.
D
espite having a population of just 2,880, Lochwinnoch is a place resonating with creative entities. In recent issues, we’ve sat down for in-depth chats with author and playwright Alan Bissett and star of stage and screen Carmen Pieraccini. The commonality between them? A PA postcode and the decision to raise their families beside the picturesque views of Castle Semple. An untarnished gem of a place that captivates everyone that settles there, the village feels like it’s more than ready to unveil its ample charms to the wider world. Heading towards its 19th edition, the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival is as much of an intrinsic part of the area as The Brown Bull pub or The Junction Café & Cakery and seems to expeditiously grow in stature with each passing year. Spanning all facets of the arts spectrum, this tightknit community will be brimming with an insatiable energy from the 6th-29th March as creativity becomes its stock and trade. Rather than be disheartened by its lacklustre transport links to the perceived cultural capital of Glasgow, organisers have devised a line-up that’ll entertain and enlighten the local area over a whirlwind three and a half weeks.
Christine Bovill
14 MILL
Rose Room
Capable of witnessing a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta at the Parish Church one night before bearing witness to the Glasgow Theatre Guild’s concert crew the next, this comprehensive line-up is exuding talent and an effort has been made to ensure that there’s something to entice all ages and artistic persuasions. As it pertains to headlining acts, you have comedy in the form of naturalised Lochwinnoch resident Alan Bissett’s Moira Monologues next to the lovable firebrand that is Janey Godley. Within the musical realm, attendees will be treated to award-winning jazz from Rose Room, the poignant stylings of chanteuse Christine Bovill and uproarious rock & roll from Best Bad Influence while author Melanie Reid will be sharing tales from her memoir The World I Fell Out Of. Averse to resting on their laurels, the arts festival will also be expanding their auditory horizons with their “world music weekend.” Taking place across the 12th-14th, it’s sure to be rapturously received by the hundreds of patrons of this aptly described “friendly festival”. For further details and ticket information please visit lochwinnochartsfestival.co.uk
Quarriers Ladies Lunch Back by popular dem
The Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow Sunday 26 April 2020. Table of 10 - £400.
and:
Barbara Bryceland w
Contact: events@quarriers.org.uk www.quarriers.org.uk/ ladieslunch
ith special gu
Janey Godley
est
What an amazing day! Barbara was sensational – what a voice and a true entertainer. We will be back next year for sure.
Quarriers is a registered Scottish Charity No. SC001960
Quarriers Golf Day Cawder Golf Club • Friday 12 June 2020 Book your place today. Call us on 01505 616132. Contact: events@quarriers.org.uk www.quarriers.org.uk/ events
Be a golf champion for a day on Cawder Golf Club’s Champion Course! •
Start your day with tea, coffee and breakfast rolls
•
4-ball with shotgun start
•
Two-course lunch in the club house
•
Fantastic prizes
•
Male and female teams welcome
Price: £400 for a four-ball All money raised will go towards supporting Quarriers. Sponsorship opportunities available - contact us to find out more.
FEATURES
INTERVIEW
PALKA
Renowned for her work both in front of the camera and gazing through the viewfinder, we spoke to Scotland’s own Marianna Palka about her career, art’s galvanising power and more. 16 MILL
Photos by James Branaman
Marianna
FEATURES
A
s she sits in St Louis Café Bar on Dumbarton Road, Marianna Palka bears none of the hallmarks that you’d expect from someone who transitioned from life in Scotland to become the toast of the film world. Her accent retains every lilt and affectation of the central belt and there’s an inherent warmth to her presence. But above all, Marianna’s most endearing quality comes from remaining authentic in an industry where success is normally earmarked for those with resilient veneers. Growing up as the daughter of a poet in Basia Palka, both her mother—who’s lived in Paisley for 20 years—and father ensured that creativity was always placed at the forefront in a way that went beyond a leisure activity. “Everyone is an artist in the family,” Marianna reveals. “I grew up with that around me, plus my parents told me that that I could do anything. They believed that art can not only heal the world but change it. We’re Polish, blood-wise, so I grew up with the Solidarność movement and my parents’ pals fighting with non-violence and freedom as a concept. They were all in the theatre, so that’s what I thought an actor was. I was aiming to be a militant revolutionary (laughs).” Instilled with the singlemindedness that always helps to breed success, Marianna’s prodigious talent and keen mind would lead her across the Atlantic before she was old enough to drink. “I went to New York to do lots of plays, that’s what I was really into at the age of 17. It was really seamless because I had such a good time and I met a bunch of Scottish people over there,” Marianna beams. “I was just so tapped into the idea that I was meant to be there doing theatre at that time. No offense, but I knew I didn’t want to go to f *****g London. The idea of Scottish talent having to go to London to make it is almost offensive to me.” Although many viewers may recognise her from the role of Reggie “Vicky The Viking” Walsh in Netflix’s pioneering 80s wrestling title GLOW, Marianna has had a multi-faceted journey that includes storied careers as both a director and writer. Rather than being a concerted effort, this decision to dabble in all tenets of the process was completely organic. “I’ve never consciously tried to do one more than the other, you know? In New York,
“
I WAS REALLY KEEN ON THE IDEA OF DOING THINGS FOR US AND THE SCOTTISH PERSPECTIVE EVEN WHEN I WAS IN THE US
Q&A FAVOURITE FILM Toi, Moi, les Autres FAVOURITE BOOK Scots: The Mither Tongue by Billy Kay BEST DIRECTOR Agnieszka Holland YOUR DREAM CO-STAR Shaun Evans
I thought I was just going to act in plays but by the time I got to LA, I knew I was going to direct. The first film I made [2008’s Good Dick] went to Sundance and then Sean Connery gave me an award for it in Edinburgh so I was like ‘ok, I can do this,” she remarked. From her first film through I’m The Same, Bitch and many others, Marianna’s work doesn’t simply hinge around empowering female leads, but the middle ground between irredeemable men and those that are actively striving to better themselves. To her mind, this was all forged by her upbringing in the dear green place. “Growing up in Scotland, feminism was something that came from a lot of the men in my life. Just cool guys who are like “I care about my mum, I’m really nice to my granny and I just love women.’ That’s a really positive background to be from,” she proclaims. “When I went to the States, I recognised that a lot of people in America—not so much LA or New York—are like Republican guys who haven’t had that association with feminism being cool. “My films are the result of some kind of alchemy between my ideas from Scotland coming together with American culture. It’s some weird experiment, but I think it works. There are evil men out there, but there’s others that are looking for an answer or looking for change. Film is a powerful vehicle to talk about it, so I’m happy to get up in the morning and do s**t like that.” Acutely aware of culture’s transformative power on society, it’s telling that Marianna hopes to see certain works of theatre be democratised back to their working-class roots. In particular, those of the Bard of Avon. “Macbeth is Scottish and everyone who’s done it isn’t,” she opined. “Shakespeare wrote for normal people. His actors were Scottish, Cockney or Irish. They weren’t moneyed people with posh accents. It’s been twisted to the point where it doesn’t rhyme in RP (received pronunciation). When you perform it in a Scottish accent, it sings because he wrote for normal people and that’s the amazing thing about him. There should be a version of Hamlet that’s like… set in Drumchapel (laughs). Why not? Somebody needs to do it and use the voices we’ve been given.” MILL 17
FEATURES
As for what’s next down the pipeline from Palka, she’s recently helmed Collection—a Todd Friedman-penned drama that delves into the seedy underbelly of debt collection and stars Alex Pettyfer and Mike Vogel. Unsurprisingly, Marianna found parallels in its narrative to not only homegrown art, but real-life testimonies from friends that illustrated how important the work was. “When I read the script, it reminded me of [Ken Loach’s 1997 film] Carla’s Song. It was about a Latina woman, but I made her Nicaraguan,” Palka reveals. “I got [GLOW co-star] Shakira Barrera and she’s so good. In Scotland, everyone I know is dealing with folk knocking their door and being like ‘hi, you owe money on your credit card so I’m going to be an asshole to you,’ so it feels like an international rights issue. The film is really anti-ICE, pro-immigration, basically a real vitamin pill for anyone who voted for Trump.” Rather than keeping the activism on-screen, this spirit of kinship with her fellow humans is also enacted in her day-to-day life and shines through in her charity work. Ingrained into her from a young age, Marianna sees paying it forward as a station above her contributions to the screen. “It has to be part of it and is more important in a way. I don’t know, I was just raised like that. If something good happens to you, then you need to give it back to what’s going on. It’s all woven into the idea of ‘what you give to another person, is what you do for yourself.’ Kids charities, women’s charities, I’m all about that.” For anyone looking to follow in Marianna’s footsteps and make it stateside, she urges all
aspiring creatives to pursue their own ambitions without forfeiting with their national identity. “I was really keen on the idea of doing things for us and the Scottish perspective even when I was in the US,” she discloses. “Basically, if you can do something that’s for your country at a time when Scotland needs your voice as an artist, that’ll sustain you for life. “Be kind”, Palka continues. “All of the crews and actors I’ve ever worked with as a director have all been so happy and I’ve got this array of work that was defined by looking after one another. The energy on the set is always seen as chill and respectful, which is a genuine Scottish quality that you can bring. In Collection, there’s a kid called Jacques Colimon and I even got him to wear a kilt in this one scene (laughs). He’s an amazing actor and I was just sitting there in Alabama like, ‘I can die happy as an old lady now that’s happened.’ He even kept the kilt!” Follow Marianna on Instagram @mariannapalka.
18 MILL
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FEATURES
THE REVOLUTION WILL BE DIGITISED Through Paisley YMCA, Renfrewshire boasts a masterclass in digital youth work. As told to us by the man that spearheaded this change, find out how their inspiring story came together.
20 MILL
FEATURES
I
n many cases, necessity serves as the mother of invention and for Darran Gillan of Paisley YMCA, this statement rings especially true. Taking over the reins in 2015, the Youth & Programme Development Worker found himself in an unenviable position within a largely dormant branch of the youth movement. “In order to be a YMCA, there’s a certain standard of quality that you need to be providing. One of those things, funnily enough, is that you should be delivering youth work. Paisley had stopped for quite a long time. I’d been working up in Tollcross, but I’ve lived in Erskine all my life and went to Parkmains high. So, it was an opportunity for me to come back and do something in my own area. I just had to find what shape that would take.” Faced with resurrecting its presence in the area, Darran noted that there were plenty organisations that dealt with sport and music or hearkened back to the area’s rich artistic or textile history. Through their grassroots interactions with young people, a notable gap in the market begin to emerge. “We did street work for months on end across Friday and Saturday. We met with a lot of young people around the cenotaph and basically asked them what issues or needs they had. As we started to develop that relationship, we cottoned onto the fact that even when the weather is awful, lots of young people were congregating around McDonalds as it was the only place to access WIFI. At the same time, career evenings indicated that young people weren’t really doing Saturday morning jobs, while surveys revealed an awareness that digital would play a big part in their future prospects.”
All Paisley YMCA photos by Paul Cameron
"ONE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WAS THE SECOND DJ TO EVER PLAY THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL ALONGSIDE A 60-PIECE ORCHESTRA FROM WALES" Based around these modicums of direction, Darran, along with the teenagers that’d guided him, began to forge ahead with their plan for the future. “We realised that there had to be something that we can develop that accounts for young people not doing things like the milk round, generate some income for them and address the emerging digital literary skills gap. With a group of young people that we’d developed a connection with, we devised the ‘I-Enterprise programme’- a mobile digital youth incubation hub that operated from libraries, community centres and church halls. “When I started, we had no staff, no buildings, no funding and no young people,” he continued. “We had to use all the resources round about us to build this programme. That meant it was the young MILL 21
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people from that initial steering group who advised me on what tech to buy. They were the ones telling me to buy things like raspberry pie computers that I’d never heard of.” Based around the Fintech Scotland model, Darran began not only incentivising young people to engage with the programme, but harnessed skills that they didn’t even know they had. “We gave young people £500 on a prepaid card. They’d take their concepts and turn them into workable pitches that identified needs in their community or a service that could be monetised. Then, they’d form a team and bring it to fruition over a 12-week project. It was all about learn by doing, rather than read it as theory,” Darran explained. “They came up with catering companies, tech-based companies for girls, a graphics design company and a couple of DJ academies. One of our young people was the second DJ to ever play the Royal Albert Hall alongside a 60-piece orchestra from Wales.” Taken from a germ of an idea to an empowering infrastructure for Renfrewshire’s young people, Darran admits that they soon became “victims of their own success”. Amid setting up new coder dojo clubs in 22 MILL
Renfrewshire Libraries after a fact-finding mission to Finland, he once again boarded a plane and found the missing component during a trip to Singapore. “We began to learn that what was required was a makerspace. We went to a couple out there and I was completely blown away by the level of production and the young entrepreneurs we met. Age wasn’t a concept, you could be ten-years-old and be making serious money out of it.” As a result, their headquarters on William Street isn’t just their official premises, but the life-raft that kept this vital resource afloat. “We spent the best part of eight, nine months looking for a venue that didn’t have ridiculous rent or asbestos issues. The building that we’re in right now is owned by Gary Kerr, the chair of Paisley Community Trust. He’s very passionate about developing initiatives that’ll benefit the people, so he offered us this place for a tiny fee. At that point, it was a case of ‘if you build it, they will come’. Now, we’re a six-day operation. Everything we do now is under the banner of digital STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.” Find out more about Paisley YMCA and the makerspace via facebook.com/ymcapaisley
DIGITAL YOUTH HUB Paisley YMCA is a Digital Youth Organisation, our main mission is to support young people in developing a number of digital skills that can increase their chances of finding worthwhile employment in today's world.
MONDAY
MONDAY MAKERS
6-8pm, build virtual environments, rapid prototype with 3D printers and laser cutters
TUESDAY
ADVANCED CODE CLUB
6-8pm, learn to programme in Python to JavaScript
WEDNESDAY STEM GIRLS:
6-8pm, technology club for girls its all about STEMinism!
FREE CLUBS For young people age 8-21 years
THURSDAY
Special events, training, and group bookings (by appointment only)
FRIDAY
FRIDAY NIGHT BYTES
6-8pm, drop in for gaming, work on projects or just hang out
SATURDAY
ELECTRONICS ARTS CLUB
(Junior) for ages 8-11, 12:30-2pm (Seniors) for ages 12-18, create interactive art installations, visual and audio content
14 William Street Paisley, PA12LZ 0141 471 4404 www.paisleyymca.org
FEATURES
GOLDEN
YEARS
With some help from friends of the magazine, we delve into the halcyon days of Paisley’s spell as an epicentre for nightlife while keeping one eye on its future.
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F
or many years, saying that you were heading to Paisley for a night out would be met with scrutinising looks. Seen as an area that’d bypassed its prime, there was an internalised stigma that many had attached to spending an evening at Borgia or sinking £1 drinks at Skittles Fridays in Fury’s. Yet with the arrival of a slew of new, more bohemian bars in the area, there’s a sense that the town’s pubs and clubs may be catching up to the cultural overhaul that the area has undergone in recent years. However, what some younger residents might know and its middle-aged ones will recall through hazy memories is that Paisley was once a bustling hub of activity when nightfall arrived. Now commonly heard on Pulse FM, at clubs around Scotland at the weekend or keeping the crowds buoyant at Renfrewshire’s Christmas lights switch-ons, veteran DJ Gus Michael has fond memories of this immensely prosperous era for our bars and discotheques. “My first memory of Paisley is working in a club called Shuttles in ’87 or ‘88,” Gus recalled. “I actually started in a place called The Bistro, a wine bar that was beside it that’s now The Bungalow. I was just a rookie DJ then.” “Across the road, you had The Latin Quarter,” he continued. “I worked there as well. Down from there, you had the Earl of Cranby. These were all great places. In those days, they had 2am licenses. A Monday in Shuttles used to be jumping! The reason being that Toledo Junction used to do a thing called ‘Funkin’ Monday’. There was a guy, who was a god as far as I was concerned, Dave C L Young, and another DJ called Mike Costa. The two of them used to work the Monday and you couldn’t get moving for people.” Operated by the “Two-Bit Company”, some of Gus’ fondest memories of Paisley’s nightlife zenith come from his time behind the decks of one famed Back Sneddon haunt. “Carnegies on a Wednesday was a big night with 60s/70s music, we used to have 1700 people through the doors. It got so big that Carnegies opened a place called Mannequins. It was jumping on a Thursday and then I’d be in on the Friday, 1200 people strong. They made salubrious amounts of money (laughs).
“IT WAS LIKE A COMMUNITY AND YOU COULD TELL WHO BELONGED TO IT BY THE WAY THEY DRESSED”
“For people living in Cardonald, Penilee or Hillington, Glasgow city centre was further away,” he theorised. “Coming to Paisley was easier for them. Probably cheaper too.” If second-hand stories are to be believed, many famous faces including footballers and musicians would make the pilgrimage to Paisley’s thriving network of pubs and clubs. Generally speaking, the lion’s share of these celebrity sightings emanated from one location. Now left in a ruinous state, The Cotton Club, as Gus recalls, came with a real sense of grandeur to it. “It was all your ‘cooler people’ who liked to be seen. Jimmy [Laverty, owner] liked all that, they were on until four in the morning. You felt special when you walked in there”, he remembered, “as though you were hanging about with some serious dudes. They were probably just as skint as you and I, but they looked the part (laughs).” That said, the town didn’t solely cater to those interested in feigning opulence or aligning with mainstream trends. In fact, young people that felt an affinity for the incendiary subcultural movements of punk and new-wave were accommodated for in spades. Co-owner of our leading independent art studio Made In Paisley, Caroline Gormley saw things from both sides of the coin and was on the peripheral of both scenes in terms of aesthetics and music taste. “You had the likes of all these local dance places—Carnegies, The Cotton Club, things like that—and people who were into the alternative scene didn’t identify with that,” she revealed. “Those places were all about the white heels and padded shoulders. The ethos was different, as was the music. Not for me though, I was listening to that stuff during the week and then at the MILL 25
The Paisley Community Website
FEATURES
“GLASGOW HAD BANNED THE PUNK SCENE, SO THEY ALL HEADED THROUGH TO PAISLEY”
weekend, I was off (laughs). Visually, some people think that the punk thing can be seen as frightening. Personally, I felt more comfortable in that environment. “We had pubs like Windy’s In Rowan Street where you’d start off,” Caroline continued. “My sister’s boyfriend at the time promoted bands there. Then, we’d head to Paris on Silk Street, which was split across different levels with a variety of music. A lot of the alternative folk headed to that. The Weavers Club had a lot of great DJ’s and bands on, but we were normally so drunk that we can’t remember where it was!” “Everybody came together,” Caroline remarked. “It was like a community and you could tell who belonged to it by the way they dressed. I remember my sister getting ready to go out, she’d still be making her outfit as the taxi was sitting there! “The Clubhouse on Back Sneddon was my personal favourite,” Caroline said fondly. “I’d say that’s one that I had a real sense of identity with. The music was punk, alternative music. They played U2 but they mostly steered
away from chart music. We just missed the original punk scene but we were still listening to it.” Unbeknownst to her, Caroline’s roots in Paisley’s punk fraternity actually go deeper than her or her sister. As she was informed in unlikely circumstances, their late father also played a crucial role in making it the near-mythical period of unity and self-expression that it became. “The Silver Thread [Hotel] was the first place where bands played [including Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Rezillos and Generation X]. Glasgow had banned the punk scene, so they all headed through to Paisley. My dad was the head chef in there and he used to let them in the backdoor for free. A lot of them had no money, but they just loved the bands and he’d get them in. My dad died five years ago and it was a taxi driver who told me that he’d let him in. He’d never mentioned it and I was in the back of the car greetin’ (laughs).” Integral as it may have been to the heyday of that iconic scene, Gus is quick to recall that revellers in Shuttles and Toledo deviated from the norm in their own way. MILL 27
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“They liked their soul and jazz funk, stuff like that. You’d play George Benson and Luther Vandross. Back in those days, you’d be buying imports to try and stay ahead. The people of Paisley loved their music. One of the big tracks in the town was Tullio De Piscipo’s Primavera, it was massive. As was Adriano Solintano’s Prisencolinensinainciusol. The Language Of Love was an old Italian song from 1972 that Dave ‘C L’ Young brought back and created a phenomenon. Sometimes, they’d try and catch you out too. Paisley, at one time, was cooler than Glasgow,” Gus asserted. “Folk from Dumbarton, Clydebank and North Lanarkshire would all come through because they knew what it was about, we were spoiled back in those days. Where do you know bars to be busy until 2 in the morning during the week? Times weren’t easy, so going out was a release. What I couldn’t understand at Shuttles on a Monday was ‘what do you people all do for a living? Are you going in or are you taking Tuesday’s off?’ (laughs). I’m sure there’s been many marriages that came out of it too.” As someone who’s seen it all in the industry, Gus echoes the sentiment that, much like the perception of the town 28 MILL
“BACK IN THOSE DAYS, YOU’D BE BUYING IMPORTS TO TRY AND STAY AHEAD, THE PEOPLE OF PAISLEY LOVED THEIR MUSIC” has greatly altered in recent years, its nightlife is another facet that’s in the process of being reawakened. “Everything comes full-circle,” Gus proclaimed. “If you wear something like Adidas, it’d be uncool ten years ago and then it’s in again. Fashion, clubs, bars – it all changes and then they reinvent themselves again. We had that boom time of 3-5 years, but there’s only one place you can go when you’re at the top. I think now, it’s starting to creep up again. There’s lots of lovely bars.” pulseonair.co.uk, facebook.com/MadeInPaisley
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FASHION
STYLE
No longer condemned to opting for weather-appropriate attire over fashioning striking looks, Josef McFadden unveils some patented advice for springtime.
Look one
Blazer, £48, M&S
This season’s casual looks combine 90’s nostalgia with a dapper edge. It’s slightly more refined than high-tops and band T’s, but just as fun. We’re looking at the revival of rugby sweaters and sports stripes, paired with nice fitting mid wash jeans and a fresh trainer.
Jeans, £16, F&F
Trainers, £29, Burton
Trousers, £28, M&S
Jacket, £25, F&F
T-shirt, £6.99, Topman
Rugby shirt, £49.95, Whitestuff
Trainers, £25, Burton ‘Done’ socks, £3.50, Topman
Look two
Spring 2020 is all about being nonchalant, even with your tailoring. Combine a clean shoe with a light toned, double breasted jacket and tailored trouser for your pseudo-formal occasions. A plain white t-shirt tucked will still give a great sense of style and freshness even with smarter attire. 30 MILL
Explore Scotland
Elgol, Skye
Luxury Motorhome & Campervan Hire from an award-winning local company. Our aim at Open Road Scotland is to provide our customers with an unbeatable holiday experience. Whether you want a short break or a longer Scotland touring holiday, we can help you plan and organise your trip. For more information, please call 0141 634 8444. Claim a 5% discount by using code MILL5.
Open Road Scotland Unit 12 - Airlink Industrial Estate Inchinnan Road, Paisley, PA3 2RS Tel: 0141 634 8444 Email: info@openroadscotland.com www. openroadscotland.com
FEATURES
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T-Shirt, £16, headband, £5, both lixie.com. Photo by Mark Gillies.
As the buds begin to grow and light returns to our lives, it re-emerges from the wardrobe too. Captured at Paisley’s Juni Bar, Hannah Mills demonstrates that much-needed injection of colour and vibrancy.
in bloom FEATURES
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FASHION
THIS PAGE: Leggings, £16, shirt, £24, both lixie.com. Photo by Lesley Adams. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dress, £29, blouse, £35, both lixie.com. Glasses, £169, Specsavers. Photo by Natalia Sondej. 34 MILL
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Top, £18, jeans, £29, both lixie.com. Photo by Lesley Adams. 36 MILL
Sweatshirt, £16, skirt, £22 both lixie.com. Photo by Natalia Sondej.
FASHION
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BUY FROM:
Lixie lixie.co.uk
New Look 14 The Piazza Shopping Centre, Paisley, PA1 1E newlook.com
Specsavers 5 Moss Street, Paisley, PA1 1BG specsavers.co.uk
38 MILL
Photographers: Lesley Adams, Antonio Fucito, Mark Gillies and Natalia Sondej. Model: Hannah Mills. Location: Juni 93, 30 Old Sneddon Street, Paisley, PA3 2AL. Special thanks to Scott Cadenhead, Robert Tabor and the HND Photography students at West College Scotland, the staff at Juni 93, Lixie, and the Paisley branches of New Look and Specsavers.
Jacket, ÂŁ19.99, dress, ÂŁ19.99, both New Look. Glasses from Specsavers. Photo by Antonio Fucito.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Darker skin tones are still drastically under represented when it comes to luxury make-up lines but things are changing. Under the direction of Creative Director Lucia Pica, Chanel has extended it’s award-winning Les Beiges line to include deeper shades to suit a wider range of skin tones. The new Eau de Tint is a lightweight, water-based base that’s perfect for a pre-summer glow whatever your colouring. £48 from Chanel counters nationwide.
COLOUR ME KINDER Permanent home colours can often be a bit harsh on the hair and high in chemicals but not so Schwarzkopf’s Only Love. It contains no ammonia, no silicone and no alcohol but is packed with scalp- and hair-friendly oat milk, soy protein and Argan oil. It’s the biz at covering stubborn greys too. From £6.79 and available at Superdrug and larger branches of Boots.
BEAUTY Mill’s very own beauty expert Susie Cormack Bruce regales us with all of spring’s must-haves.
ALL IN HAND
YOU LAVENDER LAUGH? If you think of lavender as an old lady scent, be prepared to be surprised with the modernity of Jo Malone London’s latest Limited Edition Collection, Lavenderland. It features three lavender based colognes – our favourite was Silver Birch & Lavender – along with a Lavender & Musk room diffuser and, wait for it, a pillow spray to aid a restful and scentsational sleep. Couldn’t resist. Prices start at £25. 40 MILL
Finding the perfect pastel polish is a tricky task but the ‘First Lady of Feet’, Margaret Dabbs, suggests going for a soft lilac shade as cool purple/ grey pigments flatter a variety of skin colours. Her own nail colour collection also contains vitamin E to strength and nourish nails and has the most amazing wild rose scent that lasts long after the polish has been applied. £14.
BLUSH-IN-A-RUSH We love a multi-tasking product here at Mill and our current obsession is Pixi’s On-the-Glow Blush. Formulated with Ginseng, Aloe Vera and a unique mix of Fruit Extracts, this tinted balm provides a hint of natural buildable flush of colour, while hydrating and conditioning skin. It’s labelled a blush but delivers a juicy hit of colour to lips too. £18 from pixibeauty.co.uk
Headlines Professional Headache and Aesthetic Services
Headlines Clinic Healthcare innovations in the heart of Renfrewshire.
I
f any medical affliction instils a sense of helplessness in us, it’s headaches. A grim certainty in our lives that tend to emerge at the most inopportune of times, many mistakenly believe us to be powerless to prevent or, at the very least, manage them. Recognised by the World Health Organisation as the third most common disease in the world, Renfrewshire residents suffering from migraines, cluster headaches and similar cranial burdens can now take solace in the arrival of Headlines Clinic. Helmed by Catherine Gillies RGN, the new venture places you in the immensely capable, Health Improvement Scotland-approved hands of an esteemed member of the British Association for the Study of Headache. Possessing over 20 years of experience as a healthcare professional, Catherine has routinely expanded her skill-base and as a result, her clinic is as multifaceted as its proprietor. In addition to her ability to quell and consult upon headaches, the new practice will also offer a range of life-changing cosmetic procedures such as dermal fillers, wrinkle-relaxing treatments, hyperhidrosis for excessive sweating and more. Capable of remedying both medical and aesthetical issues, Catherine and the team have spared no expense when it came to investing in their inventory and, correspondingly, the wellbeing of their clients. Simply put, if you want to ensure that you’re getting the most robust treatment possible, look no further than Headlines. 10 Kingsburgh Drive, Paisley, PA1 3TP, 07540 706797, headlines@virginmedia.com, headlinesclinic.com
Registered
Expert treatment for chronic migraine and cluster headaches. Our aesthetic services including dermal fillers and skin pen micro needling. For more information or to book an appointment, please call us on:
07540 706797
10 Kingsburgh Drive, Paisley, PA1 3TP Email: headlines@virginmedia.com www.headlinesclinic.com
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
A HELPING HAND At a crucial moment in the public’s perception of mental health issues, RAMH are here to erase the stigma and improve lives across Renfrewshire.
RAMH (Recovery Across Mental Health) is a Scottish registered charity (SCO10340) first established in 1978 and based in Paisley, supporting individuals across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire in their recovery from mental ill health. This is carried out by providing immediate support in crisis situations and aiding people in their own homes with individualised care and practical aid. On top of that, they also offer 1:1 counselling alongside a wide range of social, therapeutic, creative, educational and physical activity groups. Other key components of their services include promoting self-management and empowering people to achieve their potential, not to mention supporting carers, family and friends through information and 42 MILL
education with the aim of raising awareness to break down barriers, inequalities and stigma around mental health. At RAMH, the belief that people have the potential to recover from mental ill health is at the forefront. Employed in conjunction with ideals of recovery and support that reinforce hope, respect, and equality, they recognise the individual’s strengths and empowering them to live independent, fulfilled lives. As a third-sector organisation supporting over 7,000 people a year, a great deal of importance is allotted to the support of the local community through both volunteering and fundraising – whether it’s upcycling furniture at the RAMH REstore, or taking on a marathon!
For help in a crisis, please contact FIRST Crisis on freephone 0800 221 8929 or standard rate 0141 848 9090. The team are available Monday-Friday between 9am-8pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-5pm. If you live outside Renfrewshire and need immediate help you can contact Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or Samaritans on 116 123.
With 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health problem in their lifetime, RAMH strive to ensure that the community is equipped with the skills to offer support to friends, family, colleagues or even strangers experiencing a mental health issue. To this end, they provide six mental health related courses ranging from half-day introductory sessions to the two-day, fully-accredited safeTalk and Mental Health First Aid courses. For more information on RAMH, please visit ramh.org, contact by email at enquiries@ramh.org or give them a call on 0141 847 8900 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).
WALLPAPER
FURNITURE
BEDROOMS
DINING
RENFREWSHIRE’S PREMIER HOME FURNISHING STORE
Gael Home Interiors is an independent, family-run business for over 40 years. Visit our vast 8,000 sq ft showroom for a large selection of wallpaper, lighting, furniture, beds and accessories to furnish your home. 4-6 Orchard Street, Paisley PA1 1UZ | Tel: 0141 889 7555 Gaelhomeinteriors
RENFREW
Steeped in its rich heritage but with no shortage of hope for a glistening future, Lawren Matthews takes us through a guided tour of her hometown.
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oyal borough and “Cradle Of The Stewarts”, Renfrew has a storied history and innovative nature that not only shines throughout its past but permeates through to the present day. Generations have lived there with no intention of moving away, largely down to the community spirit that’s upheld by its residents. Together, they have recently reclaimed nature spots in the town, opened allotment gardens and started Remo Rocks, a modern ‘hunt the thimble’ game for local children. On top of the sentiment that’s reflected in all areas of the town, there’s also plenty to see and do. TOWN HALL Easily one of the most awe-inspiring pieces of architecture in the area, 44 MILL
Renfrew Town Hall may look like a mini Disney castle since its 2012 refurbishment but it’s actually been around since 1670. Positioned directly at the town centre, it can be seen near the site of the old Renfrew Castle. The backdrop to many annual events and a launchpad for fireworks during the Christmas lights switch-on, the town hall also contains a museum detailing the history of the area, providing insight into its shipbuilding, aviation and royal connections. TOWN CENTRE The centre upholds the romantic beauty that the town hall conjures up, as large flower beds and trees line the High Street. Local shop owners with street view windows lovingly
perfect their crafts, while Andersons Jewellery Workshop handmake items in gold, silver and platinum to create dream designs for their customers. Boasting award-winning eateries, two Indian restaurants were even honoured in the Scottish Curry Awards 2019. Porterfield Road’s Heera Indian Restaurant won Chef of the Year by voter’s choice, with the nearby Green Gates Indian Restaurant also deserving of plaudits for appearing as a finalist for the South West region’s Restaurant of the Year. ROBERTSON PARK No one grows up in Renfrew without being a regular at Robertson Park. The children’s play area was updated a few years ago, adding even more
Robertson Park ©Keith Hunter Photography
A Love Letter to
Renfrew Town Hall ©Keith Hunter Photography
FEATURES
Inchinnan Road, photo by Lesley Adams
Andersons Jewellery Workshop
fun equipment for the littles one to enjoy. A part of me was sad to see such a large part of my childhood being replaced but looking at the new stuff, you envy the kids that will grow up playing on it. As an adult, I am still able to enjoy the park as it offers more than a playground. During the summer, I like to go for a run around the many smooth paths that border the green fields and duck pond. Did I mention it also has an animal corner and labelled cycling routes? This place has it all, as well as being the location for most gala days when it bursts with colour and life. WHITE CART WALK I remember as a child, my parents taking me on walks along the White Cart Water at the edge of the Porterfield Road roundabout. We would go on bike rides and make
jam from the brambles we collected. At one time, the area fell into a sad state of disrepair, but in recent years, has become a symbol of community spirit after many locals helped clean it by hand and pave the way for the wildlife to return. The paths continue past Renfrew Golf Course, following the River Cart as it makes its way to join the Clyde. CLYDE VIEW PARK Like Robertson Park, Clyde View also has areas for children to play but its most notable feature is how it celebrates and expands on local history. Models along the walkway explain the innovation and bravery that came from the people situated on the Clyde to create new transport. A personal favourite of mine is atop a small hill that overlooks the river and depicts
two men scribing out a poem in their shipyard uniforms. It reads: “The future is waiting to be written, all weather we learn to the task, the sky balanced on our shoulders like the past.” This landmark sits next to the newly constructed Ferry Village. Sometimes, as you stand by the shipyard statues, you can hear the song of the birds that call the Clyde home contrasted by the music playing from the workmen’s radio as they build new housing. A beautiful moment that lets you feel the spirit of our town and that integral union of old and new that makes it so special. Pick up Mill Magazine from Andersons Jewellery Workshop, CK Hair, Judy McFaite Hairdressing, Quality Cards & Gifts, Renfrew Leisure Centre, Renfrew Town Hall, The Ferry Inn and The Hair Boutique. MILL 45
Sights of the
Cinema
As well as shepherding those eager to explore around the country, Open Road Scotland can also make your filmic dreams come true.
S
ometimes, we all need a little guidance. Whether that’s in the vein of a personal issue, in a professional sense or entrusting a stranger with giving you directions, the wisdom of others is there for us to take onboard if we’re willing to do so. When it comes to traversing the awe-inspiring country that we’re privileged enough to call home, one such beacon of knowledge is Open Road Scotland. Handily located near Glasgow Airport at Inchinnan Road, the company are not only renowned for their expertise but, as their enviable 5-star ranking on Tripadvisor will attest to, the friendly and courteous manner in which they interact with their clientele. On top of providing a vast range of motorhomes and campervans that are available for hire, what’s really set them apart and earned their prestige is the chauffeured tours that they offer. Taking all the stress and organisational fracas out of heading off the beaten track towards Scotland’s 46 MILL
untampered beauty, these excursions vary between 1-day trips to week-long jaunts that encompass famed road trips such as The North Coast 500. Conscious of what our nation is most synonymous with, Open Road enable their clients to throw themselves headlong into the dram-drenched world of whiskey and golf through meticulously designed trails or pilgrimages to cultural meccas such as Crieff ’s Glenturret Distillery or the sacred ground of St Andrews’ Old Course. Yet for the disciples of fictionalised worlds, one thing of the things that makes Open Road such a one-stop-shop for national tourism is their specialised film tours. Given its sweeping scenery and awe-inspiring mountain ranges, Scotland’s landscape has been enlisted as the setting for countless Hollywood blockbusters and ingeniously crafted independent flicks alike. In response to the nation’s cinematic lineage, Open Road have devised a series of private location tours that’ll give you the chance to take these iconic sets from your mind’s eye to before your eyes.
TRAVEL
“
GIVEN ITS SWEEPING SCENERY AND AWE-INSPIRING MOUNTAIN RANGES, SCOTLAND’S LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN ENLISTED AS THE SETTING FOR COUNTLESS HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS AND INGENIOUSLY CRAFTED INDEPENDENT FLICKS ALIKE
Eilean Donan Castle
Glen Etive
Jacobite Express on the Glenfinnan Viaduct
Presently, Open Road have three main celluloid-inspired jaunts that they can whisk you off on. Although it may take place in the world that exists through the pillars of Platform 9 ¾, much of the Harry Potter franchise was brought to life within the boundaries of our glorious countryside. Should you opt to transcend the world of the muggles and follow in the footsteps of the wizarding world’s teenage heroes and heroines, Open Road’s popular tour will enable you to venture up to the highlands, emulate the journey that they undertake on the Hogwarts [Jacobite] Express steam train and pass through the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Moving onward from Fort William and Millaig, you’ll then get a chance to bear witness to the Hogwarts Lake at Morar that made its presence felt throughout The Prisoner Of Azkaban. As an additional tidbit, the home of the mythical “morag” was also enlisted for many scenes from Bill Forsyth’s 1983 cult classic, Local Hero. Trading incantations for espionage, Open Road are also capable of taking you into the tuxedoed, gadget-filled
world of the James Bond saga. With the final instalment of Daniel Craig’s run as the iconic agent just around the corner, acquaint yourself with the Scottish Bond that novelist Ian Fleming had initially envisioned by venturing to the site of Skyfall’s climactic scenes. Filmed at Glen Etive, Glencoe and the stunning peaks of Buachaille Etive Mòr, the tour will also venture back to the Pierce Brosnan era by taking you to The World Is Not Enough’s MI6 HQ Eilean Donan castle. Venturing to the small screen, an increasingly popular attraction for would-be screen buffs is Open Road’s Outlander tour. A worldwide phenomenon that’s based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling books, retrace the time-travelling journey of Claire Randall as they escort you to the market town of Falkland, Perthshire’s Doune Castle, the villages of Culcross and Strathpeffer and more. Equipped to take you everywhere from the location of the beach scenes from Chariots Of Fire to the potential home of a spiritual relic in Rosslyn Chapel from The Da Vinci Code, Open Road give film lovers the chance to re-enact the journeys that their cinematic heroes have laid out for them. If that sounds like a dream of yours or a loved one, the only question is: What are you waiting for? For details on all tours, motorhome hiring and everything in between, visit openroadscotland.com. MILL 47
IN A GOOD
Light Often taken for granted rather than carefully thought out, our very own interiors virtuoso Kike Pavlik explains why your home’s illumination merits forward-planning.
Pendant light, £49, cultfurniture.com
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lighting radiates a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk about safely. This can be accomplished with chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures, track lights, pendant or portable and floor lamps. Task lighting helps you engage in specific activities such as reading, sewing, cooking, homework, gaming, eating or watching TV. It can be provided by slim-line, under-cabinet, tape/track lighting, pendant
Hanging lamp, £149, cuckooland.com
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roper lighting design is crucial to comfortable and safe living. It helps you perform tasks with greater ease, enhances relaxation and enables you to enjoy your home to its full potential. The light of choice not only has a functional aspect, but it also creates atmosphere, as well as decorating and enlivening the interior space. When undertaking design, we think about furniture and wall colours but there’s often not a lot of consideration given to how we want our spaces to look in both the day and night time. Consequently, bad lighting design creates a lot of dark corners and abandoned areas, preventing us from using 100% of our living space. As we’re gradually moving out of winter and into the embryonic stages of spring, it’s necessary that we invite as much light as possible into our abodes as it can make a big difference to how you feel about your home. There are three basic types of lighting that work together to illuminate your home: general, task and accent. However, it’s possible to combine the three and light the whole house in a more functional and stylish way. A basic form that’s used to compensate for the absence of sunlight, the general side of things is fundamental to a lighting plan. It provides an area with overall illumination. Also known as ambient lighting, general
PROPERTY & INTERIORS
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lighting, portable or desk lamps. Task lighting should be free of distracting glare and shadows, while remaining bright enough to prevent eyestrain. Accent lighting adds drama to a room by creating visual interest. As part of a decorating scheme, it is used to spotlight paintings, houseplants and sculptures or to highlight the texture of a wall or outdoor landscaping. Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it. This is usually provided by track light, under-cabinet, table lamps, or wall-mounted fixtures. Lighting should be planned to complement your lifestyle. As such, you need to develop a plan that suits your personal needs and those of your family or other cohabitants. When planning your lighting, look at the activities that take place in each room, the atmosphere you want to create and the aesthetical aspects you wish to be highlighted. Keep in mind that light can be absorbed and even wasted in dark-coloured rooms or reflected and used as additional illumination in lighter areas. Because no matter what, we all want to stay in a good light. Kike Pavlik is a Paisley-based interior design student at The Glasgow School of Art. Follow her on Instagram kike.pavlik. MILL 49
PROPERTY & INTERIORS
ON THE UPSWING
For those looking for silver linings amid the darkness of winter, Gordon McGuire from Corum sheds light on the new year property boom.
The Moat House, Elderslie. Offers Over £380,000
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ith the uncertainty around Brexit dissipating and consumer confidence gradually picking up steam, the property market in Scotland has sprung to life in the formative weeks of 2020. According to Rightmove, there has been a 2.3% increase in the price of property being listed for sale, the largest ever increase for this time of year. On top of that, Scotland is expected to see house prices grow by as much as 4% as per the forecasts of both Nationwide and The Halifax. Things are certainly percolating in the world of property and here at Corum, it’s no exception. January saw us list more properties than any previous year and February is following suit. Based upon what’s occurred across the year’s introductory stages, there appears to be a new year boom which is creating a really positive market for people to enter into. To those swithering over whether to sell or not, we can’t stress enough that it’s an ideal time to reach out and get a 50 MILL
valuation. We’re more than happy to have a no-obligation chat and discuss where your home currently sits in the market. As for those looking to buy, the biggest challenge in recent times has been the volume of stock and lack of variety. Consequently, this has been pushing prices up for properties that may not set your own personal heather alight. Fortunately, the new year boom has brought an influx of new homes onto the market, creating a more level playing field for asking price and increasing the quality of option at your disposal. As ever, we are more than happy to discuss your own status as a buyer, seller or both with zero obligation. So, feel free to reach out to Corum and we can get the ball rolling. For more information, contact Corum, 2 Windsor Place, Main Street, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3AF, 01505 691 400, bridgeofweir@corumproperty.co.uk
A fresh start Wild Rose Flowers have uprooted and excitement is in bloom.
E
stablished in Kilmacolm in 2013 by owner Rosie Leslie and senior florist Sally Watson, Wild Rose is an independent flower company which has recently moved from their point of origin to new premises in bustling Hillington Park. As they embark on this exciting new chapter, Rosie informed us of the ethos that guides them and the expertise that they’ve cultivated over the past 7 years. “The focus for this move has been to widen our market, with Hillington being an ideal base to be accessible to central Scotland for weddings and events, provide a larger space for storage and workspace and expand our online business. On top of that, it’s a suitable venue for small events. Ideal for product launches and meet-up, it will be available to rent for this purpose during the year. “Our floral style is wild and rustic,” she continued. “We use a lot of fresh foliage and by doing so, we try to bring a bit of mother nature indoors. Sustainability is of huge importance to us and we do not use any floral foam in our products which is highly toxic to the environment and massively oversaturated within the industry. Favouring natural methods for our arrangements, this minimises the use of plastic in our products and whenever possible, we source flowers that are homegrown in the UK. “With Mother’s Day fast approaching on the 22nd March, we have a selection of bouquets available to order online at our website. In addition, we’re also holding a hand-tie workshop from our studio on 21st March which is a lovely gift for mum, daughters, aunties or friends.” Wild Rose Flowers, Unit No.3, 2-4 Edison Street, Hillington Park, G52 4XN, 0141 891 7053, wildroseflowers.co.uk MILL 51
PAISLEY 2030
As the new decade commences, we transport ourselves into a vision of Paisley’s future. Thankfully, it’s a bright one.
High Street cinema
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ast your mind ten years ahead… What might Paisley town centre look like? Perhaps you could step out your home in the new residential quarter at the heart of town, wander through widened streets and outdoor spaces designed for people, or pop into some of the thriving independent traders on the freshly repopulated High Street. Then, as night-time descends, you sample a range of delicious street food in the town’s new continental food hall, before catching the latest film in its High Street cinema, eventually heading off to one of the many nearby late-night bars. Sound good? That’s the future imagined by the authors of A Vision for Paisley 2030 – a new report containing some radical ideas for how the town centre could evolve. WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH TOWN CENTRES? Town centres matter – they are the front rooms of the community and shape how people feel about them. 52 MILL
That’s true of Paisley – Buddies have fond memories of the bustling High St of days gone by but it would be fair to say the current version pales in comparison. However, we can’t turn the clock back - town centres everywhere are facing the same issues, caused by changes to the way people shop. 20% of retail is now online and the big chains are concentrating on the highest-footfall locations, often purpose-built and out-of-town. The result is empty retail space where locally-minded commerce had once thrived, no longer needed for what it was built for. The question is, what we can do differently? WHAT’S PAISLEY DOING ALREADY? Paisley is using what sets it apart to change the future. As regular Mill Magazine readers will know, the town has loads to offer as a place to live and invest – a great location, transport links and stunning historic buildings, not to mention one of Scotland’s biggest and best major event programmes.
FEATURES
Widened High Street
New Liberal Club
Paisley Centre entrance
Work is already happening to showcase that, with Renfrewshire Council leading £100m of investment in our venues and outdoor spaces, including the work to turn Paisley Museum into a world-class destination by 2022. Naturally, this will bring increased footfall to the town. WHAT IS THE PAISLEY VISION? The Paisley Vision report seeks to build on the above, developed through a first-of-its-kind partnership using Paisley as a test case for solutions to the identified universal issues. Produced by ThreeSixty Architecture on behalf of Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Government and Scotland’s Towns Partnership, it was launched at a special event in the town in late-January by Cabinet Secretary Aileen Campbell MSP. It lays out a series of bold ideas for how the town centre might be reshaped and rebalanced to better meet future need, such as: • Bringing new residents into the town through a mixed-use development on the site of The Paisley Centre, offering commercial space on the ground floor and flats above.
• Concentrating remaining retail (increasingly likely to be niche and independent) and other traders back on to the High Street and other street fronts. • New attractors such as a cinema and food hall, community facilities like a doctor’s surgery and new business such as makerspaces or a hotel. • Potential new uses for prominent vacant sites such as the TA Building, YMCA Building and Liberal Club. • Redesigning streets and spaces around people, outdoor events, clean transport and creating new streets and walkways to open up previously-hidden views. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? It should be stressed that the contents of the report are just ideas and should not be read as concrete plans. They were designed to show what could be possible and spark a conversation among Paisley people about what they want from their town in the future. For full report and accompanying Q&A, visit renfrewshire.gov.uk/paisleyvision MILL 53
FEATURES
RENFREWSHIRE TALKS
In the midst of a local business night, Alan Gray asks attendees how they got there.
Kris Kross, Armoury Tattoo. Kris was looking for somewhere in Scotland to open his family tattoo shop after leaving Australia for his homeland. He settled in Paisley after falling in love with its rich history and yearly events, especially the fireworks.
Claire Guthrie, Caffe Royale. Claire and husband Colin bought the existing caffe after years in the restaurant business. She loves the people who venture through their doors and the friendliness created in their space, with her love of Paisley growing in-line with the town’s regeneration.
Ciaran Crawford, bartender in Gantry. Having worked as a bartender all over Glasgow and Paisley, Ciaran has settled into the West-end style Gantry where he believes he is given the tools to create artistic cocktails for a clientele who are looking for quality over anything else.
Robert Blair, editor and music journalist. After graduating university and honing his craft with Glasgow’s iconic Tenement TV before he became a pedigreed hip-hop writer, the writer locally known as “Rab” is relishing the opportunity to contribute to his hometown as Mill Magazine’s editor.
Susie Mitchell & Elaine Templeton, Taste Buds. After many years of working in the family catering business, the creative sisters decided it was time to branch out on their own by acquiring Taste Buds a couple of years ago. Bringing a touch of nostalgia to their menu alongside tapas nights to keep things interesting, they’ve acquired local and national awards for their hard work and determination.
Lorraine Wark, Active Communities. A health and wellbeing charity based in the old Police Station in Johnstone, Lorraine aims to help those dealing with loneliness and isolation through activities that bring people together.
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CULTURE
shining a light
Now in its third year, the SAMA’s are bringing an eclectic mix of fast-rising stars to Renfrewshire. Andrew Wasylyk
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aving an affinity for your own town is one thing, but when a team from outside the immediate vicinity make a concerted effort to enrich the arts landscape of Paisley, you must be doing something right. Hailing from nearby Glasgow, Richy Muirhead has run the Scottish Alternative Music Awards for a decade now. For three of them, he’s also curated a treasured event in March that goes by the name of the SAMA’S Paisley Takeover. Committed to spotlighting the best talent that the nation has to offer and familiarising Renfrewshire’s residents with them, previous editions have featured everyone from C Duncan, Heir Of The Cursed, Outlines and the genre-bending indie pop of Pronto Mama to the youthful subversions of Sweaty Palms, Crystal and dearly departed local outfit, Sway. In fact, last year saw our soon-to-be
Ela Orleans, photo by Niall M Walker
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editor Robert Blair appear as part of a panel that included actor Scott Reid, The Vegan Leather’s Marie Collins and Renfrewshire Council’s Morag Macpherson to discuss Paisley’s Cultural Identity. Speaking about their return to the now-familiar stomping ground of Paisley Arts Centre, Richy outlined the formulation behind the 2020’s edition’s bill. “I’m delighted to be bringing the festival back for its third instalment,” he proclaimed. “This year we are focusing on a live music programme with four of Scotland’s most exciting alternative artists in some intimate spaces. These events will be stunning and accompanied by moving visuals.” Typifying the versatility and daringness that’s revitalised Scotland’s music scene in recent years, this year’s bill dispenses with genre uniformity in favour of constructing unique and eclectic showcases. On Friday 13th March, attendees will bear witness to the mesmeric sound of Ela Orleans. Born in Poland but based in Glasgow, her 2019 Movies For Ears LP was an appropriately named blend of psychedelia and stirring chamber pop that enchanted listeners the world over. Joining her on the bill is none other than 2019 Scottish Album of the Year Award nominee Andrew Wasylyk, who’ll be providing a stripped-back take on heart-rending and harp-laden sound of The Paralian. Among the most hotly tipped acts the nation has spawned in years, Saturday will allow concertgoers to be enveloped by VanIves’ immersive hybrid of sumptuous R&B and electronica alongside the deeply resonant sound of budding soul troubadour Russell Stewart. A chance to see soon-to-be transcendent stars in intimate venues, get all futher details and tickets via officialsama.squarespace.com.
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CULTURE
Mill editor Robert Blair unveils spring’s essential gigs and forthcoming releases.
GIG KING KRULE Lauded as one of the most chameleonic and boundary-pushing singer/songwriters of the modern era, London’s King Krule is set to embark on a new UK tour and grace one of Scotland’s most hallowed venues along the way. After crafting one of the most insular yet enthralling albums of the last decade with 2017’s The Ooz, don’t miss the 25-year-old renaissance man before he seizes hold of the world all over again with new record Man Alive! Glasgow Barrowland, Saturday 21st March.
Photo by Charlotte Patmore
MUSIC
GIG HORSE April will see Newport-On-Tay’s finest export descend upon Paisley for a rare intimate show. Sporting a formidable and dynamic vocal style that’s only accentuated by her beautifully crafted compositions, Horse’s illustrious career has seen her release 10 albums and tour with a myriad of musical royalty including Bryan Ferry, Tina Turner and song writing extraordinaire Burt Bacharach. Thirty years on from the release of her debut album The Same Sky, come and see why she’s maintained such longevity first-hand. The Bungalow, Friday 3rd April.
ALBUM THUNDERCAT The word virtuoso was practically invented for Thundercat. A phenom of the bass that’s had his services acquired by everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Erykah Badu and the late Mac Miller, he’s set to return to the earthly plain It Is What It Is. Derived from “love, loss, life and the ups and downs,” expect a cosmically soulful masterclass from a titan of modern music. Out 3rd April.
ALBUM BRIAN FALLON Brain Fallon – former The Gaslight Album vocalist – is gearing up to release a new LP, Local Honey. The third of his solo career, its singles have featured warm rhythms of a more mature nature that contrast much of his old punk rock years. Across the record’s succinct eight song tracklist, the musician takes his listeners on a journey of introspection. It’s “definitely one for the headphones,” as Brian has revealed. – Amber Smith 58 MILL
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MILL 59
CULTURE
the sound of renfrewshire
KITTI
Among Scotland’s leading purveyors of soul, we speak to Paisley-born Kitti about her influences, collaborators and journey thus far.
You’ve been working hard for years and underwent a few transformations. Now, do you feel Kitti is the most complete version of you as an artist? “Totally. I was under my own name with the Katie Doyle Quintet for like three years, then Kitty with a ‘y’ but we had to change that because of a Norwegian screamo band (laughs). This is the most authentic I’ve been and it sounds good. A lot of the songs have been written for ages, but I’ve reworked them. I just want to make music that makes you feel good, I don’t want it to be forced in any way.” You strike a unique balance between the contemporary and the icons of yesteryear in your music. Who stands out to you in terms of inspirations? “Definitely early noughties R&B, Mary J Blige and D’Angelo in particular. Then, you’ve got Ella Fitzgerald and all the jazz greats. I love old films as well. Gershwin’s Funny Face soundtrack is a favourite. In terms of new stuff, I love Ari Lennox and this girl from Brighton called Ellie Ingram who’s amazing. It’s all got a groove. It makes you bop.” When it comes to initial singles “Chasing the Crowd” and “Kandy Kissin”, a common thread between them has been an ethos of self-love. Was that a conscious decision on your part? “It wasn’t when I wrote Chasing the Crowd, I think I was 60 MILL
just having a really s**t day. I just questioned myself and that’s where the lyrics came from. It was a case of, ‘why should I feel the need to look a certain way?’ With the second track, it’s a lot more subtle but there’s undertones of it. I just feel like a lot of people forget to look after themselves, I’ve only started doing it recently.” You’ve been entrenched in the Central Belt’s flourishing jazz, funk and soul scene for years now. Do you think it’s overshadowed by the hype that surrounds the area’s guitar-based bands? “It’s there and people are aware of it, but I don’t think they know how good it is. Take a project like Coro. Alto, they’re bringing out four songs a month and doing things that some indie bands wouldn’t dream of. Everyone should know how talented these musicians are.”
What’s your ambition for the future and can we expect a homecoming show in 2020? “A Paisley gig? Possibly, that’s one I’ll need to look into. We’re looking at an EP release in late spring, early summer. It’s a collection that I’ve been working on with producer Thomas McNeice (Gang of Four, Kassidy, The Lafontaines). He’s very jazz influenced and loves old school hip-hop, so working together has been amazing. “When people say things like ‘what does making it mean to you?’ It’s not having a number one hit or being famous, that’s not on my to-do list. For me, it’s having a comfortable life. I just want to live happily. If any of the rest happens, it’s a bonus.”
Check out Kitti’s new single Kandy Kissin on all major streaming platforms.
CULTURE
LITERATURE
Curated by Keira Brown, co-founder of the Paisley Book Festival
BOOK REVIEW Resist: Stories of Uprising edited by Ra Page At a time in society where political demos and protests are rife, Comma Press’ anthology Resist is a significant historical read, considering mass strikes and resistance since the times of Boudica to the neglectful incident of the Grenfell Tower. With fictionalised accounts from Kamila Shamsie, Eley Williams, Donny O’Rourke and Lucy Caldwell among many others, there is a wonderful variety of writing that covers historical events from the Dagenham Strikes to the Radical Wars, the Tottenham Riots to the Battle of Cable Street. With historical accounts alongside each of these essays, this book thoroughly explores radical uprising spanning from 60AD.
A BREEZE OF GOOD FORTUNE By Brian Whittingham At Canal Street’s Railway Path, the church’s wrought-iron gates are padlocked with decay as if the church itself is a prop for a spooky film. We stumble over dry twigs and crunch leaves, squelching mud underfoot, the thorny undergrowth reaching for our ankles as we wind our way past dead headstones consumed by moss. Through this neglect, out of reach and out of touch for none but the intrepid to find; are the remains of Robert Tannahill. His sentinels are a smattering of Yews, Trees of death, that folk-lore believed sucked nourishment from the corpses. Perhaps, with this weaver of life, they sucked out his tunes and poems then regurgitated them into the air to drift far and wide over the years wherever the breeze of good fortune had a mind to travel to touch the hearts and souls and ears of any far flung Paisley Buddies pining for home.
SPOKEN WORD
Nights at the Round Table Nights at the Round Table is a monthly open mic event for poets and local writers to perform their work to a receptive and supportive audience in the back room of Bianco Nero Coffee Shop. This is a free event and five minute slots are available on the evening, longer by arrangement. Come along on the first Tuesday of every month 6:30pm till 8:30pm winter opening hours. Read, relax and listen.
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(Because Robert Tannahill’s death was a suicide, he was initially buried in an unmarked grave, then latterly a monument was erected over his remains, that now lie in Castlehead Church’s cemetry in Canal Street, Paisley.)
The Paisley Book Festival is a partnership between Renfrewshire Leisure and Renfrewshire Council as part of Future Paisley. Future Paisley is an ambitious approach to cultural regeneration that harnesses the power of culture to support positive social change.
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ENTERTAINMENT
©Disney
Rebecca Weinberg finds plenty to keep your eyes and minds occupied this spring
CINEMA MULAN Mulan is next up on Disney’s everexpanding roster of live-action film adaptations. Director Niki Caro is forgoing the musical whimsicality of the 1998 animated classic and has honed in on the gritty realism of a young girl going to war. Chinese actress Liu Yifei stars as the eponymous Mulan, alongside a cast of experienced martial artists, including Yoson An, Donnie Yen, and Jet Li. Historically, Disney’s live-action remakes have been financial successes for the studio and Mulan will be no different. Out 27th March.
As the highly anticipated follow up to director John Krasinski’s surprise box-office hit, A Quiet Place Part II has a lot to live up to. The latest instalment of this sciencefiction horror will feature Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe reprising their roles as the Abbott family. Forced out of their home by deadly alien creatures who are hypersensitive to sound, this trio silently journeys out into the post-apocalyptic wastes to face new dangers while Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy makes his debut as the mysterious Emmett. Out 19th March 64 MILL
Emerald Fennel’s directorial debut has already received rapturous praise from critics at its Sundance Film Festival premiere. The Killing Eve showrunner also wrote the screenplay for this drama thriller, which stars Carey Mulligan as a cunning seductress, seeking revenge on the “nice guys” who ruined her life in college. As a traumatised character who delivers a scathing, outspoken takedown of rape culture, Mulligan’s performance has been described as a career highlight. Out 17th April.
©Focus Features
CINEMA A QUIET PLACE PT II
©Paramount
CINEMA PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
CULTURE
From the silver screen to its compact counterpart, Darren Gibson runs down the top TV STREAMING SELF-MADE: INSPIRED BY THE LIFE OF MADAM C.J. WALKER
©Netflix
Netflix’s upcoming real-life drama retells the story of African-American entrepreneur and activist Madam C. J. Walker, as she battles an antagonistic and prejudiced 19th century America on her way to becoming one of the county’s richest self-made women. Written by her great-great granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles, Walker will be played by Academy Award winning actress Octavia Spencer. Out 20th March.
TV OZARK SEASON 3
©HBO
Marty Byrde returns as the Ozarks-dwelling money launderer whose work becomes intertwined with an array of local crime-lords that’d rather see him disposed of. Details of season three have been kept hush-hush but expect Jason Bateman’s Byrde to delve further into darkness when he and business-partner/wife Wendy (Laura Linney) are pulled apart by an outside force. Concerning his character, Bateman recently claimed that “Marty is on a slippery slope, but he’s not all the way down yet.” Out 27th March.
©Netflix
STREAMING WESTWORLD SEASON 3 Fans of HBO’s western-themed amusement park will learn the fates of android and human characters alike as Westworld returns to screens. Sixteen months on from the finale of season two, The New World - as the third season has been aptly named will revive Ed Harris’ role as the Man in Black and Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores. Out 16th March.
MILL 65 Promising Young Woman.jpg
Dig in! I The sixth annual Paisley Food & Drink Festival is on the way and promises to have something for everyone. 66 MILL
ngrained into the area’s collective social calendar ever since its first edition in 2014, the Paisley Food & Drink Festival is preparing to descend upon the town once more. Growing in leaps and bounds since its inaugural event, this two-day extravaganza of eating and imbibing will take place across Friday 24th & 25th April and comes complete with the sort of tantalising line-up that the region’s foodies have grown accustomed to in recent years. As its tendrils continue to expand beyond the boundaries of its hometown and the acclaim steadily mounts, it’s no surprise that some of neighbouring Glasgow’s most vibrant establishments are decamping to Abbey Close. Setting up shop in the hulking shadow of our most picturesque landmark, Argyle Street’s all-year-round independent street food market PLATFORM will be mimicking what they do when it’s time for TRNSMT by venturing out on excursion. Taken from the iconic surrounds of the former Arches and into the breezy climes of springtime in Renfrewshire, they’re sure to have cuisine to accommodate all manner of taste buds and dietary requirements.
FEATURES
After expanding to a whole weekend for 2018’s festivities, organisers haven’t looked back and, with more still to be announced, they’ve already ensured that this year is laden with high-quality dishes and drinks for revellers to enjoy. For those fond of the aromatic side of the alcohol world, Gin71 have got you accounted for with their tasting sessions. Widely recognised as “Glasgow’s original Caribbean canteen, bar and venue,” The Rum Shack will be bringing their inviting ambience to the town with a fully stocked bar and live music to boot. On Saturday, it would behove those in the market for some lovingly made confectionery to head out and sample the cake and scone-centric wizardry of Three Sisters Bake. Meanwhile, those after something savoury will be happy to know that the Farmers Market will be out in force and catering for every demographic imaginable. Capped off with cooking demonstrations, an array of live entertainment and Renfrewshire Campaign For Real Ale’s beer tent on Bridge Street, both connoisseurs and culinary novices will find no shortage of gastronomic joy during the last Weekend in April. Keep your eyes peeled for further info at paisley.is
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FOOD & DRINK
T
here are some places that instantly imbue you with positive energy as you cross the threshold. When striding into Kilmacolm’s fastest-rising eatery of Cairn, there’s an innate sense that some previously unidentifiable weight has been lifted and that you’re now in safe hands. Rustic and modern in one fell swoop, I’d been informed that it does a roaring trade and it’s very easy to see why. Bustling but not in a way that’s overpowering, Paul and I sit down to peruse what’s one of the more expansive menus that we’ve encountered. Accented by plaintive strains of country music, the tasteful tiling and wooden plinth that Paul sat on initially led me to believe that they’d carefully preserved some original features. When in reality, it was actually constructed in owner David’s garage and festooned with leather donated by the nearby tannery. Operated by an alumnus of nearby St Columba’s High School, Cairn has the tenets of a city-centre attraction but with the welcoming quaintness of a local café. When it comes to the food, Paul and I stick to our well-established dispositions. He headed for the poultry, while I made a beeline for the plant-based delicacies.
LUNCH AT CAIRN Amid a sea of glowing recommendations, Robert Blair heads to Kilmacolm to see what all the fuss is about. Believe the hype.
Handsomely doused in sriracha, the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich (£8.95) was optimised for Paul’s tastes and came with a side of flavourful Cajun fries that I couldn’t resist sampling myself. Meanwhile, I set about devouring a mountainous pile of grilled halloumi, beetroot hummus & mixed greens on some beautiful sourdough bread from Freedom Bakery (£6.50). Washed down with a refreshing latte made from their own “Jaws” roast by Ovenbird Coffee, brokering mutually beneficial collaborations between other Scottish business is clearly pivotal to Cairn’s approach. Much to my delight, the tanginess of the hummus beautifully contrasted the warmth of the halloumi and left just enough room for some confectionery. Opting for a slice of apple crumble and raspberry, white chocolate and pistachio cake respectively, they both looked so appealing that we were compelled to take a half each. As expected, they just as tantalising as the main attractions. Deriving its name from the Gaelic word for “monument”, it’s a fitting epithet for a place that’s making a beeline for the hearts of everyone that pays a visit. Open in the evenings on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. It’s clear that the ethos of #kilmacommerce that emblazons their advertising board is important to them and David greets each patron with a real sense of gratitude and familiarity. Yet with incredible food and a unique ambiance, it’s no surprise that visitors from further afield are clamouring for the Cairn experience. Don’t delay. Cairn, 1 Drumpellier Place, Kilmacolm, PA13 4HE, 01505 871893, cairn-kilma.com
68 MILL
Your Journey of Indulgence READ OUR REVIEW ON PAGE 64
The Little Dessert Shop is a vibrant and friendly place which offers our customers the finest dessert experience. Whether it’s a catch up with a friend, a birthday or a celebration, the Little Dessert Shop is perfect for life’s sweeter moments.
SOAR @ INTU Braehead Unit 18, King’s Inch Road Glasgow PA4 8XQ 0141 328 3491
WINNER OF
Best Eatery At Scotland’s Business Awards 2019
Offering some of the finest food in Renfrewshire, Juni is an award-winning, stylish bar and restaurant providing excellent service in relaxed surroundings. We have DJs and karaoke every weekend so come along and enjoy the fun.
J U N I BA R Bar | Restaurant | Gin Lab 30 Old Sneddon Street, Paisley, PA3 2AL 0141 887 3141, junipaisley@aol.com
Photo by Dave Muir, muirmedia.co.uk
FOOD & DRINK
DINNER AT LA BANCA
Known for their exquisite taste and passion, we sent Renfrewshire Foodies on assignment to this incredible Neilston Road eatery.
T
ucked away in a former bank building on Paisley’s Neilston Road, La Banca Italian provides hearty Italian fare, generous portion sizes and an extensive menu designed to suit all ages. We received a warm welcome from owner Rachel on a wet and windy Thursday night in January. Positioned at a quiet corner table, this allowed us to enjoy a chat during dinner without missing out on the atmospheric hum in the background. It was lovely to see a local independent restaurant so busy during the week and we spotted a real mix of diners, ranging from older groups of friends, to large families and the odd couple out to enjoy the traditional Italian dishes. We started off our evening by sharing a plate of Italian bread and oil, which owner Rachel told us comes from a small Italian bakery in Renfrew, paired with a caprese salad (£5.50) to share. Having seen other diners’ meals arriving, we knew we wouldn’t leave hungry, so chose to split a starter so we could keep room for dessert. Next up, the mains arrived. One of us went for a classic take on Italian meatballs (£9.95), serviced with orecchiette pasta which made a change from bland old spaghetti. Served in a rich and tasty tomato-based sauce, it was topped off with a lashing of parmesan. The other 70 MILL
Renfrewshire Foodie went for a vegetarian main (of which there were several options available), enjoying a risotto verde (£9.25) served with mixed green vegetables, courgettes, spinach, broccoli and peas. It arrived looking incredibly vibrant and was smooth and creamy. The menu is vast, with a wide array of starters priced between £4-£7 and mains ranging from pasta to pizza, meats, chicken and a selection of sides. There was a good selection of main dishes for less than £10, which is great if you’re on a budget. Although we were getting full, everyone knows dessert goes straight to the heart, not the stomach. The panna cotta (£4.95) was recommended by the owner and was delicious – strawberry in flavour and complete with the obligatory wobble! We also tried the warm vanilla brownie and ice cream (£4.95). Both were devoured in minutes. La Banca is the ideal venue for an affordable family gathering. It’s modern, spacious and there’s a big enough menu that even the fussiest of family members should find something to enjoy. La Banca, 63 Neilston Road, Paisley, PA2 6NA, 0141 887 1100, labancapaisley.co.uk
Business Matters in Renfrewshire
FEATURES
your local B2B networking event
Thursday 14th May The Lagoon – Paisley Promote your business to over 50 companies & 400 + attendees
Sponsored by
#b2bpaisley
OW! N D N TA S R O IT IB H X E R BOOK YOU Event is free to attend with cost to exhibit • Members: £150+vat • Non Members: £250+vat
Email: lconnor@renfrewshirechamber.com MILL 71
FOOD & DRINK
FOOD NEWS Savoury afternoon tea from Taste Buds
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s we and the rest of Renfrewshire have grown accustomed to, the ladies at the award-winning Taste Buds have come with up the goods once again. What you’re feasting your eyes on is their new savoury afternoon tea, consisting of a chicken tikka skewer with riata dip, cheese scone with cream cheese and chutney, sausage roll, sandwiches, finger rolls and mini quiche, ploughman’s cracker and vol-au-vents. This buffet was 72 MILL
Photo by Lesley Adams Photography
consumed shortly after our photographer was finished and we can confirm it was delicious. In particular, we loved the savoury take on the cheese scone with cream cheese & chutney; it works so well. A new attraction from the heralded team, the savoury afternoon tea is available for the introductory offer price of £10 and you need to book 24 hours in advance, call 0141 889 955522. Taste Buds, 22 Lawn Street, Paisley, PA1 1HF.
BISHOPTON Angelini’s Pizzeria & Cafe 76 Greenock Road, PA7 5JB Ingliston Country Club & Hotel Old Greenock Road, PA7 5PA May’s Coffee Shop 19 Greenock Road, PA7 5JW
BRAEHEAD
Evans Cycles Soar, King’s Inch Road, PA4 8XQ Intu Braehead Shopping Centre, King’s Inch Road, G51 4BN Little Dessert Shop Soar, King’s Inch Road, PA4 8XQ
BRIDGE OF WEIR
Bernie’s Cafe Deli Main Street, PA11 3PN Harrods Dry Cleaners 8 Castle Terrace, PA11 3EF Ice Mania 13 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN Laura’s Nail & Beauty Lounge 37 Main St, PA11 3NR The Coach House 31 Main Street, PA11 3NR The Lion’s Paw 1 Morrison Place, PA11 3NU Tulip Hair Design Unit 10, 23 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN
ELDERSLIE
Butchers Steak & Grill 133 Main Road, PA5 9ES Elderslie Coffee Shop 11 Stoddard Square, PA5 9AS Hairpod 16A Canal Street, PA5 9AU
ERSKINE
Erskine Swimming Pool Bridgewater Centre, PA8 7AA Look Opticians Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA Pandamonium Play Centre 53 Kilpatrick Drive, PA8 7AF The Erskine Bridge Hotel & Spa Riverfront, PA8 6AN
HILLINGTON
Ducati Glasgow 6 Mossland Drive, G52 4FA Origins Fitness 22 Earl Haig Road, G52 4JU The Experience Montrose Avenue, G52 4JR West Coast Harley-Davidson 8 Mossland Drive, G52 4FA
HOUSTON
The Carrick Centre Coffee Shop Main Street, PA6 7HD The Fox & Hounds South Street, PA6 7EN The Paper Shop North Street, PA6 7HF
HOWWOOD
Bowfield Hotel & Country Club Bowfield Road, PA9 1DZ The Boarding House Main Street, PA9 1BQ
INCHINNAN
The Farm at No.12 12 Brownsfield Holding, Barnsford Road, PA4 9LZ
Where to pick up Mill Over 140 stockists across Renfrewshire
JOHNSTONE Cafe Fairfull Hairpod 62A High Street, PA5 8SJ Johnstone Coffee Co. 71 High Street, PA5 8QG Johnstone Sports Hub Beith Road, PA5 0JA Johnstone Town Hall 25 Church Street, PA5 8EG Lynnhurst Hotel Park Road, PA5 8LS No. 8 66 High Street, PA5 8SG Optical Express 28A High Street, PA5 8AH Papamacs Gourmet Kitchen 5 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT Quality Cards & Gifts 2 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT Signature Permanent Cosmetics 6-8 Walkinshaw Street, PA5 8AB The Wee Cafe @ 47 47 High Street, PA5 8AJ KILBARCHAN Bobbins 25 Steeple Street, PA10 2JF KILMACOLM Cairn 1 Lochwinnoch Road, PA13 4HE Cross Cafe Port Glasgow Road, PA13 4ET LINWOOD On-X Linwood Brediland Road, PA3 3RA Linwood Farm 1 Hillhead Drive, PA3 3FB Premier Inn Phoenix Retail Park, PA1 2BH The Salon 15 Napier Street, PA3 3AJ Tweedie Hall and Library 15 Bridge Street, PA3 3DB
LOCHWINNOCH
Bluewater Dentist 69 High Street, PA12 4AB Castle Semple Cafe Lochlip Road, PA12 4EA Cucina Minucci 2 High Street, PA12 4DA Handcrafted Coffee 2 High Street, PA12 4DB Now & Then 8 Church Street, PA12 4AD RSPB Largs Road, PA12 4JF
PAISLEY
Abbey Mill Business Centre 12 Seedhill Road, PA1 1JS Bella & Fella Sir James Clark Building, PA1 1TJ Bianco Nero Coffee Shop 27 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Black & Lizars 6 New Street, PA1 1XY Blend Coffee Lounge 25b Causeyside Street, PA1 1UL Brick Lane Studios Weir Street, PA3 4DW Bull Inn 7 New Street, PA1 1XU
12A High Street, PA1 2BS Cafe Lusso 4 School Wynd, PA1 2DB Caffe Royale 71 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE Cardosi Espresso Bar 65 High Street, PA1 2AS Cloud 9 Deli 9 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP Comicrazy 45 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AN Courtyard by Marriott Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport Business Park, PA3 2SJ Claire Reid Hairdressing 7 Mill Street, PA1 1LY DP Group Mirren Court, 119 Renfrew Road, PA3 4EA Elixir Lounge 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Eve Spa 11 Christie Street, PA1 1NB Finishing Touches 7 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Fullerton Chiropractic 7 Neilston Road, PA2 6LL Gael Interiors 4 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ Gantry 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Graphic Hair Design 67 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PD Grumpy Monkey 22 Moss Street, PA1 1BA HeadLox UK 71 Neilston Road, PA2 6NA Hilton’s Hair & Beauty 8a St Mirren Brae, PA1 1UA Iain Stewart Hairdressing 97 Causeyside Street, PA1 1TU Iconic Fitness 10-12 Lawn Street, PA1 1HA Incube 27 High Street, PA1 2AF Incube Shop 9b Gilmour Street, PA1 1DG Ivad Gifts 95 Causeyside Street, PA1 1TU, 29 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Jam Jar 16 Shuttle Street, PA1 1YD James Martin Hairdressing 74 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YP Jewelfare 44A High Street, PA1 2DQ Kennedys 33 Causeyside Street, PA1 1UL Kenneth Edwards 45 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YN La Banca 63 Neilston Road, PA2 6NA Lagoon Leisure Centre 11 Christie Street, PA1 1NB Lixie Boutique 14 New Street, PA1 1XY Milton Watermill Hotel Bladda Lane, PA1 1SR My Hair Guru 48 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW
Napier Hair & Beauty 136 Neilston Road, PA2 6QH Obsession of India 32 Moss Street, PA1 1BA Orchard Clinic 16 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ Paisley Abbey Abbey Close, PA1 1JG Paisley Arts Centre 15 New Street, PA1 1EZ Paisley Physiotherapy 13 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AG Piazza Shopping Centre Central Way, PA1 1EL Pro-Life Fitness Centre 98 New Sneddon Street, PA3 2BD Rainbow Turtle 7 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP Remode 43b High Street, PA1 2AH Rowantree Café 165 Glasgow Road, PA1 3LF Shoe 52 5 Mill Street, PA1 1LY Skirlies Cafe 4 Broomlands Street, PA1 2LR Soho Salon 35 High Street, PA1 2AF Taste Buds 22b Lawn Street, PA1 1HF The Gatehouse Coffee Roasters Benn Avenue, PA1 1JS The Lane 7 Shuttle Street, PA1 1YD The Ugly Duck 38 High Street, PA1 2DQ The Wee Howff 53 High Street, PA1 2AN TRC Hair & Beauty 8b Glasgow Road, PA1 3QA Up Hub Works 34 High Street, PA1 2DQ White Cart Company 75 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE, 30B High Street, PA1 2BZ With Love Flowers 48 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YH Woodlands Coffee House 44 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Zambretto 42 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AP
QUARRIER'S VILLAGE
The Sourcery Faith Avenue, PA11 3TF Three Sisters Bake Faith Avenue, PA11 3TF RENFREW Andersons Jewellery Workshop 38 High Street, PA4 8QP CK Hair 44 Canal Street, PA4 8QD Quality Cards & Gifts 17 Canal Street, PA4 8QE Renfrew Leisure Centre Paisley Road, PA4 8JL Renfrew Town Hall Hairst Street, PA4 8PF The Ferry Inn 1 Clyde Street, PA4 8SL The Hair Boutique 28 High Street, PA4 8QP
RENFREWSHIRE LIBRARIES
Now available from all Renfrewshire Libraries
MILL 73
LAST WORD
PEOPLE
Among the country’s most hotly tipped singer/songwriters, get acquainted with Glenburn’s own John Rush.
Have you noticed the momentum building over recent months or has it been a gradual process? I’ve been playing for what seems like an absolute age, there’s definitely been moments where I’ve thought, ‘gee it a by, you’re never gonna be Liam Gallagher’. After the album’s release in April 2019, it’s kinda snowballed. Playing on the same bill as The Byson Family and being accepted as a peer made the slog worthwhile. Getting the opportunity to come along and play The Spree was unbelievable too. I’m just enjoying it until the wheels fall off. You’re signed to Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5’s 23 Music. Was it important to join a roster that prioritises artistic freedom? Colonel Mustard’s David Blair has been instrumental. It’s all about enjoying the process and making folk happy. That sort of vibe can only rub off on you in a positive way. Your new single Gold and Green is a stirring piece of balladry with a similarly touching video. Is that a taster of things to come? The track has been a long time coming. Initially written in Led Zeppelin 74 MILL
Photo by David Cameron, @defiantpose
Hailing from Glenburn, have you always had aspirations of being a songwriter? My Mum was into Marc Bolan and my Dad loved Elvis so I grew up with music, but I think it would be hard not to be inspired by Paisley’s musical heritage. Gerry Rafferty is at the back of any buddies’ mind, but I always think of John Byrne. Knowing that a guy from Ferguslie who’d worked in the same factory as my dad did artwork for the Beatles and Billy Connolly definitely inspired me to do something creative. I’ve even copied his beard and love of a good tweed jacket!
Q&A SONG YOU WISH YOU’D WRITTEN? Paolo Nutini − Iron Sky FAVOURITE LOCAL BAND? The Vegan Leather, they should and will be huge in the next few years FAVOURITE PUB IN PAISLEY? The Bungalow has many memories for me, I’d love to get on that stage again
style around 15 years ago, I always loved the imagery. When I started playing acoustically, it was a natural fit. It’s one of my favourites to play and the Spotify numbers suggest I’m not alone. The job Neil [McKenzie] did on the video is exceptional. Once we heard that we could access the Barrowlands, it felt like the stars aligned. Special shout out to Patricia Payne and her dance partner Peter Leach for performing. For the uninitiated, what can they expect from your biggest headline show to date at the illustrious St Luke’s? Well, I do have a few things happening. The 23 extended family are coming to play and augment the songs a little. There’ll also be a few exclusives. I’m particularly excited by a track called The Older the Grape, The Sweeter the Wine. Getting older doesn’t always mean you’re for the bin bag! John plays St Luke’s and The Winged Ox on Thursday 7th May.
SCOTLAND’S HOSPITAL AND CLEANROOM VALIDATION EXPERTS
Correctair Solutions are a heating, ventilation and air conditioning commissioning company based in Paisley. We specialise in cleanroom validation and hospital SHTM03-01 critical path ventilation compliance. • • • • • • • • •
HTM CRITICAL VENTILATION VALIDATION/VERIFICATION DQ, IQ, OQ & PQ CLEANROOM VALIDATION SPECIALISTS HEPA FILTER DOP TESTING MBSC CLASS I, II & III – SERVICE/VALIDATION ISOLATOR TECHNOLOGY – SERVICE/VALIDATION COSHH LEV SURVEY & MAINTENANCE COMMISSIONING OF WATER SERVICES COMMISSIONING MANAGEMENT KI DISCUS TESTING
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SOLUTIONS (SCOTLAND) LTD Unit RO7 Trident House, 175 Renfrew Road, Paisley, PA3 4EF Tel: 0141 887 4933 Mobile: 07825 211749 Email: accounts@cssltech.co.uk
