Mill issue 11 | November/December 2020

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Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire The Kari Corbett Interview Ferguslie’s unbreakable spirit Renaissance man Tom Urie

Please take this magazine away with you

Renfrewshire is home to lots of undiscovered outdoor gems.

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CONTENTS FEATURES 04 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Tales of rebirth 06 CRAFTER’S CORNER Artisanal and confectionary-based gifts 08 MR FABULOUS Our roving reporter’s latest adventures 10 REIGNITING THE FIRE The Sma’sh Hits Collective 12 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PANDEMIC STYLE Meet the New Buddies Network Officer 15 COMPASSION OVER COMMERCE Morrisons at Anchor Mill 18 RISING UP How Ferguslie took control of their own destiny 30 CELLULOID DREAMS Paisley’s illustrious cinema heritage 46 A LOVE LETTER TO ERSKINE Written by Cathie Devitt

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INTERVIEWS 26 KARI CORBETT Back and more determined than ever 50 TOM URIE We speak to the multi-talented, Paisley-born entertainer 56 THE SOUND OF RENFREWSHIRE With singer/songwriter Cara Rose 66 THE LAST WORD Master barber Roberto Gelali LIFESTYLE 32 REFASHIONED Upcycled fashion styled by ReMode 38 BEAUTY Products and treatments 42 WORKING 9 TO 5 Kike’s tips for a vibrant home office 44 PROPERTY The latest from Corum 48 TRAVEL James Smith’s staycation

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CULTURE 55 MUSIC, LITERATURE, POETRY, ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE FOOD & DRINK 62 DINNER Multan Tandoori 64 LUNCH Johnstone Coffee Co.

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INTRODUCTION

A WORD FROM OUR EDITOR 011

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE ISSUE 011 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

“I can’t wait to see the back of this year.”

Whether you’re meeting a pal for coffee, commiserating with an elderly relative or screaming into the void, this has become a familiar rallying cry in not only our community, but around the world. Beset by protracted plans and postponed trips, you’d be forgiven for being disheartened by everything the past nine months have lobbed at us.

But when it comes down to it, we should take great pride in the fact that we salvaged what we could. Left with plenty of time to soul-search and speculate, every one of us is more certain of who we love, what we want and what truly enriches our lives more than ever before. Meaning that when it’s time to come out of our cocoons, we’ll do so with a startlingly clearer purpose.

Normally, the pages of our November/ December edition would be besieged by festive events and holiday cheer. But in lieu of that, a new, more prescient motif has emerged and it is one of rebirth. From Kari Corbett’s return to acting and the grit that’s been shown by each and every local business that made this issue a reality to the civic pride that’s powered Ferguslie’s phoenix-like rise, we’ve extracted great strength from these stories of courage and persistence. Now, we hope you can too.

Just remember, it may look wintry and desolate now, but brighter days are inbound, both figuratively and literally.

So, let’s round off 2020 with one final long-form ode to this resilient community that remains so near and dear to our hearts.

Rest assured; we’ll see you again soon.

Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire The Kari Corbett Interview Ferguslie’s unbreakable spirit Renaissance man Tom Urie

Please take this magazine away with you

Kari Corbett cover photo

by Graeme Hewitson

millmagazine_

millmagazine

All the best

Robert Blair

millmagazine

Robert Blair, Editor

Keep in touch with Robert and the Mill team via social media or email editor@millmagazine.co.uk 4 MILL

millmagazine.co.uk

Published by Mill Magazine Ltd. 2014 Mile End Mill, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley, PA1 1JS. Editor: Robert Blair Design & Sales: Paul Dickson Beauty Editor: Susie Cormack Bruce Interiors Editor: Kike Pawlik Men’s Fashion Editor: Josef Mcfadden Travel Editor: James Smith Sub Editor: Alistair Forrest Contributors: Lesley Adams, Gozie Joe Adigwe, Keira Brown, Chris Bryson, Ali Burden-Blake, David Cameron, John Cooper, Cathie Devitt, Thomas Graham, Christopher Grayson, Graeme Hewitson, John Masson, David McClure, Gordon McGuire, Neil Mclean, James Smith, Terry McTernan, Craig McWilliams, Brian Whittingham, ReMode and Renfrewshire Foodies

To advertise in Mill, please call 0773 998 9969 or email paul�millmagazine.co.uk Produced on environmentally friendly chlorine-free paper derived from sustained forests. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices are correct at time of going to press but subject to change.

The content of all advertisements in this publication is the responsibility of the advertiser and is received in good faith. Mill Magazine cannot be held responsible for any erroneous advertising content. The opinions expressed in Mill Magazine are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers who cannot be held responsible for actions taken as a result of the content of this magazine. © Mill Magazine Ltd 2020.

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FEATURES

A DATE WITH MR FABULOUS Our roving reporter’s adventures around Renfrewshire and beyond.

SOMETIME

LOVE TOWELS If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you that I just love all things luxury and have a real soft spot for posh hotel white towels and sumptuous bathrobes. So, when Paisley’s new start-up business Love Towels asked for a date with Mr Fabulous, I couldn’t resist.

I met owner Margaret and I was immediately blown away with her enthusiasm for her products. I was presented with a custom ‘Mr Fabulous’ towel and, well, what can I say except I am now Love Towels No 1 fan! As their motto explains, ‘Buy Once, Buy Right’.

Discover this experience for yourself and make this a fabulously fluffy white Christmas for the ones you love this festive season. Easily accessible online from anywhere at any time and delivered direct to your door, make sure these luxurious goods are on your Santa list.

SoMEtime proved to be like a treasure trove; the retail area of Paisley’s Wellbeing Centre sells items related to all manner of therapies such as crystals, aromatherapy, bath salts and Himalayan salt lamps alongside a whole host of beautiful items in the shop.

Natalie is a sports and remedial therapist supporting stress management and acupressure at work sessions within corporate settings, ranging from small local companies to large office environments. Her vast treatment list also includes Indian head and Thai foot massages, which has allowed her to offer a holistic approach to helping her clients. Natalie’s unfaltering passion for helping others with their pain shines through and she’s affiliated with a number of organisations including the amazing ladies’ St Mirren Football Club. Well, now I certainly know where I’ll be going if I have any pains that need to be vanquished.

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ALL THAT’S DELICIOUS All That’s Delicious is a multiaward-winning artisan producer of scrumptious handmade Scottish tablet and a fabulous range of baking mixes.

Currently, their products can be found in farm shops, coffee shops, gift shops and delicatessens across Scotland.

They were delighted to announce that they recently picked up prizes at the Great Taste Awards 2020 for both their traditional Scottish tablet and salted caramel tablet from The Guild of Fine Food. My fabulous favourite had to be their prize-winning chocolate orange tablet but they have a huge selection of other flavours for all palettes.

Business owner Sharron set up after working as a professional chef for high-end establishments including the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire and a litany of luxury cruise ships.

During this time, Sharron collaborated with Britain’s renowned celebrity chefs such as Gary Rhodes and Marco Pierre White, helping to set up their first fine dining restaurants at sea. This experience gave her the inspiration and confidence to create her own bespoke brand based in North Ayrshire.

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Keep up with Mr Fabulous’ adventures via his Facebook, Twitter (@Mr_Fabulous2803) and Instagram @Mrjustfabulous.

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Worth its Weight in Gold A master of her craft, independent watch and jewellery expert Sammantha Maclachlan is here to demystify the valuation process.

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Spurred on by her unquenchable passion for her trade, Sammantha has over 17 years of experience in the industry and her one-stop service encompasses everything from measuring & grading to gemstone care and photography.

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MILL 9

Fire

Reignitingthe

Although lockdown is taking its toll on Renfrewshire’s musicians, Sma’sh Hits’ New Music Collective is here to keep morale high and ideas ticking over.

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f there’s any sector that’s been sent into a tailspin by lockdown, it’s the arts. Relieved of the ability to perform, this inability to go out and harness the audience’s energy has been an alienating experience.

Launched at the end of last month, Sma’sh Hits New Music Collective is looking to not only dispel that dismay, but allow for creativity to flourish within these revised confines.

In the view of Marie Collins, Renfrewshire Leisure’s Music Project Producer and vocalist/guitarist in Paisley’s beloved art-pop outfit The Vegan Leather, this project is coming along at the perfect time.

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“A big part of our role is to connect with the wider artistic community in Renfrewshire,” Marie explains, “So, myself and RL’s arts producers thought that having these artist meet-ups within the different media would be a great way to connect with the people that are making stuff. It helps to cultivate a scene and I think with everything that’s happened this year, it’s more crucial than ever to create that support network.”

“It’s always great for musicians to get together, collaborate and bounce ideas around as keeping that community alive is so important.

Considering that artists are feeling

like their vocations are being undermined at the minute, it’s so important to provide some validation,” she declares.

Where many feared that artists would down tools, the uptake that Sma’sh Hits has had suggests that Renfrewshire’s musicians have refused to let all their passion peter out. As a result, Marie believes that these conference calls can account for a small dose of the camaraderie that normally arises from gigging together.

“I think that’s definitely what we’re trying to foster, as It’s a great way to share things in real-time and have the connection that you’d normally

FEATURES

“WITH THE EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY THAT’S SPRUNG UP FROM LOCKDOWN, WE’VE REALISED THE POWER OF COLLABORATION” achieve through open mic nights or putting on a gig. It’s a free space where people can share exciting things, or be vulnerable and vent their frustrations. We know it’s not exactly a substitute, but it’s a step that we can take in the meantime.”

Although the virtual constraints aren’t ideal, Marie revealed that they’ve had the happy side effect of aligning artists from disparate influences in a way that the echo chamber of genre normally prevents.

“The first meet-up encompassed artists from across the board, with all sorts of ages and styles,” she revealed. “There were songwriters and more technically inclined people, not to mention post-punk musicians, jazz artists and saxophone players.

They were all so enthused about being in the same meeting space together and when I asked what the main thing that they wanted to get out of this was, everyone said collaboration.

So, that can only be a good thing.

I think if you’re into a certain genre, you tend to hang out in those circles, so this digital model has actually connected a wide range of people that might’ve never came into each other’s orbit otherwise.”

Rather than stopping there, Marie and the group have plans to take this from the online terrain to something more substantial when the world permits them to.

“Within the first chat that we had, there was a sense that we really want to be networking at a more national level. Meaning that we’d try and

Cameron Fletcher

Evelyn Laurie

Lesley Wallace

Ciaran Whyte

get ourselves to big industry-events like Wide Days and XpoNorth to ensure that Renfrewshire really has a presence.

“Also, we’ll be meeting up in venues to share songs, collaborate in person and host open mic nights for that social element. To be honest, it really boils down to what the group wants as there’s scope to go bigger, whether that’d be producing their own label or anything in between. I’m very keen for it to be totally up to them.”

Operated as a democracy, Sma’sh Hits’ new collective has become a means of taking the insularity out of the local music scene and replacing it with unity. And when speaking to Marie, it’s clear that this is one of the by-products of the project that she’s most excited about.

“It’s definitely propelled the scene to come together. Beforehand, there was an individualistic thing where people, including me, focused on ‘this is my band and this is what I need to be doing’. With the emphasis on

community that’s sprung up from lockdown, we’ve realised the power of collaboration,” she proclaims.

“Between my role as music project producer and being in a band that’s so grounded in Renfrewshire, it’s a match made in heaven. As for me, it was those early open-mic nights and attending The Paisley Songwriter’s Guild at The Bungalow that let me know I was being supported.

Now, we’ve got a real collective where we can do all that, but also host workshops and masterclasses where people can develop skills in the business side, livestreaming, social media or whatever they need.

We’re hoping to do it monthly and are always looking for more people to join. It’s just a really positive thing.”

The next Sma’sh Hits music meet-up is scheduled for Wednesday 11th November. For more information on how to join, contact marie.collins@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

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FEATURES

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Pandemic Style

Beset by adverse circumstances from the off, Engage Renfrewshire’s New Buddies Network Officer tells us how she adapted for the good of the area.

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ozie Joe Adigwe began work in her new post with the Third Sector Interface (TSI) at Engage Renfrewshire during strange times. With kind support from The National Lottery Community Fund, two years’ worth of investment was secured for a New Buddies Network Officer. The need for the post was evidenced through the significant rise in the ethnic diversity of Renfrewshire over the last 10 years and additionally, through collaborative working between local partners, who are committed to supporting inclusive activities and equitable access to services for minority communities.

However, lockdown measures meant she didn’t get the chance to start her first day in her new role flanked by her new colleagues in the office. Seven months into her post, she has yet to set foot in Engage Renfrewshire’s Ferguslie Park headquarters.

“What was a ‘New Buddies Network officer’ anyway?” She wrote in an April blog post. “I read on and as I did, I noticed there was really nothing about this job that I didn’t feel drawn too – both in the specifics of the role and my confidence to deliver.

“At this point, COVID-19 was something that was happening in far-off places, attracting some press interest but nothing more than that.

“On the day of the interview, I left early to make sure I didn’t get caught up in the promised snow. Arriving at Falcon Crescent, getting out of the car and entering reception, it suddenly hit me – I was super nervous!”

Gozie reflected. “To my delight, they offered me the job that afternoon and I was chuffed to bits.”

“So, what did this first few days look and sound like?

Well, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and a general laptop fixation became the routine. I smiled a lot and listened

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even harder, maybe taking too many erratic notes along the way. I chased my son and husband out of the kitchen, with the sound on mute and video off, of course. How odd to meet your new team and partners in this way? It wasn’t insurmountable by any means, as I had the same aims from the kitchen table.”

Gozie has been working with local Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community groups to support pandemic response needs, signpost training/funding and celebrate diversity through partnership planning of Renfrewshire’s Black History Month 2020 celebrations.

Her focus will include health inequalities (access to services/information/language support), employment (modern apprenticeships/retraining/employment opportunities) and building relationships to ensure that local activity fits with strategic planning and to ensure attention is drawn to the needs and assets of local diverse communities. The time seems right to come together to build better communities, challenge inequality and celebrate diversity. As such, the New Buddies Officer is keen to work with anyone sharing those aspirations.

Contact Gozie on 07736 927 440 or email her, cjoeadigwe@engagerenfrewshire.com.

FEATURES

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FEATURES

Compassion over Commerce At Morrisons’ Anchor Mills, Community Champion Sharon Dennison is dismantling the idea that big chains are all take and no give.

Photo by Chris Bryson

G

enerally speaking, supermarkets are viewed as monolithic structures that are only concerned about their own bottom line. Built to guide you in-and-out with as little human interaction as possible, conventional logic would suggest that where their customers are concerned, they’re merely numbers on a till receipt.

In a break from this traditional perception, Morrisons at Anchor Mills and their community champion Sharon Dennison are providing a blueprint for how a store can actually form a pillar of the area that it’s situated in.

Although it was a position that was minted five years ago, Sharon has made a huge impact since taking the reins this past January.

“The position used to just be one day a week,” Sharon revealed, “but it’s become full-time while all of this has been going on. I think everyone’s realised how important it is. I love doing it, I went through a bit of a bad time myself and I don’t think I could go back to doing a normal

job in the store. I get a lot of fulfilment from this role.

Recently, it was this store’s 15th birthday and we had 27 members of staff that’ve been here from day one. So, that tells you something about the place. We do a lot with the foodbanks. Morrisons, as a company, has put £10 million worth of donations in since the start of the pandemic and that’s still ongoing. I get a palette in every week and it goes directly there.”

From working with community police and primary schools to providing food bags for sheltered housing, working with nurseries and everything in-between, Sharon has become the engine behind the store’s charitable activities. And while it behoves any business to exercise social responsibility, store manager Scott Balfour sees Sharon’s work as part of a conscious effort to those in need with a familiar face to place their trust in. Plus, he’s quick to heap praise on Sharon’s empathy and most importantly, understanding.

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FEATURES

“The company wanted to make more bonds with the community, particularly as there were a lot of problems arising when it came to food shortages, so, we needed a figurehead. When I see Sharon interacting with people that have special needs, sensory issues or learning difficulties, it’s amazing,” he beams, “Sometimes, they might find it a little uncomfortable but time after time, she brings them in and it becomes like a friendship.”

Although they may be a multinational chain, the community champion role and the free rein that Sharon is granted means that Morrisons’ good deeds can be felt at that crucial grassroots level.

“We try to focus it all as locally as possible,” Scott stresses.

“The charity model that I always admired was Clyde1’s Cash4Kids because the money went into the local areas and I think this is similar.”

Upon meeting Sharon, her irrepressible enthusiasm makes it clear that she’s perfect for the job.

As such, the store’s willingness to let her lead with humanity over pursuing sales at any cost has meant that she can optimise their services to match the needs of those who should benefit.

Sharon, left, donating to St James Primary

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Sharon, right, making a donation to Accord Hospice

“It can be hard”, Sharon concedes, “I’ve had people come into the store and tell me that they’ve got nothing to eat. I don’t enquire any further because who am I to ask? I just give it to them. I remember some people coming in with our £5 Salvation army Voucher. They’d used it to get a hot drink and 2 rolls, but had nothing to go away with. So, I ensured that they went home with a big bag each. Whatever way it gets there, the customers want their donations to help people and that’s what happens,” she proclaims.

“For example, The STAR Project will get in touch and say ‘one of our service users needs a toaster or cutlery, so I’ll just put it in the trolley at the front of the store for customers to buy and then they’ll get it. The contents cater to every budget and vary in price, so it allows everyone that wants to help to pick up a bag and pay for it with their shopping. So, that’s ideal.

Today, I’m heading to St James’ Primary. We’re bringing down the cereal for any kids that would be affected by their breakfast club getting temporarily stopped by the local lockdown. You just need to keep adapting.”

As the world calibrates to a new era in which we’re all trying to be kinder to one another, Scott believes that their community champion’s tireless efforts are predestined to aid Anchor Mills in making as much of a difference as they can.

“People are more charity conscious than ever now, so it’s really encouraging to see all of our donation stands getting filled up quicker,” he declared. “Having a community champion really helps to strengthen those bonds. I think Sharon’s doing a phenomenal job and it’s only going to get bigger and better.”

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FEATURES

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Rising Up

O

nce referred to as the “biggest cul-de-sac in Western Europe” by the European Parliament, Ferguslie Park is a community of 3.5 thousand people which has undergone decades of regeneration by numerous professional bodies, often parachuted in, at a cost of millions of pounds.

Yet, in spite of their efforts, the area remains persistently synonymous with poverty.

However, a recent report from The Scottish Government’s Social Index of Multiple Deprivations (SIMD) 18 MILL

shows Ferguslie Park is no longer the most deprived community in Scotland, having retained the title for eight years previously.

As a result, the way people from outside its unique PA3 1 postcode think about Ferguslie Park is often negative, derogatory and overwhelmingly unanimous.

But if you were to spend some time speaking with its residents, you’d get a wholly different perspective.

There really is loads going on in this tight-knit and well-organised community which we, and our

respective localities, could all learn from. The main question you’ll be asking yourself is, what has changed in the last four years to see this community sidestep its routine, publicity-based tarnishing?

Arguably, economic conditions and the rigours of COVID-19 have made things worse. So, what is so different in Ferguslie Park that it appears to be on an upward trajectory? Well, the short answer to this multi-faceted question arises from a historically active community seizing control of its own destiny. Yet for those who’ve

Photos by David Cameron

No longer willing to abide by its outdated reputation, Ferguslie Park has become a microcosm of how to improve a local community. Now, Darkwood Crew’s Terry McTernan is here to take you through their self-determined path to prosperity.

FEATURES

“THERE WAS A GENERAL FEELING THAT FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES, THINGS HAD BEEN GETTING DONE TO FERGUSLIE RATHER THAN BY IT”

charted the progress, they may not know that it all began with a local newspaper headline.

“Love Is in The Air Except If You Live in Ferguslie Park.”

I honestly couldn’t believe it, and on Valentines Day as well!

Understandably raging, I wrote to the editor and expressed my real concern at this constant and unnecessary prodding at my community, arguing that it built on an already reductive viewpoint.

The accompanying article’s content bore no relation to the headline, focusing on divorce rates across Renfrewshire and no justification of that area-specific remark. It really was a low blow at the expense of a community which arguably works harder than most to overcome its challenges. So, you can imagine my genuine surprise when my email was published and followed up by a phone call from the editor. ‘We would love to

print positive stories about your area’, he claimed, ‘but we can only print the stories we get.’

From that day on, I vowed to make sure our local press and other onlookers were aware of all the positives going on in Ferguslie and to challenge this external narrative of doom and gloom.

The first step was to reconvene the Ferguslie Community Council after a 30-year recess. This proved no easy task when you consider that there was a general feeling that for the past two decades, things had been getting done to Ferguslie rather than by it.

I teamed up with fellow activist and former Councillor John McIntyre who, by coincidence, had been carrying out his own research on how best to revive Ferguslie’s fortunes.

He convinced me of the merits of creating a community council and for more than a year, an ever-growing group campaigned to re-establish

the former Craigielea Community Council under its new moniker.

In October 2017, the community council reconvened at its inaugural meeting with 11 members and with a sense of optimism that this umbrella structure would allow local people to shape the important decisions facing our area. Namely, the (since scrapped) plans to demolish the Tannahill area and replace it with an elite sports village, potentially displacing hundreds of our residents.

Over 40 people attended and surprisingly, the primary concern was the local environment.

There was a consensus that the area was not being maintained properly, sporting uncut grass, unemptied bins and a fly tipping epidemic. Elsewhere, our green spaces had been neglected to the point they had become hot spots for anti-social behaviour, openair drug dealing and an emergent youth gang culture.

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FEATURES

It was unanimously agreed that this would be addressed, so fellow activist Karen Campbell and I became quasi-community development officers, striving to identify possible projects for development. A tidy up of Glencoats Park (the Privies) was organised and attracted 45 volunteers on a freezing December morning.

Utilising the ‘Team Up to Clean Up’ campaign, this landmark slowly but surely transformed in front of our eyes. Given the enthusiasm, the ‘Pals of the Privies’ was born.

Led by Karen Campbell, this group’s success is truly remarkable.

Comprised mainly of local women, they’ve became a registered charity and have successfully regenerated a five-acre public park.

The improvements that they’ve spearheaded include fairy and memorial gardens and a superhero and fairy trail as well as new public benches and bins. Subsequently, the park itself has become a venue for events including family inflatable day and a foam party alongside its place among the community’s excellent Halloween festivities. In response to local demand, a new £60k children’s play park has been installed and serves as a tangible example of what can be achieved when community and council work together. Why is this successful? It’s led by local people, it’s that simple!

Own Yer Bike is another local group’s that’s making huge changes.

This organisation started off less than two years ago with the aim of recycling old bikes by teaching local young people to repair and maintain them.

Overseen by Marc Small, the group has attracted significant investment, allowing them to establish a cycle hub in the heart of the community and to distribute over 300 free bikes to tackle isolation and historic health inequalities. Meanwhile, Billy Hampson’s Ferguslie Arts, Festival and Social History group have hosted two successful homecoming 20 MILL

Terry McTernan

“IF THE LAST 40 YEARS, WHICH IS MY ENTIRE LIFESPAN, HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT’S THE BITTER LESSON THAT THE MONEY BEING SPENT DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUATE TO THE VALUE OF WHAT’S ACHIEVED”

reunions, bringing Ferguslie folks past and present together for a fun filled evening of nostalgia, reflection and celebration of our unique social culture. This is important as it reminds us of a time when Ferguslie’s community was at its peak and where our unwavering sense of identity still stems from. Going forward, this group aspires to create a ‘nae hair to grey hair’ social calendar in Ferguslie Park, including playschemes, provisions for the elderly, gala days and fayres.

Just like in the ‘old days’.

Another example of community and council working together for the

better emerged from the abolition of the ridiculous vanity project that was the proposed elite sports village.

Thanks to the collective influence of the tenants and residents of the Tannahill area, we now have a commitment for a new plan which includes 101 new homes available for social rent on top of much needed improvements in the Blackstoun Oval and Blackstoun Road areas. This is hugely significant as it will be the first social housing to be built in our community for over 60 years. Previously, there was a perception that the

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Local businesses need you—now more than ever.

Let’s all show them our support and spend local. www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/spendlocal MILL 21

The Paisley Community Website

FEATURES

Volunteers Paul Hyndman and Mandy Chappell

Hollie Robinson entertains 22 shielding residents at an afternoon tea at Darkwood Court.

Council had been trying to turn its back on our community. Now, we are delighted that this doesn’t appear to be the case and as a result, we’ve been impressed by their forward thinking plans for the community.

A recent council-orchestrated consultation dubbed ‘The Making Of ’ allowed local people to talk openly about their community and what was important to them. The publishing of their findings has been slightly delayed due to COVID-19, but it remains our intention to engage with this process fully in order to ensure that any investment attracted is spent wisely, is solutions-based and, most importantly, locally led. After all, if the last 40 years, which is my entire lifespan, has taught us anything, it’s the bitter lesson that the money being spent does not always equate to the value of what’s achieved.

In recent times, we’ve made demonstrable achievements with comparatively little cash spent.

In an increasingly budget-restricted

environment, it will become even more important to identify the most effective solutions and I believe, as the evidence would suggest, that the people of Ferguslie Park had been the forgotten asset in the past. Instead of investing in my community’s people and galvanizing the community behind its own regeneration, we’d instead allowed an entire industry to be built around us, offering very few jobs to local people and keeping others in lifestyles they’d grown accustomed to.

These theoretically brilliant and well-meaning initiatives masquerade as the provider of solutions, but in many cases, are the root of persistent problems. Truly empowering our communities will prove uncomfortable for some, but the glasshouse syndrome is an important issue which will eventually need to be addressed.

The group I’m primarily involved with is Darkwood Crew. After getting together to regenerate the local

village green in October 2018, this team have gone on to devise and implement a two-phase path improvement plan, allowing for several successful events including a community climate change conversation, an alternative prom and a plastic-free picnic. The second phase of the path improvement plan, which will see the connecting of the village green to Glencoats Park, has been delayed due to COVID-19.

However, the group have plans to plough ahead whenever it becomes feasible again. Consisting of just eight core volunteers, our key focus areas include food insecurity, fuel poverty, isolation and loneliness, mental health positivity and the environment.

Since then, the group have attracted great publicity for their wide-reaching COVID-19 response program. They have, over recent months, delivered over 6,000 food parcels. Barry, who is a volunteer, has driven over 8,000 miles, performing a nightly 26-mile round MILL 23

FEATURES

“WE MUST STOP THIS GENTRIFICATION AGENDA AND OBSESSION WITH THINKING WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR FERGUSLIE PARK” trip around four Co-op stores and three Greggs’, picking up food which is later distributed to help meet local needs. Thus far, a staggering eight tonnes of surplus food has avoided landfill. They turn their food distribution vehicle into a bingo bus in the evening and have hosted 91 sessions of social isolation prize bingo throughout lockdown, even taking their services to Corseford.

The locals really embraced this and often decorated their streets for its arrival, resulting the street slosh dance becoming a phenomenon.

The bingo bus has driven home our community message during lockdown, with a prescription collection service, fuel top-ups, mobile top-ups, internet connections and device repairs all forming part of the pandemic response.

This group, along with the other three I have outlined, are fantastic examples of real community regeneration taking place with extraordinarily little financial investment. Above all else, Darkwood Crew’s work is underpinned by a belief that local people have the knowledge, skills and motivation to identify and develop effective solutions to the area’s persistent social problems.

Ferguslie Park is a vibrant and unique community harbouring a community spirit that’s unrivalled by any other. The fact that everything you’ve just read was delivered by volunteers is a testament to what a well-organised and self-aware area 24 MILL

Darkwood Crew Covid Response Volunteer Team

Residents at Darkwood Court

it is. Ferguslie has been undergoing regeneration my entire life. If I were organising a wedding, a funeral or even a bar mitzvah, there’d be a beginning, a middle and an end. As an activist for almost 25 years, I think it’s high time we got on with getting to the end. In my experience, if the last seven months is to be viewed as anything, it must be proof that our communities not only house the problems, but the solutions.

We think about Covid, climate change, challenging poverty, community regeneration and empowerment as if they are all

mutually exclusive. In reality, local people face the consequences of all these issues every day and are often best placed to advise on how to tackle them. We must stop this gentrification agenda and obsession with thinking we know what is best for Ferguslie Park. Instead, we need to accept it for the wonderful community that it is and empower its people to identify its own solutions. As the evidence suggests, they might just surprise us.

Keep up with Terry and Darkwood Crew’s ongoing work via Facebook, @DarkwoodCrew.

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Photos by Graeme Hewitson, Monument Photos

Kari CORBETT A New Era

After a five-year hiatus, Paisley-born actor and director Kari Corbett is embarking on her next chapter with a clearer purpose than ever

26 MILL

INTERVIEW

A

t a time when the entire planet is in flux, it’d be easy to be jaded to the point of apathy. But as we make introductory small talk in Paisley’s Brew, Kari Corbett’s enthusiasm for the power of art is measurable in every syllable and gesture, albeit tempered with a knowledge that we inhabit a grossly imperfect world. Yet for all that she’s fearlessly seized opportunity in acting, directing and her personal studies, Kari’s globe-spanning career has required her to override a formerly reserved nature.

“I remember being quite shy as a teenager,” she recalls. “Back when I started all these acting classes with my friends at SYT (Scottish Youth Theatre), I wasn’t all that outgoing.

Then, at some point, I decided this is what I wanted to do. I left school at 16 and briefly went to college, but left to do my first job.

I was very lucky; it gave me direction. My time at SYT definitely gave me the basic skills.

More importantly, it let me know that this was something I really love. We didn’t have a lot of money and we could barely afford it, so SYT was like the one thing that I got to do.

For people in Renfrewshire, PACE provides that same thing. I think it’s crucial to make acting affordable and provide concession rates for low income families so that it’s as accessible and inclusive as can be.”

Ushered in front of the lens at a prodigious age, Kari was promptly flung into the deep-end and had to learn on the job. Thankfully, her passion and willingness to learn meant that she quickly acclimatised.

“You can do as many acting classes as you want, but once they cast you, it’s all completely unknown,” Kari admits. “My first real job was in Australia on [BBC kids’ sci-fi drama] Jeopardy. I was doing enormous shifts and the first day I was there, I still didn’t fully understand how you filmed things. So yeah, it was a case of learning it on-set. By the time I went to River City [as Kirsty Henderson], I was getting a day-in, day-out education in this job.”

Amid trips to other fictional locales such as Hollyoaks and Monarch Of The Glen’s Glenbogle Estate, Kari had to reconcile with the newfound stardom that she’d encountered.

As such, retaining her identity proved to be, and still is, of the utmost importance.

“

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I’D SORT OF CODESWITCH IF I WAS AROUND A LOT OF PRIVATELY EDUCATED PEOPLE AS I’M JUST A WEE LASSIE FROM PAISLEY”

Q&A FAVOURITE FILM: Labyrinth FAVOURITE BOOK: Anything by Margaret Atwood but particularly Oryx and Crake BEST DIRECTOR: Steve McQueen YOUR DREAM CO-STAR: Viola Davis

“In Scotland, we have a lot of working-class actors. So, in that sense, I felt less out of place here than I did in other environments,” Kari revealed. “I definitely noticed that when I was younger, I’d sort of code-switch if I was around a lot of privately educated people as I’m just a wee lassie from Paisley, not from money. There’s also the fact that I come from a family where no one else has done this before, so it’s not like I could ask anyone how to navigate it.”

Due to her own experiences, there is a strong sense that democratising the arts to those who aren’t in it as a birth-right is something Kari’s passionate about. Now, she believes that others could benefit from her experiences.

“We’re still facing extreme underrepresentation of working-class actors across the board, particularly women and non-white talent. It’s because some people have the privilege to continue pursuing it because they’ve got family money to fall back on, whereas others don’t,” she outlines. “There’s just no support network or investment in talent. Scotland has a lot of stories that it could be telling, but it can be daunting as many people don’t see a pathway in. So, I’d love to be able to take a broad range of talent and support it through a mentorship program, but it needs to be financial, practical and emotional so that these Scottish actors could sustain a career.

Change has to happen from the top-down, but it’s 2020, there’s no need for anything to not be diverse.”

Given that the show revolved around socially pertinent issues of class, poverty and marginalised sectors of society, it’s no surprise that Kari’s time as the uncompromising Ruby Hepburn in Shameless proved to be among her career highlights.

“During the audition, I had this conversation with people in the room about Paisley, my upbringing here and my experiences,” she remarks. “I discussed how important it was to be able to have these stories told and it really is. It was also really fun and liberating to not just be ‘a girlfriend’ or any of those stereotypes.”

On the subject of typecasting and inequality within the acting world, talk turns to whether a more empathic, safe and meritocratically minded industry is closer MILL 27

INTERVIEW

“WE ENCOURAGE WOMEN, STORIES ABOUT GIRLS AND NON-BINARY FILMMAKERS AS WE WANT TO TAKE A DIVERSE APPROACH TO WHAT’S SHOWN”

than ever. To Kari, the signs of systemic shifts are beginning to surface, but there’s still work to be done.

“I think there’s a long way to go,” she says, “but I definitely see changes. I think as I’m older now, I have a greater sense of agency and feel more confident in asserting my boundaries. But that doesn’t mean that things have changed for someone that’s just starting out. So, I feel very protective of anybody coming into the industry. On things like I May Destroy You, [director and series lead] Michaela Coel made sure that she had intimacy coaches on-set to help the actors deal with the more traumatic or sexualised scenes. Where in the past, people would be like ‘oh, just do it’. To holistically protect the wellbeing of not just the women but everyone on set should just be a basic that’s been constantly missing from anything I’ve done in the past. I love to hear that and the show was exceptional, so that makes me hopeful.”

Having worked fairly consistently prior to 2015, Kari had a coveted degree of firm footing in an industry where certainty can be hard to obtain. Now, she’s returning to the field with a greater sense of self-determination.

“I had a bereavement that meant I wanted to take time away and do other things to look after myself,” she reveals. “But in the last little while, I’ve realised that I really miss this craft.

I also think there’s more interesting parts out there for me now. It still didn’t feel like a job, I still loved it, I just needed a break.”

“In the meantime,” she continues, “I’ve been working towards my thesis in gender studies, it’s been the one thing I’ve really cared about through art school and acting; it’s always been at the centre. I also founded a short film 28 MILL

festival with a friend of mine [the Barcelona International Short Film Festival] that anyone can apply to. We encourage women, stories about girls and non-binary filmmakers as we want to take a diverse approach to what’s shown. There’s so much amazing work. This year, we’ve got films with Patton Oswalt and [Stranger Things’] Finn Wolfhard as well as work from Egyptian and Palestinian filmmakers.”

As for what’s next, Kari has as clear a schematic of what the future should resemble as you could during these turbulent times.

Simply put, she wants to inspire, enlighten and entertain while keeping her values at the heart of everything she does.

I want to make work that I care about and with good people,” Kari enthuses. “I want to be really mindful on what I take on and what it brings into the world.”

Keep up with Kari’s journey via Twitter @ KariCorbett.

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CELLULOID DREAMS

Artist’s impression of the new cinema interior

As Paisley Community Trust devise plans for a new cinema in Paisley’s town centre, our editor outlines why it’s a project to get excited about.

I

f the past few months have emphasised anything, it’s that we can’t put a price on the escapism of entertainment and, in particular, film. Capable of transporting us to bygone eras, kaleidoscopic futures or to the heart of a thrilling narrative, motion pictures helped bolster many of our sanities during lockdown by offering a reprieve from our current predicaments. Yet while our rewired brains may have been aghast at how many people were allowed to hug, kiss and occupy the same room on-screen, they provided much-needed snapshots of a world that we look forward to returning to. But while it can be enjoyable to take in a new film or heralded classic from your couch, there’s no experience quite like visiting the cinema.

For generations, a trip to see the latest film was a weekly ritual for Paisley residents and could be fulfilled at any number of conveniently located cinemas that made big screen adventures eternally accessible. As a result, many locals retain dewy-eyed memories of visiting the Kelburn, the ABC, The Regal or the Picture House to name just a scant few. But if you were to go back to the days of the Glen, Bank Street Hall and Lawn Street’s 30 MILL

Rink, you’ll see that members of our community were taking these miniature pilgrimages from the turn of the 20th century.

By now, you’ve likely heard that the Paisley Community Trust have laid out plans, endorsed by Renfrewshire Council and their 2030 vision for the town, to reassert film at the

heartland of Paisley. Set to be erected on a site historical significance, they hope to open a five screen, 500 seat establishment at the Paisley Cross where the La Scala once stood.

Said to be both youth-focused but steeped in the legacy of filmgoing in Paisley and Renfrewshire at large, it’s a project that plenty of people are excited about, and with good reason.

Contrary to more cynical mindsets, cinema isn’t just a frivolous way to spend a few hours. Instead, a good film is fuel for the imagination.

It’s a medium that’s unrivalled in its ability to broaden horizons and cross supposed boundaries in the pursuit of depicting universal truths. And in an area that’s as resolutely creative as Renfrewshire, who knows what ease of access to the newest blockbusters, independent films and storied classics could mean for a new generation?

For some, it could simply allow them to formulate those same closely held memories of nights at the picture house. But for others, it could sow the seeds of lifelong journeys as actors, screenwriters, directors and everything in-between.

Keep up with any developments on the project at paisleytrust.org.

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We also have a great range of chocolates, most of which are unique to Renfrewshire.

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Captured by West College photography students and featuring passersby in front of the lens, Bailey’s Antiques and ReMode collide to spotlight the vintage and the sustainable.

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32 MILL

REFASHIONED

OPPOSITE PAGE: Siobhan - Upcycled patchwork smock dress, £40, upcycled bomber jacket, £45, upcycled bumbag, £20, ReMode Collection. ECO recycled plastic glasses, £99, Specsavers Paisley. Photo by Ali Burden-Blake. Aiden - Vintage shirt, £12, chinos, £7, ReMode Handpicked. Upcycled bomber jacket, £45, ReMode Collection. ECO recycled plastic glasses, £99, Specsavers Paisley. Photo by David McClure.

THIS PAGE: Siobhan - Cosmos gown, £25, ReMode Handpicked.

MILL 33

REFASHIONED

THIS PAGE: Siobhan - XXL Vintage jumper worn as dress, £20, ReMode Handpicked. Small vintage jumper (worn underneath), £12, ReMode Handpicked.

Shoes, model’s own. Photo by David McClure.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Aiden - Vintage jumper, stylist’s own.

Upcycled denim shirt (worn underneath), £12, ReMode Collection. Tartan skirt, £8, ReMode Handpicked.

Socks, kindly on loan from Houston Kiltmakers. Photo by John Masson.

34 MILL

FEATURES

MILL 35

FEATURES

Cosmos gown, £25, ReMode Handpicked. Photo by Christopher Grayson.

36 MILL

REFASHIONED

Photo by John Masson.

Photo by Christopher Grayson.

Vintage gown, £30, ReMode Handpicked.

Photo by Christopher Grayson.

Photo by Ali Burden-Blake.

Photographers: Ali Burden-Blake, Christopher Grayson, John Masson, David McClure. Models: Siobhan Paul and Aidan Mullen.

Location: Bailey’s Antiques, 34 High Street, Paisley PA1 2DQ. Special thanks to Scott Cadenhead, Robert Tabor and the HND Photography students at West College Scotland; Ben at Bailey’s Antiques; the creative team at ReMode, 43b High Street, PA1 2AH; Houston Kiltmakers, 67 High Street, PA1 2AY; and Specsavers Paisley, 5 Moss Street, PA1 1BG. MILL 37

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Lifting the Lid

OK, so parties are unlikely to be on the cards this festive season but that’s no reason not to get your eyeshadow work on point in preparation for a beautiful 2021.

Loving this Katie Jane Hughes inspired look created from a nifty and thrifty £5 palette from Primark.

BOXING DAY Bumper beauty calendars are a yearly sight, but some are a touch on the pricey side. So, we’re impressed that Marks & Spencer has favoured great value with a £20 box of delights rather than signing off on a supersized, more-fillers-than-thrillers offering.

The Beauty Edit Box includes 11 products from luxury brands such as Prai, Ren, This Works, Nuxe and Eyeko and is a genuine Christmas cracker.

BEAUTY

Susie Cormack Bruce brings you the latest makeup, fragrance and skincare news.

FRAGRANT FANCIES

NAME DROPPING

Good things do come in small packages as this beautiful taster box of four Armani fragrances demonstrates. Priced at £31.99, the packaging is ridiculously festive and would look stunning under any Christmas tree – but especially ours. Hint, hint. Available at Boots.com.

Switching to a cream-based cleanser in winter is a good move. One of our new faves is from Scottish aesthetics practitioner and skin specialist, Frances Turner Traill. Using fruit extracts and amino acids, it calms as well as cleans and leaves skin soft, smooth and ready to face the day. £28 at www.francesturnertraill.co.uk.

INTRODUCING… Our new secret weapon in the fight against those pesky under-eye dark circles. The peachy tone of Sleek’s Lifeproof Colour Corrector balances out and brightens up this problem area brilliantly and it’s perfect for hiding the evidence of those up all night box set binges on Netflix. £6.99 at Superdrug.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

3D-Trilogy Ice Frances Robertson, owner of Paisley’s Oakshaw Hair and Beauty Rooms, tells us about the latest advances in hair removal.

BEAUTY

expert Get to know Sarah Di Pinto from Sarah Di Pinto Beauty in Bridge of Weir.

How did you start? I had my family right after school.

Once my daughters needed me a little less, I began to think about my future. I had left school with few qualifications, so I decided to start afresh. I was offered an eight-week taster course on Beauty Therapy at the former Reid Kerr College. I loved everything about it and studied for another three years to achieve my HND. That was eight years ago now and I haven’t looked back.

What is it and how does it work? 3D-Trilogy Ice takes laser hair removal to a new advanced level by using not one, but three lasers combined. These powerful – medical grade class 4 – lasers are attracted to the colour pigment in the hair (melanin) and, therefore, this generates a heat that safely destroys the follicle without damaging the skin in any way.

Why do clients choose this service? I think they’re seeking more permanent results these days, shaving, plucking and waxing are processes that people will have to carry out for the rest of their lives. Whereas with a machine like this, I can offer clients a permanent solution that is pain-free, fast and affordable.

How often can clients get this treatment? Although clients generally see a result from the very first session, a course of between 6-8 is needed with a yearly top up session. We have even had clients see results from their patch test alone!

Who would benefit from this? The treatment is suitable for both women and men. All areas can be treated, whether it’s legs, bikini, underarms or face and arms.

What are the costs? Prices start from £30 and can take as little as 10 minutes to carry out.

Where can I get this treatment? Oakshaw Hair and Beauty Rooms, 21 School Wynd, Paisley, PA1 2DA, 0141 237 1440. Pop in for a free patch test and consultation with a fully qualified and insured Laser Therapist.

What’s the best thing about your job? The connection that I build with my clients and watching them leave the salon with a smile on their face. It’s priceless and makes it all worthwhile. Beauty is more than skin deep and helping make someone feel good is the greatest gift my job provides.

My favourite beauty essential is: The correct scented candle. My treatment room is where gods and goddesses are born! Whether I am tanning or waxing, lifting lashes or giving facials, the treatment room is where all this wonder takes place, so creating the correct atmosphere is of paramount importance.

My beauty top tip is: Take time for yourself. We’re experiencing the strangest of times and we beauty therapists remain limited in what we can offer amid restrictions. Life is stressful, so make sure you take the time during a treatment to engage fully with the time out of your real world.

My favourite beauty treatment is: My favourite beauty treatment is actually waxing but If you look at my social media, it looks like I only do nails because I can’t really post before and after photos!

Lastly, what’s your top tip for unwinding at home?

I think whatever you do to switch off is equally as important. The trick is to find that thing that allows you to leave everything at the door. I am privileged that for many of my clients, a visit to my treatment room fulfils that.

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MILL 41

WORKING 9 TO 5…

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As we continue to adjust to our ever-changing world, interiors editor Kike Pawlik unveils her tips for an inviting makeshift office.

W

orking from home is the new norm right now. Every house needs a place for work, homework, admin and, where required, home-schooling.

Given the circumstances, more and more of us intend to have a workstation at home where we can carry out these tasks without being disturbed. Having an office space at home might seem like an impossible thing to achieve, but in reality, you don’t need a substantial amount of space to make it plausible.

Whether you are trying to unobtrusively squeeze in a small desk or fashion a dedicated home office area in your living room, dining room or even bedroom, you can easily set up a stylish and practical workspace at your abode.

A little creativity and thoughtful planning are all it takes to carve out more room, no matter how tight your home is on space.

You can start by changing your living room layout. A new furniture arrangement in the living area will create the space to accommodate a place to get things done.

A workstation within a living area should coexist with rest of the design as we don’t want to lose its central purpose. It should still be a space for family time and relaxing activities.

Find space in an alcove in your living or dining room. Or if you have to use a corner of your living space, add a small desk or choose bespoke furniture that can be designed to work in these awkward crevices. Choose a wooden desk and chair for a classic look or create a nook for your home office using a curtain.

The fabric “wall” will separate the work area from the living room and prevent them from blending together in your mind.

Invest in a narrow, but tall desk with enough space to store a laptop and plenty of 42 MILL

Desk, £325, nest.co.uk

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lamp , £40 , Wil

ko

Chair, £39, Michael Murphy Home Furnishing

Ladder Desk, £85, Wilko

Bureau desk, £375, Next

shelves for storing stationery supplies. A stack of floating shelves will create a wall for storage and display, while the bottom shelf will create a perfect spot for a compact printer. Meanwhile, keeping floors clear and clutter-free will help to create the illusion of additional space.

One of the most creative and smart ways of setting up a home office is to enlist the underutilised space under the stairs.

While there are exceptional workstations and ‘ready to use’ products in the market, you might think of getting one customized for the space you have. A comfortable office chair is a must when sitting in front of a computer for hours on end and a perfect piece to enlist in small spaces is the “ghost” chair because the seat is nearly invisible.

If you’re limited on space, you may try to fit a desk in a bedroom. However, making a desk double up as a dressing table would mean that it becomes multipurpose. Make the most of every inch of valuable wall space with a wall-mounted unit and a flip-down surface.

Try putting your desk up against a window in your bedroom. That way, you will have a view to look at to separate it from your sleeping area.

Some days, it can be hard to find the motivation to get to work. So, attach pinboards and pegboards as a place to keep notes, inspirational images or quotes to keep you going during the working hours.

Well organised working spaces inspire productivity in addition to looking good.

Whether you’ve got an entire room to play with or a tiny corner, be sure to try to optimise your workspace to lighten, inspire and energise.

MILL 43

PROPERTY & INTERIORS

A Silver Lining As the Scottish property market continues to thrive, Corum talk us through this sustained purple patch.

S

ince the Scottish property market effectively ‘reopened’ after lockdown, the sector has gone from strength to strength, with Corum personally bringing on over £200 million pounds worth of property across Greater Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Buyers remain motivated and are backed by excellent mortgage rates, with lenders showing confidence that the economic outlook is somewhat more positive than some would have you believe. Consequently, sales remain strong across all price ranges, but the biggest area of movement is unquestionably within the mid-top end of the market and since July 1st, Corum’s average listing has sat at £366,000.

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Ardgoil, Whitelea Road, Kilmacolm - offers of £640,000

For those looking to sell their home, now is as good a time as ever with the sheer volume and veracity of buyers driving sale prices up. As it stands, closing dates are par for the course now and, most encouragingly of all, Scotland is, by a significant margin, the fastest location in the UK when it comes to selling a home, clocking in at an average of 35 days. In spite of this impressive figure, we are proud to say that Corum are actually well ahead of that, averaging just 23 days.

In light of this notable upswing, we would encourage anyone interested in learning more about what the Renfrewshire market would mean for their home to contact Corum’s Bridge of Weir branch for a no obligation discussion.

For more information, contact Corum, 2 Windsor Place, Main Street, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3AF, 01505 691 400, corumproperty.co.uk

A Design for Life Delve into the diverse treasures of Paisley’s Gael Home Interiors.

RENFREWSHIRE’S PREMIER HOME FURNISHING STORE

FURNITURE

With over 40 years of experience, Gael Home Interiors have become an inconspicuous staple of Renfrewshire. Situated just off of Paisley’s main drag, this family-run operation doesn’t feel the need to shout about what they do. When you need interior-oriented expertise, those with their ear to the ground know that these consummate professionals won’t steer you wrong.

Anchored around high-quality products and providing their customers with that little slice of hard-earned but affordable opulence, their ever-replenishing inventory includes the top of the range in wallpaper, lighting, furniture, beds and accessories. Essentially meaning that if you wanted to, Gael’s 8,000 ft showroom could revamp your home from the skirting boards up.

Housing everything from esteemed wallpaper brands such as Arthouse and Versace through to the Clarus dining range, Italian designer furniture range San Martino, Lumiere’s beautiful, LED-adorned bedroom sets, Sweet Dreams’ vast array of beds and the biggest names in paint, there’s truly no area in which this independently owned business don’t put their best foot forward.

Those who are looking to refresh their boudoirs should make a beeline for Gael. On top of their expansive and eclectic range, they always have package deals available on their beds.

So, whether you’re looking to peruse their 600-plus wallpaper designs, fancy some new accessories or you’re in the market for some lighting under regular retail price, Gael’s encyclopaedic knowledge of all things interiors will ensure that you go home with something that’s quite simply a cut above the rest.

Gael Home Interiors, 4 Orchard Street, Paisley, PA1 1UZ, 0141 889 7555.

BEDROOMS

DINING

WALLPAPER

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

MILL 45

A Love Letter to

ERSKINE

After embarking on a life in the town and never looking back, writer Cathie Devitt takes us on a whistle-stop tour of this chosen home.

ERSKINE HOSPITAL This area is well worth a visit to see the B listed buildings such as the piggery, the stable yard and the Reid McEwan Business Centre.

Meanwhile, the original hospital building currently operates as ‘Mar Hall’, a luxury hotel with a spa, gym facilities and a private golf course.

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Boasting celebrity guests such as Kylie Minogue, Bob Dylan and Mike Tyson, who knows who you might share a shortbread with should you treat yourself to afternoon tea?

Otherwise, you could try alternative watering holes at the nearby Caulders Garden Centre and Vanishing Willows café.

BODEN BOO WOODS As you leave ‘Veterans Village’, which offers family accommodation of over 50 cottages on the old hospital grounds, take a first left after Caulders Garden Centres to discover Boden Boo. Nestled close to the southern end of Erskine Bridge, this little slice of wilderness can be found between the woodland and Erskine Beach. Enjoy the views across to Kilpatrick Braes or explore the network of informal trails which span

around two miles. If you’re feeling energetic, Boden Boo is part of the 55km Clyde Coastal Path.

ERSKINE BRIDGE From Boden Boo, you have a terrific view of Erskine Bridge. Straddling the River Clyde, these waters hold so much history in their depths including merchants trading under the British Empire, the survival of the Clydebank Blitz in 1941 and the heyday of the shipbuilding industry. In more recent years, locals have enjoyed seeing many flotillas, including tall ships and vessels from the nearby naval base.

In addition, yachts, rowing boats and small cruisers all use the river on a regular basis. As it stands, the Waverley Steamer recently came out of retirement and is now berthed for winter to allow maintenance work to be carried out.

Photos by Brian Whittingham

B

ack in 1992, my move to Erskine was regarded with contempt by my Glaswegian family. In fact, it was as if I was emigrating to New Zealand.

“There is nothing there, bar a hospital and a bridge,” they dismissively declared.

However, Erskine is an ideal gateway to discover Scotland. But rather than seeing it as a stopgap, be sure that you don’t miss out on exploring the local points of interest.

FEATURES

Community Garden artwork

by Bmore Sketchy

Constructed between 1967-1971, the bridge is suitable for all types of motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. If you fancy a bird’s eye view of Erskine and surrounding areas, the stairway to the bridge sits between Caulders and Boden Boo. CONSERVATION AREA Wildlife lovers will have no shortage of photo opportunities on a visit to Erskine. Stroll through many woodland pathways within the original housing estate or venture closer to the river to enjoy a leisurely walk. The Inner Clyde Estuary nature reserve sits downstream from Newshot Island, an area of intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh used as feeding grounds by wintering waterfowl.

You’ll find a multitude of plants, some suitable for foraging, as well as rocks, the natural habitats of many small animals and even the occasional deer. Horses graze in fields near the central Bridgewater Shopping Centre, with local farms that harbour sheep

and cattle that roam on surrounding slopes. Swans are often spotted as the Black Cart Water is a roosting site for wintering Icelandic whooper swans.

COMMUNITY GARDEN In 2018, resident Erskine volunteers established an area of Bargarran Park and have lovingly created a fairy garden, mud kitchen, seating areas, produce areas and a focal meeting point. As a result, this garden plays hosts to events such as Holocaust Memorial Day, WWF Earth Hour, Wave of Light and annual bank holiday celebrations as well as outdoor yoga and reiki. Enjoy more fantastic views of the bridge and across the water from the garden’s hilltop boundaries.

FERRY ROAD TREASURES Ferry Road brings you past the picturesque Bishopton Parish Church. The Abbey of Paisley founded a church on the site as part of the pilgrimage route to the isle of Iona in the twelfth century.

The current building was constructed in 1812 and remains in use.

Along from the church is Erskine Golf Club. Established in 1904, this is one of the finest courses in the West of Scotland, designed by Troon golf professionals. Guests are welcome and buggies are available to get you around the course.

Still on Ferry Road, The Blantyre Monument sits on the boundary between Erskine and Bishopton, a tribute to the bravery of Robert Walter Stuart, who lived at nearby Erskine House. Stuart was a MajorGeneral and served with the Duke of Wellington in the Napoleonic war.

The monument was built in 1825 and became a B listed structure in 1980.

“There is nothing there, bar a hospital and a bridge.”

Years on from their initial assessment, four generations of my family now live in Erskine.

I wonder why?

Find out more about Cathie Devitt by visiting cathiedevitt.com.

MILL 47

FEATURES

Oban Staycation:

Travel Editor James Smith finds himself visiting the beautiful seaside town of Oban.

W

e were looking for a wee staycation and knew that for what we were after, it had to be Oban.

On this occasion, we opted to stay at the lovely Muthu Alexandra Hotel that’s situated right on the front with views of the sea and harbour.

We struck it lucky with fabulously sunny weather during our two-day stay in our beautiful suite, flanked by spectacular views of the amazing sunsets that this quaint resort town has to offer.

We were welcomed by the lovely staff that took care of us from the minute we crossed the threshold until the very second that we left. Plus, we were delighted with our fabulous suite that was festooned with a welcome hamper of wine, chocolates and a selection of fresh fruit.

The menu was chock-full of choice for dining in the hotel restaurant, but the surroundings meant that it had the feel of an experience in itself. As on top of the delicious afternoon tea that’s available to guests, you can also bear 48 MILL

witness to the wonder of Oban’s famously gorgeous sunset while having a delicious evening meal. For those wanting to explore beyond the grounds of their hotel, Oban is full of different restaurants and amazing seafood on hand at every corner and crevice.

There are so many things to do when it comes to taking a trip to this unique Argyll and Bute locale. You can use it as a launchpad to take tours of Mull, Iona and Staffa.

Or, you could visit Kerrera, the closest island to Oban and one which allows for relaxing walks along the island's track roads before exploring the ruins of Gylen Castle. Back on the mainland, Oban makes for a brilliant tourist destination in its own right, boasting plenty to see and visit. You could spend entire days exploring the castles, gardens, villages, beaches and forests, as well a whole host of off-kilter attractions. From the power station that’s hollowed into a mountain to boat trips where you can spot basking sharks and other sea life, there’s no shortage of fun to be had.

FEATURES

Gylen Castle, Isle of Kerrera

McCaig’s Tower

Oban's name originates from the Gaelic language and means 'little bay', but when it comes to having a staycation, Oban is definitely a place which is big on things to see and do. Steeped in the beautiful west coast and surrounded by miles of dramatic shores and beautiful countryside, this seaside town is a great place for a getaway from everyday life.

One of our favourite places that we visited was McCaig’s Tower, which is a prominent landmark that sits on the top of the hill in the town. We climbed up the very steep streets from the main drag to the very top, but it was well worth the effort as the views were absolutely spectacular across Oban Bay, allowing your eyes to survey all the way out to the Atlantic Islands. On top of that, the gardens inside the tower were a very peaceful place to relax and unwind.

During out time there, we met a local who lives next to the tower and he kindly informed us that it was built in 1897 by local banker John Stuart McCaig and its initial purpose was to provide work for local stonemasons and to erect

a lasting monument to his family. To my mind, this is a must when visiting, allowing you to segue from the hustle and bustle of the centre of Oban to a more tranquil and therapeutic space.

So, after a fabulous day in a beautiful town, it was time for a dip in the hotel's indoor heated pool then off to the well-stocked bar for a few gins to finish off our night.

Simply put, Oban is a must for anyone out there craving a getaway and caters to all types of holidaymakers. Whether you’re an adventurer, sightseer or more inclined to take in the sweeping scenery with a drink in hand and a gourmet meal, there’s something for everyone. Thanks to everyone at the Muthu Alexandra for hosting and making us feel so welcome. Should you take a trip, you won’t be disappointed, the service, food and accommodation were all fantastic.

Until next time, happy travels.

For more information, visis explore-oban.com.

MILL 49

MAN

Renaissance

Two decades into his on-screen career, Paisley-born Tom Urie discusses his early years, Tutti Frutti, T2: Trainspotting and mental health.

50 MILL

Photos by John Cooper

FEATURES

INTERVIEW

Y

ou may know his face, but you might not know his story. To the casual observer, Tom Urie is a veteran of the small screen.

To others, he’s seen as an inspirational figure due to the national press coverage that surrounded his remarkable weight loss journey. However, to emphasise that transformation is to detract attention from his chameleonic abilities as a performer.

For Tom, show-business wasn’t so much a calling as it was bestowed upon him from birth.

“Since I was a tiny wee boy, I’ve always sang and loved music,” Tom fondly recalled.” I used to put on shows in the house with puppets.

There was one moment that my family always talk about. I went to the East Nursery—which The Lagoon is built on now—and they’d phoned my parents to come down because I’d sat at a xylophone and started playing it with no bother at all. From a very young age, I was able to just pick up instruments and play them. That’s why I do a lot of gigs called ‘Human Jukebox’, because I can play anything you shout out. It’s some weird Sheldon Cooper thing.

“Acting-wise, I’ve always loved telly and films, but I was never big on the theatre,” he continued. “It wasn’t something I ever decided that I wanted to do, it just happened by accident through doing music for the shows and things. Somehow, it took over and people mainly know me as an actor. I lost control once I got involved with the Chewin’ The Fat mob (laughs).”

A staple of everything from River City to the aforementioned comedic world of Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, it’s hard to reconcile with the fact this on-screen notoriety could be the product of happenstance.

But while Tom acknowledges that gaining renown in an industry that he never actively tried to infiltrate is bizarre, his transition into acting has been immensely rewarding and left ample room to pursue his first love of music.

“It’s weird, because it’s not what I think I’m best at,” Tom revealed. “I think I’ve had my moments where I’ve been awright, but I always think someone’s going to find me out.

I did a thing [Elizabeth Is Missing] with Glenda Jackson. She won the Best Actress Oscar twice.

So, I had a scene to do where I’m a police officer and she’s arguing with me and I spent

“FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, I WAS ABLE TO JUST PICK UP INSTRUMENTS AND PLAY THEM, IT’S SOME WEIRD SHELDON COOPER THING”

about two weeks sh***g myself. Like, you can’t put me in a scene with her because I’m just going to look like a numpty, but I got away with it. I think every actor, even Glenda Jackson I’d assume, always feels like they’re going to get caught out. Performers are always like that, because it takes a lot of guts to stand up there and say ‘you’ve paid me to entertain you’. I’m glad it happened, because I’ve ended up doing some brilliant stuff.”

Quick to boil his longevity in the entertainment world down to “luck”, it’s interesting to observe that even someone who seems truly at home on-stage is still stricken with a niggling sense that they don’t belong.

That said, Tom is adamant that any imposter syndrome he experiences certainly doesn’t arise from a lack of encouragement during his formative years in Renfrewshire.

“Paisley has always been an absolute hub of activity, especially when it comes to music.

The Close Lobsters, The Church Grims and all that lot. When you listen to some of the Church Grims songs, they should’ve been world famous,” he declared. “I was in a couple of those bands, including one with the boys from King of Birds. Paisley was different and always has been, there’s a poetry to it.

Tannahill, Gerry Rafferty, Joe Egan, all these people. It was a really a vibrant town and it still is.”

Although his career has taken him far beyond Renfrewshire’s boundaries and even under the directorate of Danny Boyle for T2: Trainspotting — “he’d bought my album” — Tom’s career has also placed him in the orbit of John Byrne’s expansive creative universe.

Having taken on the starring role of “Big Danny McGlone” in the 2007 stage adaptation of Tutti Frutti, Tom revealed that his MILL 51

INTERVIEW

rendezvous with the Renfrewshire icon’s work boiled down to a refusal to be overlooked.

“That’s a mental story,” Urie chortled, “I found out about it because someone I was working with had auditioned. I was perfect for the role, Robbie Coltrane played him in the TV version and it’s a fat guy that played piano (laughs). I couldn’t get an audition, but I phoned them every single day. They just kept politely saying ‘no, we really want someone with experience’, but eventually, I annoyed them until they met me for a coffee. So, I went down with my guitar, read a scene and got the part. I think that there’s only one time you can get away with doing that (laughs). Through Tutti Frutti, I got to know John Byrne, who grew up in ‘Underwood Lane’, the same street as my grandpa.

“We had very Paisley ways of speaking and he started writing extra lines of dialogue for me,” Tom recalled. “He’s got an aura about him that’s like a 1950s beatnik. We did the show for a year and he was involved at every stage, it felt like being in one of his paintings.”

Amid working on the music for the three Still Game Live shows at The SSE Hydro, Tom concluded that “the main thing that I like doing now is composing and writing.”

But with lockdown prohibiting him from playing gigs or collaborating, he’s turned his hand to releasing virtuosic recreations of classic tracks. However, where these were conceived as a way to help Tom “battle depression and anxiety during lockdown” and engage with his friends on social media, one particular “daft cover” has taken on a life of its own.

“Bohemian Rhapsody went mental, Brian May, the real Brian May, shared it on his website and Facebook. I had to go to bed for two days, I was just so stressed about it,” Tom revealed. “I thought it’d be on my Facebook and people would be like ‘oh, look what he’s done now,’ but it went viral and the consensus is that he liked it. Naturally, I’m still recovering (laughs).”

As touched upon earlier, Tom’s focus in recent months has been on not only entertaining, but acting as a conduit through which people can share their personal 52 MILL

Q&A FAVOURITE TV SERIES? Twin Peaks FAVOURITE BEATLES ALBUM? The White Album YOUR DREAM SONGWRITING PARTNER? Brian Wilson YOUR GO-TO FEEL GOOD SONG? Lola’s Theme

by Shapeshifters

struggles. For him, this is crucial to creating a better society for us all to live in..

“I’ve been talking about it as much I can because men just won’t do it. The suicide rate of men between 35-50 is horrifying, so the more people that talk about it, the better. So, I thought it was my responsibility [during lockdown] to be a ‘vocal sufferer’ and speak about the good days and bad days.

In the end up, people were messaging me and saying that ‘I didn’t realise other people felt like that.’ We need to start looking in our own neighbourhood and having each other’s backs.”

Keep up with him on Twitter @mrtomurie or watch his recent covers via his YouTube channel.

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Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire The Kari Corbett Interview Ferguslie’s unbreakable spirit Renaissance man Tom Urie

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CULTURE

MUSIC

Our editor Robert Blair curates the best of the upcoming winter release schedule

ALBUM THE CRIBS - NIGHT NETWORK After a three-year hiatus in which many fans believed that the band’s fate hung in the balance, The Cribs are re-energised and returning to the fray with the forthcoming Night Network. Captured at Dave Grohl’s renowned Studio 606 in Los Angeles, the Wakefield-based indie rock trio have been on sparkling form when it comes to singles prior to its release, with the bittersweet melodies of Never Thought I’d Feel Again bridging the gap between their trademark guitar barrage and Motown-inspired harmonies. 15 years into their career, they show no signs of diminishing returns and this album will likely be no exception.

Released 13th November.

Photo by Grant Spanier

ALBUM THE AVALANCHES WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

Boasting a cultlike appeal if ever there was one, The Avalanches embarked on a 16 year long exile from the studio after the release of their seminal debut, Since I Left You. Yet once the Australian duo re-emerged with the evolutionary sound of Wildflower, the electronic outfit have clearly chosen to renege on their typically evasive approach by scheduling another album after a comparatively short four years of absence.

Set to feature an array of hip-hop and dance heavyweights ranging from Jamie XX, Tricky and Blood Orange to Denzel Curry and Neneh Cherry, the sampling maestros are sure to deliver another intricate tapestry for audiences to unravel as 2020 draws to a close. Out 11th December.

ALBUM JOAN OF ARC - TIM MELINA THEO BOBBY From one band that’s making their presence felt once again to another that’s riding off into the sunset, Chicago’s Joan Of Arc have decided to part ways after the release of their final album. Initially formed from the rubble of emo pioneers Cap’N Jazz, the four piece’s fusion of post rock instrumentation and mesmerising electronics has produced not shortage of greatness over their two-and-a-half-decade long career.

Promising “simple beautiful moments; noisy rockers; 80s hip-hop and Can jams,” it’s sure to be a poignant farewell from a phenomenal, deeply underrated band. Available from 4th December.

MILL 55

CULTURE

the sound of renfrewshire

CARA ROSE

Originally hailing from Lochwinnoch, soulful singer/ songwriter Cara Rose discusses early beginnings, inspirations and her debut EP, Urges.

How did music become a guiding force in your life? “Well, both my parents are in the arts. As soon as I could walk and talk, I was in that environment. They were really into music and I went to festivals with them at a young age. There was never really any pivotal moment where I thought ‘I’m going to do this’, I just always ended up in school shows, choirs and generally gravitating towards that field.

My music teacher in high school was really supportive as well, so that helped. I discovered that I had an alright voice when I was younger and people kept telling me nice things so I just kept doing it (laughs).”

Growing up in a house of music, what were your early influences? “My mum used to always play Joan Armatrading, John Martyn and Nina Simone, so I think that’s where I got my flavour for songwriting and storytelling.

I used to potter around and sing wee melodies and I was good with the music, but it took me a while to be able to articulate myself through words. Now, John and Nina are big influences that I always come back to.”

You’ve played the long game by establishing yourself on the live circuit before releasing music. Was this a conscious decision? “I was very aware of not rushing it, as I was still developing what I wanted my songs to sound like even when I was recording them. People would ask ‘when are you putting stuff out?’ And I’d be like ‘oh, in my own time.’ It’s worked out for the best as now they’re like, ‘aw finally! (laughs).”

56 MILL

“

I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD AN ALRIGHT VOICE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND PEOPLE KEPT TELLING ME NICE THINGS SO I JUST KEPT DOING IT”

How does it feel now that Urges is out? “It’s obviously great to get the songs out, but I’ve had them for a while. Now I’m like, ‘I just can’t wait to record new ones.’ I’m impatient like that, but it’s great to hear how far these tracks have come as when you strip them back to the voice notes, it was just me playing the piano in my room. We’ve got a yellow vinyl release underway so I think that’ll be a highlight. All of the artwork for the singles and EP were shot by me or someone close to me and now I’m designing a lyrics booklet to go along with the record.”

What’s the next step? “It’s touch and go with everything that’s going on, but we’re planning to release a new EP by the end of the year. It’ll be quite stripped back, I think. An album will definitely come in the next few years, but I guess we’ll just see how it goes!

Cara Rose’s debut EP, Urges, is available now on all streaming services.

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CULTURE

BOOK REVIEW MAYFLIES

by Andrew O’Hagan

Andrew O’Hagan has done it again. Ever since reading The Illuminations, I have noted this author’s ability to revolve novels around sensitive subjects. Anchored by a succinct voice and wonderful characterisation, he does so marvellously in Mayflies.

It’s Summer 1986 in the west coast of Scotland and a close group of music loving friends have finished school and are gearing up for an unforgettable weekend in Manchester with hopes of a night in the fabled Hacienda.

Their leader is the great Tully Dawson. He certainly seems the most enthused, but it soon becomes clear that this trip serves as a distraction from more pressing matters.

2017 hits. James, a quieter, more bookish group member is living in London but receives a startling message from Tully. Surprisingly, he looks to him for guidance, advice and to accompany him through his final months. But above all, grant Tully his final wish.

The exploration of friendship and relationships is such a key part of this stunning novel, carrying nostalgia and bands such as New Order and The Smiths along the way. The characters are firm. O’Hagan’s prose is vivid, evocative and we can all feel the euphoria, the tragedy and the soundtrack to commit a life to. Mayflies is initially a joyride of a novel, but moves into something more reflective as they discover the significance of love and friendship.

58 MILL

Curated by Keira Brown, co-producer of the Paisley Book Festival

Photo by Jon Tonks

LITERATURE

THE GROTESQUE

by Claire Casey A mouth, snarling at the world, a figure of stone, standing against all the evils of this world that threaten to overrun.

It forces them back from whence they came, and protects the building that it calls home.

No evil shall enter, or pass beyond, the thick, ancient stone walls.

Not while this guardian remains on at its post.

The world continues on past, paying no head to the Grotesque, all while the march of modernity pushes forward with little heed paid to what had gone before.

The future beacons, while the people below choose to remain ignorant of the protection offered by that stone carved guardian, whose ugly face they would rather not be forced to look upon.

A Grotesque by name, defender of all that is good by nature.

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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Suite 8 & 9 Westbourne Business Centre Friday mornings Contact Sarah 07834 517569

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MILL 59

CULTURE

ENTERTAINMENT ©20th Century Studios

©Sony Music Entertainment

Local cinema manager Craig McWilliams gives you the lowdown on what to look out for over the festive period!

CINEMA LITTLE MIX: LM5: THE TOUR CINEMA HOME ALONE! I can't think of a better way to start the run up to Christmas than by catching the ultimate original yuletide family comedy, Home Alone! on the big screen. This is a rare opportunity to see this festive classic the way it was meant to be seen. We all should all know about eight-year-old Kevin and his exploits by now, but if not, this is the perfect time to witness this highly entertaining caper for the first time. To add to the Christmas cheer, there’s a free packet of sweets or chocolate waiting for anyone who attends these screenings on 11th and 12th December.

For those of you who are pining for the thrill of live music, Little Mix’s 2019 show at London 02’s Arena captures them in all of their glory, 21st-22nd November. But If modern-day pop isn’t your oeuvre, Paisley’s Showcase will also play host to virtual concerts from Stevie Nicks (25th October), The Three Tenors (13th December) and the iconic seasonal ballet The Nutcracker (performed by The Royal Ballet on 10th December followed by The Bolshoi on the 20th).

CINEMA DEATH ON THE NILE While most of the big hitters of 2020 have moved back into 2021 and beyond, Disney are bucking that trend with the return of Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot. Steeped in the time-honoured Agatha Christie tropes, Branagh is bringing along an all-star cast of Hollywood's finest including Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer and Letitia Wright as well as French and Saunders, Russell Brand and Scotland's own Rose Leslie! From 18th December.

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©Disney/Lucasfilm

©20th Century Studios

TV/STAYING HOME Coming to the cinema is, understandably not for everyone in today's climate. Luckily, there's some great entertainment to be found on streaming services. Firstly, Disney Plus will begin airing Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 from October 30th, releasing a new episode weekly. For those who love all things superheroes on the big screen, Amazon Prime has you covered in subversive fashion with The Boys, charting the adventures of a dysfunctional gang of caped crusaders. Warning - not for kids!

Your Journey of Indulgence 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

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FOOD & DRINK

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DINNER AT MULTAN TANDOORI Renfrewshire Foodies decamp to one of Paisley’s hidden gems for some exquisite Indian cuisine

customers travel from all quadrants of Renfrewshire to visit. At time of writing, the restaurant remains closed to the public due to COVID-19, but the regulars are still coming along to collect their takeaways in their droves.

The portions were very generous and accentuated the homeliness that we enjoyed so much. We started off with fish pakora, which was light

and fluffy and served with a side salad. The fish flaked away in your mouth and was utterly delicious.

Vegetarians and vegans are also well catered for, with the staff eager to adapt menu items to suit any dietary needs. We also tried the vegetable samosas as an alternative starter.

We could have eaten them all, but given curries were inbound, chose to restrain ourselves!

Photos by Renfrewshire Foodies

irstly, Multan Tandoori isn’t somewhere you happen to fall into. Although not far from the main thoroughfare of Paisley and easily walkable from Gilmour Street station, you really need to be clued up to come here. You’ll find it safely hidden on George Street, illuminated by a huge white and red sign.

Multan’s regulars are clearly in the know, though. A warm and welcoming reception awaited us from David, the restaurant’s owner, alongside one of his daughters who works front-of-house after school.

We can see why people come time and time again. Its homely charm comes from a simplistic interior that reminds you of a traditional Scottish Indian family-owned restaurant – no airs and graces, just great, wholesome food from an expansive menu. We soon learned that many of its repeat visitors have their own personalised curry and they’re not afraid to call up and order it.

The restaurant has been open since 1988, remaining in the same family and being passed down through generations, its current owner, David, took over in 2007 and has overseen the business as it’s racked up numerous awards. From the South West of Scotland’s Curry Restaurant of the Year at the Annual Curry Awards to the Best Indian Restaurant in Renfrewshire from ThreeBestRated.co.uk, they’ve got plenty of accolades to their name.

Our evening kicked off with some papadums served with a selection of chutneys. We enjoyed these over a conversation with the proprietors and it was fascinating to learn about the restaurant’s heritage and how they’ve adapted during a challenging year; namely offering a bigger takeaway and collection service to locals. The restaurant delivers across Paisley, Linwood and Barrhead during the week and Paisley-only at weekends due to demand for their food. David told us how his

We tried a chicken and a vegetarian dish as our main courses, going for one of the house specials, the chicken balti butter masala, served in a ginger, garlic, almondy, buttery and creamy sauce. Our waitress described it as soul food and it absolutely was – the type of warmth you crave on a chilly October evening. The second dish, a tarka daal, was equally as delicious, with well-balanced spices and another plentiful serving to boot. One rice dish and a plain naan to share was more than enough between two.

Multan Tandoori don’t scrimp on quantity (or quality) and the offer is there to take your leftovers home for the next day, should you wish.

The Multan Tandoori’s appeal is unique– it’s a Paisley institution where your parents probably went and took you as a child so now, imbued with a sense of nostalgia, you return yourself as an adult. Yet as newcomers, we felt more than welcomed on the night we went along and we’d unquestionably return.

If you’re looking for a modern, glamorous Indian restaurant, it’s probably not for you. But, if you’re in search of delicious food or a cosy and unpretentious place to meet friends and leave with your stomach and your heart full, Multan Tandoori will hit the spot. In the biggest endorsement of all, we’ve since learned that Renfrewshire Foodie Emma sent her husband back to Paisley three days after their visit for the customary weekend takeaway.

His destination? None other than Multan Tandoori.

5 George Street, Paisley PA1 2JB, 0141 889 4426, paisleymultan.co.uk

Paisley’s multi-award-winning restaurant, consistently raising standards since 1988.

2018 REGIONAL WINNER

2019 REGIONAL WINNER

REGIONAL WINNER

THE AAA GUIDE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

George Street, Paisley PA1 2JB Tel: 0141 889 4426 www.paisleymultan.co.uk MILL 63

FOOD & DRINK

W

hen you think about what takes a locale and transforms it into an institution, there’s a persisting idea that tenure is the guiding principle. Yet for every rule, there are exceptions to justify their existence and when it comes to Johnstone Coffee Co, this High Street eatery has accomplished more in a year-and-a-half than some cafes do in decades.

Twinned with its Elderslie Coffee Shop branch, their ethos has always been beautiful in its unwavering simplicity. From their Gatehouse Coffee Roasters-crafted beverages to the prime cuts of produce that are sourced from the nearby Elderslie Butchers, everything’s locally sourced and imbued with a real passion for the area. As well as being one of the most aesthetically pleasing places in town, it’s comforting to know that they’ve got the heart to match. When the local community was stricken by lockdown, their commitment to providing free school meals proved that there’s always more at stake than the money in the till.

As opposed to getting by on their principled approach, what awaits you inside is every bit as rewarding. Settling in with a masterfully crafted latte, their vast menu ensures that there’s something for every culinary palette. On this occasion, our designer Paul opted for the eggs benedict complete with crispy bacon and sriracha infused with the hollandaise that was very attuned to his tastes.

Without uttering a word, the temporary vow of silence that hung over the table told me all that I needed to know about how much he’d enjoyed it.

LUNCH AT JOHNSTONE COFFEE CO. With enthusiasm and expertise to spare, Robert and Paul are left bowled over by their trip to this High Street café.

Meanwhile, I just couldn’t see past the allure of their halloumi burger. Aligning Cyprus’ greatest export with invitingly fresh mushrooms and a fried tomato, this burger would’ve stood triumphantly on its own. But when you pair it with a flavour-accentuating southwest sauce, side salad and exemplarily seasoned fries, it became even greater than the sum of its parts.

As if that wasn’t enough, Paul and I were then treated to a rundown of the new dessert-based delights that they have on offer. All lovingly crafted by new head chef Ryan—otherwise known as @beardysbakewell on Instagram—each brownie and cookie sandwich left us in collective awe. Plus, once you’ve had a deep-fried Mars bar with pancake batter, you’ve touched the stars.

Hellbent on expanding their horizons with each passing month, what makes owner Toni Marshall and his team’s operation so special is that where other cafes would be contented with success, they’re always striving for more.

As a result, we’d bet that this is only the first chapter in an illustrious legacy.

Johnstone Coffee Co., 71 High Street , PA5 8QG, 01505 320896.

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Where to pick up Mill BISHOPTON INCHINNAN 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 1 Windsor Place, PA11 3AF Harrods Dry Cleaners 8 Castle Terrace, PA11 3EF Ice Mania 13 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN 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

Look Opticians Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA Pandamonium Play Centre 53 Kilpatrick Drive, PA8 7AF

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 Versari Beauty 13a Kirk Road PA6 7HW

HOWWOOD

Bowfield Hotel & Country Club Bowfield Road, PA9 1DZ The Boarding House Main Street, PA9 1BQ

The Farm at No.12 12 Brownsfield Holding, Barnsford Road, PA4 9LZ

JOHNSTONE 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 Morrisons 30 Napier Street, PA5 8SF No. 8 66 High Street, PA5 8SG Optical Express 28A High Street, PA5 8AH Quality Cards & Gifts 2 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT Signature Permanent Cosmetics 6-8 Walkinshaw Street, PA5 8AB

KILBARCHAN Bobbins 25 Steeple Street, PA10 2JF

KILMACOLM Cairn 1 Lochwinnoch Road, PA13 4HE Carriages Bar & Restaurant Station Road, PA13 4DW Cross Cafe Port Glasgow Road, PA13 4ET

LINWOOD

Linwood Farm 1 Hillhead Drive, PA3 3FB Premier Inn Phoenix Retail Park, PA1 2BH The Salon 15 Napier Street, PA3 3AJ

LOCHWINNOCH

Bailey’s Antiques 34 High Street, PA1 2DQ 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

Over 120 stockists across Renfrewshire Black & Lizars 6 New Street, PA1 1XY Blend Coffee Lounge 25b Causeyside Street, PA1 1UL Bull Inn 7 New Street, PA1 1XU Cafe Fairfull 12A High Street, PA1 2BS Caffe Pronto 96 Causeyside Street PA1 1TX 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 Connected Chiropractic 7 Neilston Road, PA2 6LL Courtyard by Marriott Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport Business Park, PA3 2SJ Claire Reid Hairdressing 7 Mill Street, PA1 1LY DP Group 119 Renfrew Road, PA3 4EA Elixir Lounge 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Finishing Touches 7 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Francis Hair Salon & Weave Bar 3 Johnston Street, PA1 1XQ 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 Shop 9b Gilmour Street, PA1 1DG Ivad Gifts 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 Morrisons Thread Street, PA1 1GZ

My Hair Guru 48 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Napier Hair & Beauty 136 Neilston Road, PA2 6QH Nibbles Takeaway 3 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Orchard Clinic 16 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ 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 R999 Barbers 23 High Street, PA1 2AF 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 Tastys 29 George Street PA1 2LD 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 White Cart Company 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

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

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LAST WORD

PEOPLE

Although he may be a veteran of his craft, award-winning barber Roberto Gelali is always striving for more.

How long have you been in the industry for? I’ve been barbering for nearly 25 years.

It seems like a long time, but I’m constantly learning. Fifteen years ago, it wasn’t really in fashion. Now, it’s became very trendy and people are engaging with it. Between modern barbering and vintage styles, it’s changed a lot and has become really popular.

How did you get started in Paisley and how has the business progressed over the years? I initially set up shop here 12 years ago and when I opened up, there weren’t a lot of barbers around. So, I got a lot of customers straight away and they’re still coming to me. In a way, it’s become like a little family.

Some of them never miss a week, they make you a part of their life. I don’t look at barbering as just a business, I love it and I respect it.

Likewise, it’s never just about paying bills; it’s my passion and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Particularly when you feel like you’re a part of the community you work in, which I really do.”

You’ve competed in contests all over the UK. Is it rewarding to see your talents and years of work being acknowledged like that? When I compete in these things, I don’t do it just to win. It’s because I not only love what I’m doing, but the local support that I got when I was heading to events in Glasgow, Liverpool and London was amazing.

There were international barbers from all 66 MILL

Q&A WHO CUTS YOUR HAIR? Francis from Francis Hair Salon and Weave Bar, Paisley BEST PLACE FOR COFFEE Blend BEST PLACE TO EAT IN PAISLEY? Jam Jar

over the world competing, so to get in the top list and represent Renfrewshire, our area and myself was really special.”

You’ve got big plans going forward.

Can you tell us a little about them? For my own business, the aim is not to just give people a haircut and send them away, I want it to be a place where they can come and socialise. We have ideas for the future about how we can really merge all of that together. Also, there’s no barbering association in Paisley, but I’d love for there to be one. I think it’s important to come together, so that’s something I intend to do.

Keep up with Roberto on Facebook and Instagram @r999barbers, Roberto’s R999 Barbers, 23 High Street, Paisley, PA12AQ

FEATURES

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