Darren McGarvey on his new book An in-depth chat with Kirstin Innes The rebirth of the Ferguslie Mills
The return of Paisley Food & Drink Festival
Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire
Please take this awaymagazinewithyou 015
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The latest from across the area DINNER AT ANISE
A spotlight on the recreation of the Ferguslie Mills THE SHAPE OF RENFREWSHIRE
A coffee shop revolution in Renfrew
A cherished town-wide event returns IN UNISON
FEATURES
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CONTENTS
On writing, activism and Renfrewshire DARREN MCGARVEY
58 ENTERTAINMENT
All the updates to your watchlist
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Stunning photography from students of West College Scotland
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A homage to Wes Anderson Corum
04 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR WHAT’S ON Events for your calendar
CULTURE THE SOUND OF RENFREWSHIRE
Up-and-coming Washington on his engrossing sound LITERATURE
FOOD & DRINK FOOD NEWS
16 KIRSTIN INNES
The River Inn’s Indian eatery LUNCH AT COFFEE JAM
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38 ThePROPERTYlatestfrom
The birth and formation of OneRen SHINING BRIGHT
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10 PAISLEY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Another Star In The Sky BACK TO LIFE
48 LOCAL GUIDES: HOUSTON Writer Denny McGee on his adopted hometown
INTERVIEWS
An interview with 66 THE LAST WORD Artist Indie McCue on his plans for Renfrewshire’s creative community HEALTH & BEAUTY AND UnwindingRELAX!atBowfield Hotel & Country Club Spa FASHION INTERIORS
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WORDS FROM THE
Men’s Fashion Editor: Josef McFadden
Published by Mill Magazine Ltd. 2014 Mile End Mill, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley, PA1 1JS.
Editor: Robert Blair
After a long, desolate and rain-sodden winter, there’s nothing that uplifts the spirits quite like those lighter days and later sunsets gradually coming into view.
All the best,
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 2021.
the life INTRODUCTIONcolleagues.studentsfriends,hisgoesOurRobertmemoryandofTabor.heartouttofamily,and
EDITOR
Robert Blair
Sub Editor: Alistair Forrest
4 MILL correctair.co.ukSolutionssponsoredThisSwanson,imageFergusliemillmagazine.co.ukmillmagazine_millmagazinemillmagazineMillcoverbyCameronseepage20magazineiskindlybyCorrectair(Scotland)Ltd, Please take this awaymagazinewithyou 015 Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire Darren McGarvey on his new book An in-depth chat with Kirstin Innes The rebirth of the Ferguslie Mills The return of Paisley Food & Drink Festival
Contributors: Natalia Aronowicz, Kiera Burns, Olivia Carlton , Michelle Cohen, Alessandra Fais, Gary Higgins, Lisa-Marie Hughes, John R Hume, Oksana Karuniene, Denny Macgee, Douglas Mackenzie, Bartosz Madejski, Louisa Mahon, Ewelina Malek, Joshua Edward Mcalweenie, Reiss McGuire, Lauren Mckinnon, Rachel McMinn, Avi Mendez, Victoria Mitchell, Fiona Murray, Ronnie Murphy, Brian O’Shea, Natalia Padlo, Cameron Swanson, Mark Swaroop, Setor Tordzro, Richard Vassie
With that, please dive in.
This issue is dedicated to
Design & Sales: Paul Dickson
To assist with this process, our first edition of 2022 is laden with stories of those who’ve persevered through hardship of all kinds in order to create the life they want to lead and enrich those of the community around them. From bold ideas that can realign our perspectives to selfless acts of kindness that make us all feel a little more glass-half-full about this planet, we hope that this issue leaves you feeling inspired, entertained and at least temporarily relieved of any hard times that this winter may have thrown your way.
Beauty Editor: Susie Cormack Bruce Interiors Editor: Kike Pavlik
A sure-fire antidote to the seasonal ennui that appears, regular as clockwork, around the early stages of the year, spring’s arrival provides a chance to shake off the amassed cobwebs of hibernation and finally forge ahead with your plan for 2022. As after the past couple of turbulent trips around the sun, it’s safe to say that now, more than ever, we’re all looking for a spell of joy and productivity that will rejuvenate our verve for the world on a local, national and global level.
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Hailing from nearby Glasgow, experimental electronic musician Alex Smoke creates soundscapes that are intended to correspond with the environments they’re performed in. Now, he’s set to bring his musical stylings – and a newly minted instrument known as a ‘third bridge zither’ – to the gothic surrounds of Paisley Abbey for what is sure to be a spellbinding, one-of-a-kind performance. To purchase tickets, visit sonic-a.co.uk/portfolio/2022-alex-smoke-creation
FUTURE EXHIBITIONPAISLEY
Known far and wide as the “Baron of Techno”, Dave Clarke is primed to make his long-awaited return to Paisley’s Club 69 this March. Initially scheduled for November of last year, the world-class DJ will be bringing his immersive sound to Paisley’s very own Club 69 for a rare intimate set. Never one to short-change his adoring audience, he is gearing up for a three-hour set in Paisley’s very own 200-capacity dance hotspot. Final release tickets are available via Resident Advisor for just £20.
In conjunction with Police Scotland, the team over at I Am Me have formulated “Keep Safe Awareness Day.” Intended to bolster the nationwide campaign to create “safe and supportive communities for everyone”, the event will also seek to reach out to other local areas in order to strengthen this vital cause.
If you haven't taken a trip to the Future Paisley exhibition in the Piazza as of yet, we strongly implore you to do so. Hinged around the town's past, present and future, the new installation maps out a bold and revolutionary look at our area in order to depict why we “can be a leader for towns everywhere”. Focusing on everything from culture sustainability,to it's anforessentialanyonewhohopes to see the remaininggrowevolvecontinuetowntoandwhiletiedto its storied legacy.
SATMAR123pm 19UNTILRUNSMAR FRI11MAR11pm WEDMAR23
WHAT'S ON
Curate your calendar with our rundown of events around Renfrewshire
KEEP DAYAWARENESSSAFE
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DAVE CLARKE
ALEX SMOKE: CREATION
Community Champion
SUN 8:30MAR27pmSAT26MAR7:30pmSAT26MAR10am
WHAT’S ON
The latest instalment in what is a monthly residency at the Gilmour Street favourite, Braw Comedy sees an eclectic range of stand-ups head to Paisley to provide a regularly scheduled dose of hilarity. Hosted by Glasgow-based comedian James Gardner (pictured), the full line-up for this month’s show will be unveiled nearer the time. Tickets are available now via Braw’s website and are priced at just £10.
RENFREW MEETS BROADWAY
One group that I’ve started working with of late is Homeless Project Scotland. I’ve been volunteering and donating stuff wherever we could. Around Christmas, we did grab bags where I put hats, scarfs, gloves, hand warmers and other winter supplies in them. The other day, someone came with an empty van and left with a full one, so that’s always nice to see. They said that it’d been a godsend to them, so we’re keen to keep that partnership alongside our work with Homeless Veterans.
Recently, we managed to get a second pup for Guide Dogs too. We’ve named her Hope, which seemed like a fitting name. She’s coming to visit soon, so we’re all really excited about that. We’re already well on our way to a third!
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THEIRDOINGBIT
Now that we can get back into the schools, I’m going to find out how we can assist them as well.
Steeped in the splendour of Lochwinnoch’s Nature Reserve, RSPB’s ‘Spring Sketching for the Soul’ will provide visitors with the chance to recreate the beauty that they see before them. Led by Katie, this two-hour session will encompass both practical tips on drawing and will also provide a much-needed respite from the chaos of everyday life. To find out more, visit events.rspb.org.uk
To find out about Julie’s work, please join her Facebook group at “Morrisons Johnstone Community Champion 156”.
Among the most highly regarded productions in their repertoire, Jazz Hands Glasgow are bringing an evening of scintillating show tunes, musical numbers and more to Renfrew North Church this March. First staged in August 2018 in Glasgow, the performance will feature a litany of your favourite songs “from stage and screen”. Tickets are just £6 and are available now at jazzhandsglasgow.co.uk
RSPB DRAWING SESSIONS
BRAW COMEDY AT THE KEG
On top of these new developments, our foodbank grab bags have remained in place. Over the duration that we’ve been doing them, this store alone has sold over £11,000 worth of bags that have all been donated. Come April, the ongoing cost of living crisis will mean that we’ll need to do our best to keep this going Company-wide; it’s been said that the community champions have sold 1.4 million of these bags. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of food for families that need them too.
With services like these proving to be more vital than ever, Community Champion Julie Scott details recent developments over at Morrisons’ Johnstone branch.
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WHAT’S
POETS IN PAISLEY
A well-tenured sibling duo in the folk sphere, Andrew and Jill Fogarty are making a beeline back to The Bungalow this April for a stacked charitable show for Accord Hospice. Among the most dexterous outfits on the scene, The Fogarty’s will be bringing an array of folk, pop and Americana to delight all audiences. Set to be joined onstage by Robert Wishart, Iain Bell, Corran McArthur and Gill De Groote, all parties are coming together to raise money for a very worthy cause and entertain along the way.
THE FOGARTY’S + GUESTS
A highlight of many attendees’ social calendars, Accord Hospice are returning to The Normandy Hotel for the latest instalment of their Girls’ Night Out. Billed as a chance to “dance through the decades”, the event will start with a champagne reception before a three-course meal. Afterwards, resident DJ Shuggy Wuggy will be on-hand to keep the jigging going into the wee hours. Tickets available from £40.
GUIDED WILDLIFE WALK
Whether you’re an intrepid wildlife expert or would simply like to get more acquainted with what nature has to offer, RSPB’s guided wildlife walks will see the warden provide a tour of the reserve and alert your attention to the notable sights and inhabitants of the area. Along the way, you’ll be given an update on the shape of their future conservation efforts and afterwards, you’ll be taken back to the centre for a warm drink and a biscuit. To find out more about this great day out, email lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk 10APR24am
FRI 8APR1pm
ON
ACCORD HOSPICE GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
After a successful event in March of this year that was headlined by Victoria McNulty, Donna Matthew’s Poets In Paisley will return in May with another top-tier talent at the top of the bill. Set to also feature contributions from four up-and-coming wordsmiths, the show will feature a performance from revered punk poet and former Makar for the Federation of Writers (Scotland), Stephen Watt. To find out more, contact donnamariematthew1@gmail.com
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food lovers seize it with both hands. At once the antidote to our culinary indecision and a chance to celebrate the sheer scope and ingenuity that’s on offer in and around Renfrewshire, the Paisley Food & Drink Festival is set to return in 2022 after its COVID-induced hiatus and it’s safe to say that both the local community and its vendors areRegardedexcited. as one of the most hotly anticipated events in our cultural calendar, the two-day gastronomic extravaganza will take place in the town’s Abbey Close/Bridge Street area, operating from Friday evening (4pm-10pm) before expanding to an all-day affair on Saturday in which
Speaking ahead of the event, Louisa Mahon, Head of Marketing, Communications and Events for
After three years of dormancy, The Paisley Food & Drink Festival is back with a bang.
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If there’s anything that we can all agree upon within our increasingly polarised society, it’s that there is simply nothing better than eating something that invigorates the taste buds. At once a basic need and a real, unfaltering passion for millions of people, we’ve reached a point where we have so much choice that trawling through Just Eat – or in our case, Paisley Eats – and looking for something to order can be a bizarrely daunting experience.Thus,when the option to be able to wander around an array of vendors and try a little bit of everything becomes a reality, it is imperative that our community’s
the festivities will get underway at 12 noon and run until 9pm.
At present, it’s expected that over 30 street food vendors will take to the streets. Comprising both local favourites and esteemed guests from further afield, revellers will be able to run the gamut of cuisines, both savoury and sweet alike. In addition to the food, Renfrewshire CAMRA will be ensuring that there’s a similarly vast array of beverages on offer with their festival beer tent. All the while, the atmosphere will be augmented by live music, street performers and workshops for the wee ones.
“Paisley Food and Drink Festival is one of the real highlights of our events programme,” Louise continued, “and it’s great to be back in person after a three-year wait.”
“People travel from all over to enjoy the festival and we cannot wait to welcome everyone. Visitors don’t just spend their time and money at the festival itself, they contribute
Renfrewshire Council, has said that “the food and drink scene is continuing to thrive and grow in Renfrewshire and we know that is why people choose to visit and love living
MILL 11 WHAT’S ON
“It’s a great showcase for local food and drink producers. It’s an opportunity for visitors to find new products that they haven’t seen before and meet the people behind the brand and find out more about their story,” Brian proclaimed. “I may be biased, but for me, it’s the best food and drink event in Scotland. It's relaxed and well organised, as well having a real buzz and it’s a great day out in Paisley. Beyond Paisley Drinks Co, I’m a foodie and I love meeting new producers that I haven’t met before. This year, we’re super excited to be showcasing our new Ginger Beer! Getting feedback first hand is invaluable for small producers.”
The festival takes place on Abbey Close/Bridge Street on 29-30 April. Friday 4pm–10pm and Saturday 12noon–9pm. More info at paisley.is
“We’vehere.”got fantastic places to eat out or to grab a drink with family and friends – and if you’re looking to sample local produce, look no further. The list of quality suppliers and outlets is growing all the time, with many featuring regularly in Mill Magazine.”
positively to local businesses across the area while they take time out and enjoy their stay with us. I am delighted that 2022 marks the return of Paisley Beer Festival and Renfrewshire CAMRA into the main festival tent once again. Supporting local event organisers is key to the success of the event. Foodies and beer connoisseurs can be sure that Paisley Food and Drink Festival will be delicious, safe and great fun.”
Mirroring the enthusiasm of its organisers, Paisley Food and Drink Festival veteran Brian O’Shea of Paisley Drinks Co is similarly elated to see the event return.
To learn more about OneRen’s services, please visit www.oneren.org
FEATURES 12 MILL
IN UNISON
work and it became apparent that everything hinges around community, wellbeing, learning, events, experience and spaces. There was a really strong desire to express that this isn’t just service provision, we’re here for these pivotal life events that occur through birth to adulthood and beyond.”
As they roll out their reimagined organisation CEO Victoria Hollows takes us inside the process of creating OneRen.
Courtesy of the ever-evolving world that we live in, there are times where we all outgrow things that once defined us. In the case of OneRen, formerly known as Renfrewshire Leisure, the time had come to shed the brand identity and address an “imbalance in perception” of what this vital charitable trust entails. Make no mistake, this represents far more than an arbitrary name change.
ANDTHATLIFEWE’RE“HEREFORTHESEPIVOTALEVENTSOCCURTHROUGHBIRTHTOADULTHOODBEYOND”
“We encompass so many different facets of the community,” detailed CEO Victoria Hollows. Of course, we provide gyms, swimming pools, but we’re also responsible for delivering the region’s libraries, heritage centres and museums as well as cultural and sporting activities.
“A lot of our teams would tell us that they didn’t feel connected to the name, so we opened up a conversation about what values we all shared. Coupled with market research from customers and members of the public, it really spoke to the fact that Renfrewshire Leisure didn’t touch the breadth of our“Weservices.”justkept developing that thought process throughout early 2020,” she continued. “But when life took a different turn with the pandemic, we had to put it on hold while we dealt with the emergency presented by looking after our staff and the community. However, we wanted to reflect what we learned into reframing the organisation. The amount of staff engagement that we had was amazing. It wasn’t about ‘this is my service area’ or ‘this is my team’, as everyone had realised that we’re so much more effective when we work collaboratively. We were exploring the common threads that came through all of our
“We wanted to connect and unite as one organisation. That sense of togetherness was there before lockdown, but it really underlined it. It just feels like we can mark a new chapter and that human connection between ourselves and the community is at the“Thisforefront.”isn’tabout prioritising any one area over another,” Victoria emphasised, “it’s about fair representation for all our services and cherishing their individual identities while at the same time, conveying how much we have on offer across Renfrewshire.”
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“As she started doing the charity walks and collecting some money, she realised that the publicity of
“We’vecalendar.already signed up for Kilt Walk 2022 and we’re hoping to get involved with the Glasgow Children’s Hospital’s activities as they should be back to normal. They’re always doing things like bucket collections and even do skydives, but unfortunately Mariya isn’t old enough for that yet (laughs). Just now, I’m trying to get people on board in terms of turning Another Star In The Sky into a community group. We’re always looking for people, so if anyone wants to get in contact, we’d be happy to hear from them.”
W hen an mosttragedyunimaginablehappens,thecourageousthing
For the Javed family, the loss of their son Ahmad at just 14 years of age was the hardest thing they’d ever had to bear. Born with a rare condition known as arteriovenous malformation – commonly abbreviated to AVM – his passing in 2017 left them with the desire to keep his memory alive however they could. Now, Ahmad’s sister, Mariya has done exactly that through her tireless work for their charitable fund, Another Star In The Sky.
“I don’t think how much she’s accomplished has even really become clear because she’s too busy just doing it,” Sameena contended. “After something big happens, like when she won the Renfrewshire Inspirational Award, why she’s doing all of this sinks in.”
“We initially started with the Glasgow Children’s Hospital charity 10k walks, then we heard about the Kilt Walk and thought it might be a bigger stage,” Mariya’s mother Sameena revealed. “To date, she’s done four including the virtual one and she was named a Kilt Walk hero. Mariya enjoys it and we’ve made lots of new friends. Most people there have their own cause, but that’s what brings us all together.
To find out more, please visit Another Star In The Sky on Facebook
BRIGHTSHINING
From campaigning to integrate bereavement education into the school curriculum to aspirations of becoming a charity in their own right, it’s clear that the Javed family will stop at nothing
that anyone can do is to try to turn it into something constructive.
Fresh from winning Young Inspirational Citizen at the first annual charitydiscussesJaved’sInspirationalRenfrewshireAwards,MariyamotherSameenaherincrediblework.
to do Ahmad’s memory proud. Unsurprisingly, they’ve wasted little time in populating their 2022
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the news stories helps with the cause. We need to keep it out there and fundraising is the best way to do it. Ultimately, what we’d like to contribute to is finding some kind of treatment or cure for AVM. Research is advancing all the time, so there’s no reason why we can’t discover one in the future.”
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Fresh from the success of her sophomore novel Scabby Queen, Kirstin Innes talks writing, activism, Renfrewshire and much more.
InnesKirstin
I have an advance copy of Young Mungo, Douglas Stuart’s follow-up to Shuggie Bain
Cucina Minucci at The Junction because David always puts an extra shot in my Americano when I come in knackered off the school run
Q&A
FAVOURITE RESTAURANT? Japan Street Food
“I didn’t have the luxury of writer’s block with it,” Kirstin said of the follow-up to 2015’s Fishnet. “I started writing Scabby Queen at the time that I finally got pregnant after five years of IVF. I had a baby, then a toddler and another pregnancy and it was finished two weeks before the second baby was born. I was a machine (laughs), the manuscript was actually 30,000 words longer than it ended up being.
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
a piece of art comes along that seems to unconsciously tap into the cultural temperature of the times and with her second book, internalisedwhatquibblebeforewasatimeonewritingandBook“Ipresstransitionoftokeephad“Myactually,”hercomfortableshe’spublicationthatstillandtheirseenunjustpresentedthat.InnesLochwinnoch-basedEdinburgh-born,authorKirstinhasaccomplishedexactlyButforallthatherlatestnovelalayered,oftendeeplyworldinwhichpeoplehaveaspectsofbothsocietyandownliveseeninbothbeautifulaggravatingfashion,Kirstincan’tquitebelievethereceptionthenovelhasreceivedsinceitsinJulyof2020.Infact,onlynowbeginningtofeelwithadmittingthatitisprofession.“It’sbeenbloomin’lovely,Kirstinearnestlydeclared.wholeexperienceofthebookallbeenoverascreenbutnow,IleavingRenfrewshiretogetoutbookshopsforsignings!“Ittookmeawhiletoevenkindadmitit,”shesaidofmakingthefromtheworldofartsintobecominganauthor.was28whenIwontheScottishTrust’sNewWritersAwardIhadn’treallyshownanyonemyuptothatpointapartfromfriend.IttookmeaverylongtoactuallytellpeoplethatIwaswriter,IthinkthesecondnoveloutandhadbeenwellreceivedIcouldandIstillhaveawhenataxidriverasksmeIdo.Ithinkwe’veallgotthisimageofwhatawriter
Sometimes,
MILL 17 a policeman came in and told my class that if you’re taking witness statements, five different people witnessing the same thing will give you different accounts as it’s all filtered through their heads.”
“It was always going to be about the treatment of women in left-wing politics,” Kirstin continues. “A lot of it was inspired by an activism burnout after campaigning for Yes in 2014 and then seeing Brexit and Trump happen. I was feeling pretty low and I just kind of shut myself away from the world. My partner [fellow writer and Mill alumni Alan Bissett] would say that he needed to talk to me about all this stuff and I was just like ‘nah, I’ve got the blinkers on’. Then, when he read the book, he realised that’s where it was all going. Things like the ‘Me Too’ movement definitely seeped in too, you can see the influences of the times on that book.”
Now viewed as part of a new swathe of contemporary Scottish writers who have turned in revelatory and life-affirming bodies of work in recent years, Kirstin’s multi-faceted account of the life of Clio Campbell has struck a chord with readers far and wide. Having accrued inspiration for its central character, a protest singer and political activist whose life had often been marginalised down to a hit single that was released when she was just 19 – from real-life figures such as Sinead O’Connor and the late Carrie Fisher, Scabby Queen has been lauded for its decision to enlist a whole host of different narrators. As in doing so, the book presents the late Clio’s story from within a rich tapestry of perspectives that traverses across boundaries of race, gender, sexuality and socioeconomic background.
But to Kirstin’s mind, this wasn’t a conscious decision and actually happened organically.
WHAT BOOK SHOULD EVERYONE READ?
“I didn’t realise the scope that it would have. It’s been tagged as ‘a state of the nation’ novel and that didn’t enter my mind at all at the time. However, it was always going to be told from the points of view of the people who were left behind after this force of a woman had died. I was thinking about how no-one knows the complete truth about somebody else. I kept coming back to this thing from school when
is and it’s like a great big tall guy from England (laughs).”
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR COFFEE?
“WE MOVED OUT HERE WHERE WE COULD ACCESS A GREAT BIG EXPANSE OF WATER AND SKY WITHIN FIVE MINUTES”
The Trick Is To Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway
INTERVIEW
FAVOURITE SCENIC SPOT? Parkhill Woods
INTERVIEWMILL
“My partner would be brought in by local councils – Argyll & Bute, Renfrewshire – to be a school tutor and I’d sometimes come with him,” she said of their decision to move to one of Renfrewshire’s most famed beauty spots. “By the time that we’d get
When a novel resonates as profoundly as Scabby Queen, there is often an expectation that it will be translated into other mediums. While she was understandably tightlipped on the details, Kirstin was delighted that Scabby Queen was promptly receiving the same treatment.“We’venow finally got a script-writer in place for the TV adaptation – that’s all I’m allowed to say at the moment! – but that’s all in progress. While that was happening, there was theatrical interest too.”
After leading with the philosophy that “any place” she visited in the years leading up to the novel’s creation would find its way into Scabby Queen, it’s no surprise that her home base of Renfrewshire actively infiltrated the pages with not only a trip to the RAH, but an introductory period which is spent in a cottage in Kilbarchan.
“I’m in the early stages of it,” Kirstin cautioned, “but it’s quite exciting to have a new project and see it all begin again. I finished writing Scabby Queen in 2018, so it’s felt like a long time coming!”
Scabby Queen is now available via Fourth Estate, while Brickwork: A Biography Of The Arches, comes courtesy of Salamander Street. Keep up with Kirstin on Twitter @kirstininnes.
“The way we discuss things has become so polarised,” Kirstin affirmed. “So, I thought having as many viewpoints as possible would give a more nuanced view of the world.”
back to the city, we would feel a little more hemmed in. So, we moved out here where we could access a great big expanse of water and sky within five minutes. I did most of the groundwork for this novel and now, my third, which will be set in a small village community, when I was walking with the baby in a sling in the Clyde Muirshiel woods,” she revealed. “ I’ve kept doing that same thing – just without the post natal depression or baby (laughs) – and just taking notes on my phone.”
Kirstin’s advice for new writers
“Don’t listen to the voices that tell you that you can’t and invest in an internet blocker. I know so many writers that swear by them, there’s just too much distraction and other stories, so you can’t do a big creative project when you’re still thinking in tweets. Give yourself the mental time and space to do it. Take your characters for a walk, see where they go with space around you.”
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Now that she’s not only written her second novel in Lochwinnoch, but remotely co-authored her ‘lockdown project’ of Brickwork: A Biography of the Arches with David Bratchpiece in the area, Kirstin seems all too aware of the value that its tranquil atmosphere and headscape provides her with.
FEATURESMILL 19
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HOWWOOD
As work on the 3D recreation of the Ferguslie thread mills begins to bear fruit, both those involved in its creation and experts who saw them in all their glory talk to us about their place in both local and international history.
BACK TO LIFE
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“Alas, the thread that bound the site to the company was finally cut in 1984. Today most of the Victorian mills are long gone, now forgotten by many and unrecognisable to the younger generation, who grew up without parents who worked for the company. Today, only three of the smaller
Once at the epicentre of operations, Ferguslie Thread Works were originally formed by Mr James Coats in 1826 and began from relatively humble beginnings. Yet within 19 years of construction commencing, its frontage had grown from 56 feet and three flats to a massive three acres. Let’s not forget that at one point in the early 20th century, J&P Coats was the third largest company in the world.
When it comes Renfrewshire,toit’s safe to say that we don’t shy away from our proud industrial history, particularly as it pertains to our storied relationship with thread. Once perched at the centre of this thriving global industry, the indelible marks of our region-wide expertise in exports such as cotton and silk can be seen across our street names, emblems and even the moniker of this very magazine.
Despite its continued expansion and the number one spinning mill itself eventually being recognised as a Grade A-listed building of European Importance, very little of the former workplace remains in our material world. Instead, they live on in the recollections of those who worked in the mill or were otherwise impacted by their presence in the town.
“Ferguslie Thread Works started life in 1826, becoming J. & P. Coats in 1830,” wrote Richard Vassie of the Paisley People’s Archive. “It stood for 158 years, survived two world wars and was on the frontline of major changes in the industry.
FEATURESMILL
But while some of the structures that kept the town ticking have been painstakingly preserved and subsequently earmarked for reinvention, one monolithic stronghold for Paisley’s thread endeavours has long since disappeared from our skyline.
buildings are left standing. The Counting House, built in 1890, Bridge lane Gatehouse, built in 1887 and the North Gatehouse built in 1858. Additionally, part of the gable end of the stable block, built in 1858, still stands as a monument of what once stood on this thriving site.”
“FOR MY GENERATION, IT CAN BE HARD TO PICTURE THE PAST AND I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO VISUALISE IT”
from thin air. I’d had all these ideas about trying to envision what Paisley used to look like as given that I was born in 1996, there’d been drastic changes that I never saw. For my generation, it can be hard to picture the past and I’ve always thought there are better ways to visualise it. It’s so hard to orient yourself in photos as they’re 2D and you don’t get a sense of the space in terms of where they are in relation to other things. So, that’s where the Mill project came from.”
“I’d been 3D modelling since I was 14, creating things like Paisley Abbey and the Town Hall for Google. It was all
No.1 Spinning Mill and Engine Room
Now, 36 years after it closed its doors, the pivotal place that this long demolished site had in our area and the world at large is being spotlighted through a stunning, 3D recreation of the buildings by the man behind the Paisley Buildings Facebook community, Cameron Swanson.
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“I got in touch with Richard Vassie to discuss a built heritage group in Paisley that’d take on restoration projects. It’d be along the lines of what Glasgow Building Preservation does, in terms of being a charitable developer. It seemed like Paisley was missing that,” he explained.
“Richard was really engaged with heritage and knew a lot about the mills and after we got talking about my skill set, the idea of recreating one of them seemed to be plucked
Bridge Lane Gatehouse on what is now Spoolers Road
A stunning rendering that will not only amaze those who’d never bore witness to the mills, but spark wistful memories in the thousands of people who remember them with fondness, Cameron’s decision to take on this project comes from his deepseated passion for the conservation of our architectural wonders.
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Although many of those who’ve been invested in the project’s rollout
“MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THIS WAS THE LAST DAY OF OPERATION FOR THE MILL AND THERE WAS A POWERFUL SENSE OF IT BEING THE END OF AN ERA”
Possessing a near encyclopaedic knowledge of Scotland’s industrial heritage, John photographed the mills from the 60s through to the dying embers of their usage. Having fleetingly worked for J&P Coats in the dyeing laboratory of the Anchor Mills, he’d make his first trip to the lauded Ferguslie site six years on when he contributed to Dr John Butt’s publication, The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland. At this stage, he was not permitted to enter any workspaces and wouldn’t cross the threshold of any of its vast network of buildings until 1984.
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Half Timers’ School viewed from the canalside or The Moorings
Courtesy of the new 3D flyover video that he’s unveiled, the sheer scope of these buildings can now be comprehended once more. In the wake of unveiling his work to the world, Cameron has been left bowled over by the response that his creation has received online.
“It’s been quite surprising and heart-warming. I’d shared it on all different platforms but on Facebook, it was all former workers that had commented on it. Either that or people who had relatives going back generations that’d told them stories, so it was great to see all of that flooding into the comments section. The one thing that is missing with this at the moment is that sense of an oral history, so I believe that Richard has plans to integrate that into the flythrough and make it a bit more robust.”
“One of the big intentions behind this is to show people what we’ve lost. The only thing that does concern me is that this is almost a replacement and it doesn’t matter about conserving. For me, that’s the opposite of what we’re trying to do as it’s no substitute for something real. We hope it encourages people to look at what they have around them now and care about it a bit more.”
have been based locally, one man that is very enthused by the concept is famed photographer and former Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings for Historic Scotland, John R Hume.
“We’ve got lots of different ideas about what we want to do, but they’re all focused on making it a bit more engaging. The model’s there and always will be, so the possibilities for its use are endless. The way that technology is developing, especially around VR, it’s just amazing.”
done on the exact same software that I use to this day, but I’ve just gotten a lot better at it with practice (laughs).”
“I spent several hours taking the photographs, which are now in the HES collection,” John declared. “My recollection is that this was the last day of operation for the mill and there was a powerful sense of it being the end of an era. What struck me from my first experience from outside the perimeter of the mill complex was the extraordinary dignity of the buildings, both individually and collectively.”
“I was impressed with the distinction of the Number One Spinning Mill and when, in 1984, I was able to see inside it and its engine house, I was even more astounded both by its scale and the care taken by both clients and architects to produce a thoroughly functional and at the same time, distinguished building.”
By then, he was appointed to lead a team known as The Scotland Industrial Archaeology Survey out of Strathclyde University. Upon hearing of the mill’s impending closure, he requested the chance to finally head inside and capture its interior. Along the way, he found both remnants of its glory days and the ravages of industrial decline.
With ambition and enthusiasm to spare, there’s no telling where Cameron and Richard will take their project from here. Whatever the case, we can only hope that the model – whether transplanted to VR or other formats – will not only reinforce the mills’ historical significance, but lead us to safeguard our architectural treasures in the future.
To view Cameron’s breathtaking creation, visit Paisley Buildings on Facebook or on Twitter @Paisleybuilt. For more from Richard, visit paisleypeoplesarchive.org
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“The earlier mills, the L plan block, which originally had a clock on the north front, were included in Sir John Stirling Maxwell’s pre-second world war book Shrines and Homes of Scotland. It was the only industrial building so honoured and as far as I know, the first recognition of industrial buildings as architecture in Scotland.”
“I am delighted to hear of the virtual reality recreation of The Ferguslie Thread Works,” John affirmed. “ I’m fully supportive of it.”
“FERGUSLIE THREAD WORKS STOOD FOR 158 YEARS, SURVIVED TWO WORLD WARS AND WAS ON THE FRONTLINE OF MAJOR CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY”
“What is very important to me is the extraordinary virtuosity of the design of the mill engine and its house,” he continued. “It was constructed by Fullerton, Hodgart & Barclay in their Vulcan Foundry and is probably the most beautiful combination of mill engine and engine house ever made and a superb instance of the care taken by J & P Coats. The thread, while almost invisible, was at the heart of western civilisation as it developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.”
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Scotland’s beauty superstar Jamie Genevieve has done the impossible – created new lipstick shades we’re lusting after even more than her signature nudes. Promise, seen here, is a big favourite and the ‘Modern Matte’ formula is rich and creamy in texture with zero dryness. Yours for £19. View and shop online at vieve.co.uk
BYOMA is the latest high performance, low cost beauty brand you need to get acquainted with. Packed with powerhouse ingredients that are proven to restore the health of the skin barrier, it’s the latest brainchild of Scottish Tan-Luxe creator Marc Elrick with everything, get this, under £15. Oh, and your Instagram ‘shelfies’ will look all the better with one of these colourful bottles standing centre stage/shelf. Find at cultbeauty.co.uk
For more from Susie, sincerelyyourssusie.comvisit or follow her on Instagram at @sincerelyyourssusie
Capital Idea
BEAUTY
AFTER DARK
BLOOMING LOVELY
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Highly pigmented and available in a mix of nine matte and shimmer shades, there’s a Milani Cosmetics Rose Powder Blush to suit every skin tone and if you think it looks pretty in the pan, wait until you add a pop to your cheeks. £13 online at Beauty Bay.
Spring around the corner, our beauty expert Susie Cormack Bruce weighs in on the must-haves of the season
The imagery surrounding Jo Malone London’s new The Night Collection is almost as otherworldly as the scents themselves. Moonlit Camomile was our favourite with feathery English camomile, blue moonflowers and sensual white musk coming together to create a unique ‘what are you wearing?’ scent. Launching mid-March online and at Jo Malone London stores and concessions. Prices start at £32.
EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE
MILL 29 2for1from£69Youknowyoushould Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single-vision lenses (or 1.6 for £169 Rimless ranges). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses in first pair only. Excludes SuperDigital, SuperDrive varifocals, SuperReaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge – Extra Options. Book an eye examination at specsavers.co.uk Paisley 5 Moss Street Tel 0141 848 9192 With single-vision lenses to the same prescription
• Individualised care and practical support to people in their own homes
How did you start out?
I worked in a salon in Johnstone and went to college in Hope Street in Glasgow on my day off.
• A range of social, creative, therapeutic, educational and physical activity groups
What’s the best thing about working in the beauty industry?
I have some really wonderful clients and due to being situated in the hotel, I have the pleasure of meeting people from all over the world.
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What’s your favourite beauty essential? Gatineau Peeling Expert Exfoliator is my favourite beauty product.
What’s your most asked for celebrity look? The long bob and shorter, more blunt version have been very popular of late, lots of celebrities have been going for this look.
What’s the most popular treatment/service at the hair & beauty salon? The most popular services we carry out are hair colouring and massage.
Things opening back up can seem a little scary right now. You might be anxious about returning to the office; eating out at your favourite café or restaurant; going out shopping and to the cinema or even just seeing a loved one in-person. “Getting back to normality” is a phrase that’s been used a lot of late, but this may never be appropriate given the irretrievable impact that COVID has had and continues to have.
Lastly, what’s your top tip for relaxing at home? To unwind, I love to take long walks in the fresh air with my dog.
BEAUTY expert
As the world returns to its normal rhythms, RAMH is here to help to alleviate any issues that this process may yield.
What’s your favourite beauty treatment? My favourite beauty treatment has to be a facial.
If you feel like you could benefit from using our services, please call 0141 847 8900 or email enquiries@ramh.org for more information. You can self-refer to RAMH for free and you don’t need a medical diagnosis to use our services.
Based within Ingliston Hotel & Country Club, Lynsey Boyd shares some of her top tips and trade secrets.
What’s your go-to hair product and why? Kerastase Curl Manifesto. I have naturally wavy hair, so this product is great to control and smooth it without feeling too heavy or sticky. Smells lovely too!
• Immediate support in crisis situations for residents aged 16 and over in Renfrewshire
AT YOUR OWN PACE
• Employability support to help individuals gain or maintain employment and/or volunteering opportunities
Our crisis line FIRST is also available to all over 16s in Renfrewshire. If you are feeling suicidal or experiencing crisis in your mental health, please contact us. Call 0800 221 8929 to speak to one of our trained staff.
It's important to remember to take things at your own pace. You’re not alone, we all have mental health and one-in-four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year.
If you feel like you need a little extra help, then RAMH can support you. We continue to help people in the same way we always have: by promoting recovery from mental ill-health, and empowering people to build independent, fulfilled lives. We offer a range of free, confidential services which provide:
• Support for family, friends, carers and the wider community through information and education
• One-to-one counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor
In this current climate, we may be feeling more isolated and anxious than usual. So, there is no shame in talking to someone and seeing things from a different perspective. This has been a difficult couple of years for most of us. Hopefully by talking to someone, everyday life will become easier to cope with.
Wellbeing
A Strategy For
To enlist Elle’s services for yourself or your business, head to positivelifeapproaches.co.uk or email her on hello@positivelifeapproaches.co.uk
MILL 31 HEALTH & BEAUTY We are a counselling service offering 1-21 support to help individuals who may be dealing with stress, anxiety and low mood. positivelifeapproaches.co.uk hello@ supportcounsellingLocalpositivelifeapproaches.co.uk1-2-1CallElleon07794368260 • stress • anxiety • low mood • low self-esteem • depression • loss/trauma We can help you with...
My aim is to help organisations, especially third sector and crisis support services, to train their staff in awareness of suicide, self-harm and to offer wellbeing sessions to help their staff reduce their stress and afford what could be a crucial opportunity to offload. Among the many personal benefits, investing in employee wellbeing can also lead to increased resilience and reduced sickness absence as well as higher performance andTheproductivity.self-management approach that I offer is effective for individuals with long-term conditions such as Chronic Fatigue, ME, Fibromyalgia and Long Covid. As there are no fixes or cures for many conditions, looking after yourself is key to coping and providing focus. For me, it’s important that everything is bespoke and tailored to each individual and organisation alike. In addition, I want to ensure that people who may not otherwise be able to get access to counselling will receive the help they need.
Armed with 20 years of experience in health and social care, Elle from Positive Life Approaches takes us inside her unique blend of counselling and self-management.
“Massagesthemselves.andfacials are probably the most common
a whole host of expansions, Mill learns all about the restorative effects of a trip to Bowfield Hotel & Country Club. and relax...
to treat themselves to a bit of rest and“Therelaxation.othergreat thing about what we do is that it's affordable. We have three different spa packages, starting at £65. ‘The Rejuvenate’ –which is our top package – is actually great value for money as you get £150 worth of treatment for just £129. With that, you also get your prosecco, afternoon tea and access to all of the facilities. People get kind of taken aback when you first say the price and then they’re amazed at how much you get for it!”
Having amassed a varied clientele and plenty of repeat customers, Mullen, who is a veteran of the leisure industry, believes that the Bowfield has tapped into something special and at this rate, it’s becoming Renfrewshire’s unofficial centre for all things self-care.
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we’re more acutely aware of the value of giving ourselves time to unwind than ever. Where previous generations saw relaxation as an indulgence, it’s now rightfully seen as a necessity for a happy and prosperous life. However, what often stops us in our tracks is the price point
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Now,attached.courtesy of Bowfield Country Club & Hotel, our local community has a place to destress for“Withless. a lot of the bigger hotels, people come to stay over and it’s a different experience,” said spa manager Caroline Mullen during our visit to their top-of-the-range facilities. “Whereas with the Bowfield, you get a lot of local people who just come for the day
“The experience starts from the minute you come in the door, we want you to be relaxing straight away and the atmosphere is everything. Once you get into your robe and slippers, that’ll be you for the rest of the day. Even when you’re having your afternoon tea!”
Today,
“It’s so important,” she says of the need to relax and recharge. “Everyone that comes to the spa gets a chance to let us know what they think and it’s amazing to see the reviews. People are saying that they’ve never had massages like it and it makes the girls feel amazing too. The other day, a woman was giving one of them a cuddle because she just felt so good! I’m so glad that people are going out of their way to look after
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“The best thing is always referrals and word-of-mouth is how we get so much of our business,” she continued. “We get to know the people that come all the time and it’s just a knock-on effect. Once we get people in, they always come back!”
“THE EXPERIENCE STARTS FROM THE MINUTE YOU COME IN THE DOOR, WE WANT YOU TO BE RELAXING STRAIGHT AWAY AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS EVERYTHING”
To book a spa retreat at the Bowfield, visit bowfieldhotel.co.uk
“We’ll be adding a couples room from the second week in March,” Caroline revealed. “It just made sense as we have a lot of partners coming in together. Now, they can stay with each other for the entire experience and that has been done as a response to people asking us for it. We just took that feedback on-board and realised that it was time to make it happen.”
led people from all over to gravitate towards the “Customersspa.come from all over. This morning, I just spoke to someone who’d travelled through from Edinburgh as they’d heard such good things from one of their friends. They weren’t even staying over! We obviously have plenty of members from the area, but we’d always love to see more people coming along and seeing what’s on offer. It’s a perfect getaway for the day.”
Nestled in acres of uninterrupted countryside, their new outdoor hydrotherapy pool allows visitors to have a moment of stillness with a prosecco or cocktail. Inside, their new, state-of-the-art pool has swimming enthusiasts lining up to try it out.
treatments that people get, but we offer a lot more including facials, reflexology, body wraps and salt and oilFromscrubs.”arelaxation room in which you can capitalise on your postmassage serenity to seven treatment rooms that are manned by fully Espa-trained practitioners, Bowfield hasn't skimped on any of the finer details. Installed just months ago, the spa and leisure club’s new aquatic attractions have proven to be an amenity that’s too good for visitors to turn down.
Situated just 10 minutes away from Paisley and 20 from Glasgow, the Bowfield is unique in that it provides the feeling of seclusion and remoteness while being just a stone’s throw from major towns and cities. For Caroline, it’s been a pleasure to see how this unique location has
“It’s amazing, you can see yourself swimming in it. We’ve actually had people saying that they came specifically because of it, it’s like something you’d get in Dubai.”
Racer back tops are a timeless piece, making them the perfect base for any outfit. Handmade in the UK using organic and sustainable materials, I guarantee you’ll be wearing this top non-stop. £35, Kohr at wearthlondon.com
This handmade wooden shoulder bag is the must-have accessory of the season. Its neutral tone makes it extremely versatile and a great addition to every ensemble. £27, Ellyla at wearthlondon.com
With the war on fast fashion ramping up, local blogger Rachel McMinn highlights some excellent sustainable pieces for both men and women.
Sunglasses are a spring/summer need that will completely elevate your look. When buying these upcycled sunnies, you are also supporting and donating to Vision Aid Overseas and Lions Clubs International. £35, retrospecced.co.uk
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T-SHIRTKOMODO
Pair this organic cotton t-shirt with jeans and trainers for an everyday outfit. Alternatively, go for linen trousers and dress shoes for a fancier look. Whatever the case, it’s a wardrobe essential for the coming seasons. £27.50, Komodo immaculatevegan.comat
RETRO SPECCED
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ELLYLA BAG
KOHR TOP
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Made from corn-based vegan leather, these unisex trainers are incredibly versatile. Trainers will always be a staple item and when you buy them from Saye, they will plant 2 trees to help fight against deforestation. £120, global.sayebrand.com
This cardigan is a great layering piece as we change seasons. This creation is made from 100% organic cotton and the light shade of pink is gorgeous for this time of year. £12.99 (Price subject to int.nu-in.comchange),
Made from 100% fairtrade and organic cotton, this hoodie is the perfect transitional piece. The sage green hue serves as the perfect pop of colour for spring/ summer. yesfriends.co.uk£29.99,
For more from Rachel, follow her on Instagram @ rachonfashion
SAYE VEGAN TRAINERS
5 CARDIGANNU-IN
PROPERTYMILL
One of the easiest ways to add personality to a room is with eccentric wallpaper. Consider using bright, vibrant patterns in the living room, bathroom or as accent walls throughout your house. Define your space by a unique and memorable colour palette. Choose a colour scheme and composition early, but don’t be afraid to deviate as this
A good example is adding a record player, as this is a common trope of Wes Anderson’s cinematic worlds. Statement furniture is a great way to make your room pop, so try to
Framed Print, £145, cultfurniture.com
If you’re in the mood to liven up your home, our interiors expert Kike Pawlik suggests taking cues from one of cinema’s finest auteurs.
Portable turntable,£69.99, TKMaxx
If you feel a little bit bored by your home décor and are looking for something unusual yet tasteful, then it’s a perfect time to be inspired by Wes Anderson’s work. With an instantly recognisable aesthetic style, the works of Anderson are more than just films. Over the course of his career Wes Anderson’s singular canon has become an accidental icon of interior design. Even those unfamiliar with Anderson’s movies have certainly come across some piece of design, fashion, or décor inspired by his work. His vibrant and exciting approach to set design is for those with passion for art and symmetry and a love of colour. Channelling Wes’ signature style will give you the ability to showcase unique prints and wallpapers, while allowing vintage objects and household items to stand alone as focal points. There are many ways in which you can incorporate the Anderson ouevre into your home and surroundings and to create an unusual, lively, and imaginative living space. His signature style calls for bright colours, bold furniture, and works of art placed in unexpected ways throughout a space.
& INTERIORS
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will help you emphasise important details like a piece of décor or furniture that you really want to make stand out.
All the while, there’s plenty of room for personal touches that make your space reflective of your individual taste as Anderson’s approach permits the rethinking of every object. Look for often perfunctory items like kitchen utensils, clock, phone and table lamps that spark your interest and brighten your space.
Sofa, michaelmurphy.ie€599,
Clock, £25, cuckooland.com
Chair, £299, DFS Furniture Framed Print, abstracthouse.com£28, Retro
Kike Pavlik is a Paisley-based interior design student at The Glasgow School of Art. Follow her on Instagram @kike.pavlik.
Chair, £280, Habitat telephone,
£44.95,cultfurniture.comPendantcuckooland.comlight,£85,
HomeSense
curate items that reflect your individuality, but also enhance the aesthetic of your room. Colourful sofas, patterned rugs and other bright pieces create an anchor that can set the tone for an entire room. To bring an iconic quirky look into your home, combine pieces from different styles and decades. Incorporate vintage items such as mirrors, picture frames, retro posters and antique coat stands. One of the keys to transforming your living space into something akin to one of Wes Anderson’s excruciatingly detailed movie sets is the use of symmetry. To create a visually satisfying interior, you can place two mirrors on the wall instead of one, switch a large sofa for two that can face one another or place two chairs on either side of a door in a hallway. Whatever you opt for, one-point perspective and vivid colour palettes allow for a visually stunning interior. Using all these tips, you’ll be able to make your home as visually appealing and memorable as any of Anderson’s most decorative movie sets from The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch or Embraceothers.individuality and authenticity of your space, make your home to ‘be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons’. Always be playful and keep your eyes open because inspiration is everywhere.
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Retro Rainbow, Furniture Village
HomeSense
Having already successfully marketed and sold two large four bedroom family homes at closing dates in the first three weeks of January (with multiple parties missing out), we are looking to speak with anyone looking to sell in Paisley as our active database of motivated buyers continues to grow.
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PROPERTY REPORT: RESULTS OF RENFREWSHIRETHE
& INTERIORS
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ESTATE AGENT
PROPERTYMILL
With house prices rising exponentially, Corum signpost what to look out for in the current climatePROPERTY
In today’s flourishing marketplace it’s almost considered the norm for homes to sell in excess of the market value. However, the right estate agent can be the difference between selling for a good price and selling for something truly spectacular. Corum doesn’t offer mortgages, lettings or legal services which means we have more time to focus on exactly what matters –achieving the best possible sale price. The right estate agent with the right advice is the key to making sure you achieve the maximum sale price for your home. If you wish to receive any advice about the current market conditions, what your home is worth and what Corum does to achieve the best possible sale price, then please contact Corum Property on 01505 691 400.
FAMILY HOMES IN PAISLEY
The Renfrewshire property market continued to be as buoyant as ever through 2021 stemming from the first lockdown in March of 2020 and is showing no signs of slowing after a busy introduction to 2022. A distinct lack of property coming to market, in particular family homes coupled with an increase of buyers looking to move has further enhanced our current ‘sellers market’ conditions, resulting in some spectacular sale prices. The average house price in Paisley was stated at £151,427 in October 2021 which was an increase of an incredible 17% on the previous year. According to stats from Gov Uk, only Midlothian and Clackmannanshire recorded a higher yearly increase in average property price.
RENFREW TOWN HALL This Category A-listed building was designed by James Jamieson Lamb and Baillie James Barr Lamb in the French Gothic style and cost £7,500. It was officially opened by on 17th October 1873, but following a serious fire on 6th March 1878, it was completely rebuilt in a very similar style but with a taller spire. Photo by Douglas Mackenzie.
Students from West College Scotland take to the streets to find their favourite buildings in the area.
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THE SHAPE OF RENFREWSHIRE
MEETINGHOUSE LANE, PAISLEY
A steep cobblestone public footpath that runs down from Oakshaw to Moss Street and into the town centre. Photo by Ewelina Malek.
5 GEORGE PLACE, PAISLEY A Category B-listed mid-Georgian townhouse. Photo by Alessandra Fais.
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FORBES PLACE, PAISLEY
BROWN’S LANE, PAISLEY Along this narrow cobbled street, you’ll find colourful murals by street artists Danny McDermott and Mark Worst which feature Paisley greats including Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan of Stealers Wheel, Paolo Nutini, Ellen Farmer and the 1987 Scottish Cup-winning St Mirren squad. Photo by Natalia Aronowicz.
PAISLEY ABBEY The Abbey dates back to the 12th century and is recognised as the ‘Cradle of the Royal House of Stewart’ due to its ties to the family. Photo by Olivia Carlton.
This three storey Category B-listed building was built around 1830. Photo by Avi Mendez.
Book your free consultation on 0141 887 9559 136 Neilston Road, Paisley PA2 6QH START WITHCOLOURYOURJOURNEYTHEBEST Book your complimentary consultation with our L’Oreal Professionnel colour experts today Cutting/Styling Experts | Luxury Hair Spa | Colour Specialists | Wax/Intimate Waxing Specialists Nails | Pedicure | Eye Services | Caci Treatments | Massage | Tanning | Extensions
OAKSHAW TRINITY CHURCH, PAISLEY This is the view looking up to the 161ft steeple of the church, built in 1754, from the cobblestone street of Church Hill. Photo by Lauren Mckinnon.
THE BASCULE BRIDGE, RENFREW The only remaining rolling lift bridge in Scotland. Designed by Sir William Arrol, it was opened in 1923. His company, William Arrol & Co, built some of the most famous bridges in the United Kingdom, including the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge. Photo by Fiona Murray.
JOHN NEILSON INSTITUTION, PAISLEY Known locally as the Porridge Bowl, it was funded by Paisley grocer John Neilson for the education of orphaned and impoverished boys. Photo by Reiss McGuire.
ANCHOR ONE, PAISLEY Commonly known as Anchor Mill, this former beacon of industry has been converted into flats and office space. The spectacular landmark is one of the most photographed buildings in Renfrewshire. Photo by Victoria Mitchell.
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Although it may be part of Abbey Mill Business Centre today, this building holds Grade A national importance. It was designed by W. J. Morley, as was the 242 feet tall octagonal, free standing chimney stack – a visible landmark across the town. Photo by Natalia Padlo.
MALATSO CAFÉ, PAISLEY This popular High Street café utilises the ground floor of a Category C-listed building designed by architect James Steel Maitland which dates back to 1934. Photo by Kiera Burns.
FOUNTAIN GARDENS, PAISLEY This beautiful water feature can be found in Fountain Gardens which is Paisley’s oldest public garden. It is one of only three Category A-listed fountains in Scotland. Photo by Gary Higgins.
FEATURES 46 MILL
MILE END MILL, PAISLEY
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48 MILL
Even with the passage of time and the seemingly relentless expansion of the built environment, it’s still a great place to live. But at the heart of
the community is the village itself. A flick through the excellent pictorial history of Houston and Crosslee by author John Fyfe Anderson graphically illustrates just how little the village has changed in well over a century, with the streets and buildings, including the Houston Inn in North Street and The Fox and Hounds (formerly the Black Bull) instantly recognisable as they exist
More than forty years and seven grandkids later, we’re still here – a testament to the fact that it was the best move we ever made. Yes things have, inevitably, changed in the
Thetoday.village of Houston also includes the adjacent community of Crosslee and carries with it a rich history stretching back to the 12th century. Not to mention the archaeological remains in the area which date back as far as 3,000 years ago.
intervening four decades; far fewer trees, fewer open spaces, more houses (and even more on the way), more people, more cars.
A few shops – a supermarket, a chippie and a Chinese takeaway have filled one space that lay vacant when we first arrived. And with three excellent schools, Gryffe High School and Houston and St Fillan’s primaries located in the area, it’s little wonder that parents choose to move to Houston. All proof, if needed, that people want to live here and will continue to do so in increasing numbers.
A Local’s Guide to A resident for four decades, Houston-based writer Denny Macgee takes us on a tour of his adopted home.
late 1981. My wife Mary and I are heading along the Georgetown Road towards Houston in a van full of furniture and six or seven kids (only three of them ours) – and I’m crying my eyes out. Not because interest and mortgage rates are at eye-watering levels compared to today’s and we’ve stretched the family finances to buy our new home – although that was more than a consideration. It may only have been a 20 or so minute drive – but it seemed like moving to a different world.
HOUSTON
MERCAT CROSS
Mercat Cross
ST FILLAN’S KIRK, SEAT AND WELL
700 years old. It is thought to be the oldest living entity in Renfrewshire. These trees lay down their branches as they grow, the branches then taking root. The circumference of its crown is 100 metres. The trunk measures 8.29m around. The tree is located in the grounds of the former Craigends estate on the banks of the River Gryffe.
Craigends Yew
CRAIGENDS YEW
Houston & Killellan Kirk
The 12ft high Mercat Cross is located in the centre of village. Although there is no official record on the age of the cross itself, it is believed that the steps forming the plinth date from the 14th century. Originally sited on the village’s Kirk Road, the cross was moved to its present location in South Street from Kirk Road in 1781 when the new planned town of Houston was built. It is used as a symbol of the village and features on the badges of the local primary school, Houston Primary and secondary school, Gryffe High.
BAROCHAN CROSS
a natural boulder overlooking the kirk. Local tradition records that St Fillan sat in the chair, preached and baptised babies with holy water from the nearby well. It was also believed to have cured rheumatism. St Fillan’s Holy Well has probably been venerated since pre-Christian times, with the spring water being used by the saint himself. It was believed to miraculously cure sick children.
One of only three complete Celtic crosses surviving from the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde. Originally erected near an old mill, the 1.95m high sandstone cross which dates to 900 – 1100AD is decorated with images including a warrior, a man with a drinking horn and two animals. It is now housed in Paisley Abbey to protect it from further weathering.
PLACES OF INTEREST
FEATURESMILL 49
One of the largest, and possibly oldest example of a heritage layering yew in Scotland, perhaps even in Western Europe. Estimates put its age at least
The ruins of St Fillan’s Kirk lie four miles west of Houston village centre, just off the Kilallan Road. The ruins of the church are a scheduled monument and the surrounding graveyard is a listed building. The church’s manse, now Kilallan Farm immediately adjacent to St Fillan’s is considered to be the oldest existing dwelling house in Renfrewshire. St Fillan’s Seat is
WASHINGTON @k4uvisualsTordzroSetorbyPhoto
Possessing a hypnotic and immersive sound, Paisley-based rapper Washington takes us inside his unique sonic world.
THE SOUND OF RENFREWSHIRE
What sparked your initial interest in music?
I was initially just writing random stuff on my notes when I was out and about, but everyone was telling me to patch music and just get a degree or something. Then, I went to the studio with one of my pals that was already doing music and I did a
I’m hoping to try and drop at least every two months, three at the most. I’ve got enough content for at least two tapes, but I want to build up the listenership and get proper features too. I’m always looking to work with different people and different sounds. I won’t just do collabs with anyone though, I need to like their music and their message. Above all, I’m really looking for some singers at the moment. This year, I’m just trying to have fun with it, maybe do a few shows. I like putting out EPs because there’s no pressure. If an album is bad, it’s a much bigger deal (laughs). So when I do that, it’ll be when everything is properly set.
Who were some of your biggest inspirations when it came time to start crafting your sound?
Now that you’ve got such a groundswell of momentum behind you, what’s the plan for 2022?
Washington’s latest single, Fallen Star, is out now on all streaming platforms. Follow him on Instagram @washeetee
How did you feel about the fanfare that surrounded your debut EP, Rookie, when it dropped? Yeah, I didn’t really get it to be honest (laughs). I just thought my pals we’re going to listen to it, so I just let it all happen now. My thing is that I don’t want to talk and be visible all the time. When someone is on Instagram all the time, they ruin the whole brand. I just want people to want to listen to the stuff, rather than forcing it onto them.
When I was in Zimbabwe, I went to a boarding school. It was a school where you couldn’t even speak in class, but we were in the choir and that was the only time that you got to actually leave the building as it was in the middle of nowhere. You were there for like four months at a time, so that was the only skive we got. I didn’t realise it then, but that was the first time that I sang. When I first moved here and I didn’t really know anyone, I’d just be sitting in the house watching like 4Music or some s**t and I’d end up learning songs that way. I’d write them all down and because they swear words, my mum would always give me into trouble (laughs).
track but I didn’t even want to do anything with it. After that, I showed it to the producer that I eventually did [debut EP] Rookie with. I met him out at like De Beers or something and he said to come through and record. So, it all went from there. He wanted me to put tracks out and I just kept saying no for like six or seven months. Then, I woke up one day and decided that I wanted to do the EP and it all came together in like two or three weeks.
Where did the concept of the recent track Wide Awake Airways come from? Basically, I’ll go into things and people assume that I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m quiet. But really, I’m watching and observing how they act around other people. People were trying to do some weird stuff and I didn’t like it, so Wide Awake Airways was just to let them know that I see everything that’s happening.
MILL 51 INTERVIEW
I like Lil Wayne a lot, particularly The Carter IV as that’s what my brother used to listen to all the time. I always had 6 Foot, 7 Foot on. It was so fast, I could never learn the words. I like Dave a lot, although I prefer Psychodrama to his more recent album. Six Paths is still his best song ever for me. I used to listen to a lot of Joey Bada$$, Mist and Bugzy Malone too. I love the A$AP Mob too, but a lot of that comes down to the aesthetic. They just make everything seem so easy. I think Slowthai is really underrated too.
Later on, your single Yungin attracted attention in America. Did this feel like a big step forward? It didn’t really feel too different. I wasn’t really thinking about where people were listening from, I was just happy that they were. I wouldn’t stop if that didn’t happen, but it just made me want to do more and think about what I want to do next. I’m just letting it grow, as songs don’t always get the real reception until they’ve both out for a few years. Everything happened so fast at the start, so I’m focusing on the long-run now.
52 MILL
LITERATURE
Written in the colloquial language that’s native to Renfrewshire, it details significant points in Kirsty’s development, her trials and relationships through her teen years. Dealing with everything from identity and growing up in a close community to addiction and teen pregnancy, Percy has written about the realities of working class life and those turbulent teenage years with sensitivity, honesty and humour. There’s also a wee element of magical realism that’s unexpected, but brilliant all the same.
Local ElyfromangivesLisa-MariecouncillorHugheshertakeonacclaimedtitlelocalwriterPercy.
DUCK FEET
CULTURE
The latest and greatest from Renfrewshire’s flourishing writing community.
Kirsty and her peers’ stories may be theirs, but they feel a lot like like ours too.
Eyes search for solace. Not schoolmaster but foreman tells her “You’ll be alright” as spindles shuttle violently casting fibres left and right, no time allotted to consider or complain.
Observers glance back with an academic “aye”, flex their minds on exploitation, injury to the wealth falsecreators,paternalism of the accumulators. But memory serves, camaraderie, and laughter as the sounds of the distinctive Paisley teardrop.
Paisley was the mills and the mills were Paisley when childhood was a vast sky of wishes. She walked out of the school gates on a Friday willingly into the industrial machine. Expected, like the doff of a cap on a benevolent Sunday.
The textile flat assaults the senses, a vast expanse textured with toil. Thoughts swallowed, speech robbed, likedeafening,thethunderclap of a freight train.
The Coates and Clarks took their labours first before hard births and hard lives. Women’s bodies work, superhuman, bent in reverence, the pathos of the Paisley Mills.
Duck Feet is available now via Monstrous Regiment Publishing.
Donna Matthew set up the Poets in Paisley collective in 2021 to create a space for new and emerging Poets to perform their work. Contact @donnamatthewpoet on Instagram or donnamariematthew1@gmail.com if you're interested in finding out more.
Duck Feet is a story full of heart; you will laugh, cry and cringe with Kirsty. If you are local, you’ll know the settings in your bones and will be promptly transported to them. A must read overall, but an absolute essential for those who went to a West of Scotland high school.
First released in February of last year, Ely Percy’s Saltire Society Scotland Scottish Book of the Year, Duck Feet, is the coming-of-age story of local teenager Kirsty Campbell as she navigates her way through her time at Renfrew Grammar. Having been a teenage girl just a little earlier than our protagonist, there were parts of the story that made me cringe in excruciating recognition.
By Donna Matthew, inspired by An Oral History of Noise and Piecework in Paisley’s Thread Mills by William Burns.
We Just Thought We Were Superhuman BOOK REVIEW
By Ely Percy
pure BARKIN.
Nearly fIve years on from his first book’s release, Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey is putting society under the microscope once more. Here, he talks to Mill about the process, Ferguslie, returning to hip-hop and much more.
concept comes first and the publisher comes second. But for writer, rapper and social commentator Darren McGarvey – who rose to broader acclaim after the 2017 release of the in-depth and unflinching look at working class disillusionment that was Poverty Safari – his latest book, The Social Distance Between Us, came by way of seizing an opportunity.
MILL 55 INTERVIEW
“I thought of, perhaps grandiosely, The Godfather Part II in that it was familiar, but it takes in a social and political history while evolving the characters. So, I did kinda model it on that in terms of how I want the readers of the previous book to feel when they read this. It’s similar, but“Abroader.lotofmy anxiety around this one was that I’d taken too long,” he continued. “But, the last book has had great legs and it got around lots of different demographics. Most books are never even read, reviewed or discussed, so it’s good to know that side is dealt with and my family are taken care of for the next couple of years, whatever happens.”
Now that the editing process has elapsed, Darren is open about the fact that the sheer toll of austerity that came into focus over the course of the book’s creation had left him with an anger that had to be detoxified and channelled in a constructive way. Now, he’s hoping that the publication that was born from it will spark conversations that, with any luck, may even reach the corridors of power.
“It all formed a bank of stuff, but I didn’t really know the theme until the pandemic happened and I had this burst of creativity. At that point, this idea of the social distance between us kinda crystalised. Once I had the structure, most of the work has actually been organising it and the editing process has been gruelling to say the least.
Suddenly jumping from the literally equivalent of an independent record label to a major in Penguin, McGarvey has revealed that he took cues from cinema’s most revered sequels when it came time to break ground on his new book.
W
“I kinda want it to enter the political discourse like a hand grenade,” he says matter-of-factly. “The theory that I’m putting forth is that the leaders are so distant from reality that it’s actually dangerous for our democracy, public health, basically every aspect of our lives that arises from a political decision. In that sense, even though a lot of it was written a couple of years ago, it’s quite timely.”
Next to Poverty Safari, Darren’s other main export in recent years has been his BBC Scotland series, Class Wars. An in-depth look at how our social stature continues to infringe upon the nations in ways that are both distinct and unavoidable, his odyssey into society’s inequities provided some noteworthy characters with plenty of airtime. Not least of all, the leader of Ferguslie’s Darkwood Crew, Terry McTernan.
“I didn’t know Terry, but I felt like I had for ages when I met him that day,”
“MOST OF WHATMUSIC,DURINGTHOUGHTSMYTHEDAYARERELATEDTOWHETHERIT’SWHATI’MLISTENINGTOORI’MTHINKINGABOUTCREATING”
“I had to trim it down by about 100,000 words. A lot of that has been taking out the more autobiographical stuff. Eventually, I got more confident about putting that aside as I learnt my lesson with Poverty Safari. A lot of times, people only want to focus on that stuff. So, it’s good to say that this can stand on its own and isn’t some kind of misery memoir.”
hen it comes to writing a saywisdomconventionalbook,wouldthatthe
“To be honest, it came about because I got a book deal with Penguin the day I won The Orwell Prize,” Darren revealed. “I didn’t really have a strong idea for a second book, but I didn’t knock it back. I did a bit of travelling about and just kind of followed my instincts. I was interested in the immigration debate, so I went down to Margate to see what people had to say about it. After that, I went to London to visit the Grenfell Tower and meet the surrounding community in Lancaster West estate.
“I’ve got a stack of songs that I think are really strong and the reason I know that is because some of them have been sitting about for so long that they should've gotten
“Most of my thoughts during the day are related to music, whether it’s what I'm listening to or what I’m thinking about creating,” he remarked. “But, it doesn’t always translate to the time required to make that happen. Then, the pandemic brought its own problems which almost trivialised the music. My wife likes to record at home, but I don’t. I need to get out of my own zone, because I almost need to become something else to get back into music.
INTERVIEWMILL
old. The last few years have actually been a weird paradox for me. It seems like the more resources you have, the harder it’s become to actually make the music.”
“I’m going to release tracks under my own name for a while,” he continued. “Just to synchronise all the things that I do. Plus, when I first took the name Loki, there was no Marvel Cinematic Universe. I just want to have my music, writing and films all in the one place where people can get them. As for when the album comes out, f**k knows man (laughs).”
Darren says of the experience of filming with the Mill alumni. “He’s someone that’s always had the interest in the community and now he’s suddenly found himself on the other side of the track where he has a bit of responsibility. That’s a difficult transition to make, but the people who do it right can be very effective. He was a brilliant contributor.”AlthoughDarren hadn’t encountered him prior to the show, it was far from his first dalliance with Terry’s local community. In fact, like countless others from across the generations, some of his formative years were spent in the Tannahill Centre. So, when Terry asked him to return to that hallowed hall to host the first Ferguslie Community Awards, he didn’t hesitate.
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The Social Distance Between Us will be released this May. To keep up with Darren follow him @lokiscottishrap on Twitter.
“It was great to go down to that centre again, I’ve got memories of nicking about in there. Big Div gave me my first opportunity to do a rap workshop in that centre and we used to do the Ferguslie Park Radio on a Friday night too, playing hip-hop and doing freestyles. To go back there again and for that hall to be the same was amazing as, usually, things always seem so different. They made it seem so glamorous at night as well.”
On the subject of Darren’s first love of hiphop, it appears that the new avenues afforded to him haven’t doused his desire to perform and record whatsoever. After intermittently dropping tracks and even collaborating with Paisley’s own Empress, who he refers to as “one of his favourites” on Tell Me Something New, McGarvey is now looking to align all facets of his artistry and vocational life under one, all-encompassing banner.
W www.thomsonheatinggroup.co.uk E Followhello@thomsonheatinggroup.co.ukusonFacebook:thomsonheating Our services • Gas boiler replacements with a 10 year guarantee • Central heating installations • Servicing • Breakdown and fault finding • System power flush • Landlord gas safety inspections We are a local gas and central heating company who offer a bespoke service from start to finish. We pride ourselves in our passion for customer satisfaction and high quality professional workmanship. We are fully gas safe registered and Worcester Bosch accredited platinum installers. THOMSON HEATING Renfrewshire's local award-winning and 5 star rated gas and heating company T 0141 390 6946 CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE QUOTATION THE 5TH ANNUAL Boilerserviceannual£70 Usually £84, please quote MILL MAGAZINE when booking
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2
After the first season of this reimagined period drama took the world’s television screens by storm, fans are set to return to the Regency era for another series of whirlwind flings and dispatches from Lady Whistledown. Shifting focus to Lord Anthony’s Bridgerton’s quest to find a suitable partner and carry on his family lineage, the story will follow what transpires after he sets his sights on newcomer Edwina Sharma. Netflix from 25th March.
58 MILL PicturesBros.©Warner
©ParamountPictures
ENTERTAINMENT
The latest big screen adaptation of the iconic comic book character, Matt Reeves’ new take on Gotham’s greatest crime-fighter sees Robert Pattinson don the cape and cowl for the first time. Set within his second year on the job, the film sees a young, relatively inexperienced and entirely more volatile Batman face off against his most devious foe yet in The Riddler (Paul Dano). Set to be a darker incarnation of the franchise than we’re used to seeing, the film also stars Zoe Kravitz, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell. In cinemas 4th March.
seat or the comfort of your couch, here’s your essential viewing for the coming months
BRIDGERTON CINEMA TV
THE BATMAN
THE NORTHMAN CINEMA CINEMA
CULTURE ©Netflix FeaturesMonaghan/Focus©Aidan
After being unceremoniously written off by many fans prior to its release, the first entry in Sonic The Hedgehog’s cinematic canon actually turned out to be a surprise hit with critics and gamers alike. Picking up shortly after the events of the first film, the prickly hero and his sidekick Tails are now tasked with foiling Dr Robotnik – as played in typically bombastic form by Jim Carrey – and his latest plot for world domination. Except this time, he’ll have to square off against longtime series favourite Knuckles in what is sure to be an adventure of epic proportions. In cinemas 1st April.
Whether it’s from a cinema
Brought to life by an all-star cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy and Bjork, the latest film from genre-subverting director Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) is set to become one of the cinematic events of the year. Set in Iceland, the film follows a Nordic prince on his mission to avenge his father’s murder and based on the trailer alone, it appears that he’ll go to extraordinary lengths to do so. In cinemas 22nd April.
For more info, call 0141 581 2000 or visit www.accordhospice.org.uk/supporting-us Kiltwalk will return to Glasgow for our first event of 2022. You have three walking distances to pick from with the Mighty Stride (22.6 miles), Big Stroll (14.5 miles) and Wee Wander (approx. 3-5 miles). The Kiltwalk 2022 SUN APRIL24 FRI APRIL29 SUN JUNE19 Arrive at 7pm for a bubbly reception followed by a 3 course sit down meal. Not one to be missed, this very popular night keeps the ladies wanting more! Tickets £40 per person. Girls Night Out with Dancing through the Decades The ultimate challenge! Jump from a height of 15,000ft, free falling for over 60 seconds and reaching speeds of up to 120mph! This is a tandem skydive harnessed to the front of a BPAqualified instructor. ACCORD Skydive 2022 Get involved and support ACCCORD Hospice Purple Events create the atmosphere you want for your event with a perfectly curated DJ mix. We cater for all occasions, book us and you can expect only the best of services from start to nish. Music is built on community. Reach out, and let’s make magic happen. DJENTERTAINMENT|PRESENTER WEDDINGS|KIDS’PARTIES|DISCOS CORPORATEEVENTS|MOBILEDJ CHRISTENINGS|DJCLASSES Email: pleevents.co.ukinfo@purCall07402332211todiscussyourevent
AN UPDATE FROM CAFÉ FAIRFULL
Food News ’
INTRODUCING...ROASTERS
Due to popular demand, Café Fairfull will be extending their opening hours on Friday and Saturday evenings to 7pm. Renowned for their hand finished cakes, homemade soups and delicious meals ranging from lasagne to seabass to homemade soups, Café Fairfull maintains a laid back atmosphere, so there’s no need to dress up. If you haven’t taken advantage of their three course menu deal as of yet, then why wait? Call them now on 0141 387 3621 to book your table.
Located on Paisley’s High Street, Roasters operate with an open kitchen to emphasize the fact that what everything they do and make is right before your eyes. Their food is locally sourced, with meat from Elderslie Butchers, bread from Buon Giorno in Renfrew and fresh rolls from A&A Bakers. Their ethos “is to ensure our customers are looked after; this means fresh food, an emphasis on customer service and fair prices.”
TASTE BUDS ON THEIR EASTER TREATS
M&S’ EASTER BUNNIES
KarunieneOksanabyPhoto
FOOD & DRINK
NEWS
60 MILL
The new culinary developments to try out in Renfrewshire
“Available all year round, our cupcakes are filled with a yummy fruit compote or caramel centre and are all individually designed and unique. We have delicious Easter egg halves – one with brownie pieces and another with Biscoff cheesecake crumb – and cute Easter decorations. Our golden goose egg is based on a Scotch egg but for chocolate lovers, with a Creme Egg covered in scrumptious brownie and encased in chocolate with a lot of sparkle!”
FOOD
For those looking to amaze the wee ones – or perhaps even the big ones – with cocoa-based feats of craftsmanship, look no further than M&S' new range of bunnies. Named Alfie, Bella and Charlie, these three delicious critters represent the milk chocolate, white and dairy-free options on offer. So, whatever your taste or dietary requirements, head down to M&S Food Paisley and scoop one up while stocks last.
It pays to have help
Finding the best mortgage solution can be a bit much, but we will do all the legwork for you! Our team at MortgageWise will take you through the process from start to finish, helping you get your dream home! 53 Moss Street, Paisley PA1 1DR Call to book an appointment with a mortgage adviser on 0141-231-2150 THE SHOPPINGPIAZZACENTRE #CC9933WHITE#FFFFFF
minted sports bar and, of course, it’s new Indian, there is quite literally something for everyone.
Having been under the stewardship of owner Jason Andrews for over 16 years, reinvention has been the focus for the last 12 months with the team looking to extend and diversify their offering. All the while bringing in more visitors from further afield. By the looks of it, it seems to have paid off. Following the launch of Anise in June 2021, you’d be hard pushed to find another restaurant or venue in Renfrewshire or beyond that offers such a collage of dining experiences within its grounds. From its Sunday carvery to its street van and plush beer garden to the freshly
fair to say that Anise isn’t your standard Indian restaurant.
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It’s
Situated in the leafy, tranquil surroundings of Crosslee, the inviting eatery is a recent addition to the already popular River Inn.
and instantly relaxing atmosphere separate without feeling out of place.
MurphyRonniebyPhotos
With its own entrance at the front of the building, the Indian restaurant can be found on the first floor of the River Inn alongside the lively sports bar, which is a hub of activity on this particular evening given Scotland’s exploits at Murrayfield. And while we’re aware of the odd celebratory cheer from next door, the Anise offers its own welcoming
Along with its stylish refurbishment, the smells from the kitchen are instantly gratifying always a good sign. For those who crave authenticity from their Indian food, we can assuage any fears as we are assured that the chefs have teamed up with partner Zahid to come up with a menu that is as authentic as it is familiar.
That’s not to say that the owners have sacrificed quality in an ambitious attempt to expand their horizons though; in fact, you only need to look at the steady flow of visitors coming through the door on this Saturday night to recognise that Anise has promptly established itself as a local favourite.
After a warm welcome, we are given time to browse the mouthwatering menu, which offers enough to appease lovers of all things spice as well as the more tentative diners among us. We started with the vegetable pakora, crispy and fluffy, and the tandoori salmon which was delicious, flaking away in the mouth with each bite.
Offering up a fresh take on one of Scotland’s most beloved cuisines, Suzanne Oswald visits Anise at the River Inn for an Indian DINNERextravaganza.ATANISE INDIAN KITCHEN
Tandoori Fish with Puy Lentils
To balance things out, we also order a long-time favourite – the chicken tikka chasni. Served in a tangy, buttery, creamy sauce, it’s exactly the kind of warmth you crave on a cold and blustery winter night. With the portions served up in a more gourmet style than your average Indian, we end the meal on a satisfied note. Maybe next time we’ll even be tempted to stretch to one moreAnisecourse…isone of a kind and it has clearly been welcomed by the local community with open arms. Filled with families and couples alike, it’s a very popular destination on a Saturday night and it’s easy to see why.
Houston Road, Crosslee, PA6 7AW Tel 01505
riverinn.co.uk613288ADESTINATION
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New Sports Bar
Sunday Carvery WINNER
Anise Indian Kitchen
South West Restaurant of the Year
Taking heed from the restaurant owners themselves, we decide to explore new territory with the garlic chilli & lime king prawns dish and it’s a rewarding decision. Filled with large, juicy prawns, it’s bursting with fresh flavours of ginger, chilli and garlic, and it delivers a hearty kick on the way down.
FOR EVERYONE
Vegetarians are also well catered for, with a few classic options on the menu such as saag paneer, tarka daal, and aubergine and potato. On this occasion and after much deliberation we opt for one chicken and one fish dish as our main courses, with pilau rice and a delicious buttery garlic naan on the side.
River Terrace Beer Garden
Anise Indian Kitchen, Houston Road, Crosslee, PA67AW, Tel: 01505 613288, riverinn.co.uk
If you’re looking for delicious, hearty food in cosy and unpretentious surroundings, then look no further. Yes, Anise may be a couple of miles away from your habitual takeaway, but we can assure you it’s worth the trip. Afterwards, you could even pop into the bar next door and make a night of it if you’re so inclined.
The Mill Street Van
The River Inn Restaurant
In addition to getting all of their meat from nearby A Bannatyne Butchers, Coffee Jam also stocks the very best in local cakes. Incorporating the ingenious creations from Bad Bitch Bakes, Beardy’s Bakewell, Dee Dee Delights, Bake By Liv and scones that are crafted on location, we opted for a milky bar blondie and a slice of one of Bad Bitch Bakes’ cookies and cream pie which both satiated the sweet tooth and then some.
A long gestating dream that has now come to fruition, Coffee Jam has a homely charm to it which ensures that its clientele cuts across all age ranges. Enveloped in a lively soundtrack of pop hits, our trip got underway with a pair of oat milk lattes which, based on sheer richness and taste alone, quickly made it clear that no stone has been left unturned when it comes to sourcing great produce.
An exemplary cafe that offers not just excellent cuisine but an inherently comforting ambiance, Coffee Jam seems primed to become a staple of Renfrew’s community and with any luck, its success will galvanise the town’s food and drink scene right along with it.
The Ultimate Jam
There’s
Armed with high expectations and even larger appetites, the team head to Renfrew’s latest café for an incredibly tasty LUNCHafternoon.AT COFFEE JAM
Despite the fact that Jamie and the team only opened this Hairst Street eatery in December of 2021, word of their affordable yet expansive menu has spread so fast that not only is the place bustling with locals at all times, but they’re already attracting repeat business from as far away as Largs.
up to perfection”, each of these abundant and incredibly tasty mounds of food are finished off with liberal helpings of tangy sriracha jam which serves to tie each disparate element together.
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something to be said for knowing your craft inside out. As when you do, your goals will be obtained at an even faster pace. In the case of Coffee Jam owner Jamie Macleod, she has deftly transplanted her experience of working in a chain coffee shop and applied the lessons learned to her own, independent business.
Opting for The Ultimate Veggie and The Ultimate Jam (pictured above) respectively, both the meat-free and more carnivorous versions come with two poached eggs that sit atop immensely thick homemade potato scones and different variations on square sausage. Separated by halloumi on the veggie side and black pudding and bacon for everyone else which, in Paul’s words, was “crisped
Red velvet pancakes with Nutella, Nutella mascarpone and honeycomb
Jamie Macleod
Coffee Jam, Hairst Street, Renfrew PA4 8QD, Instagram @coffeejam.co
Butchers Steak & Grill
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BRAEHEAD
Over 140 stockists across Renfrewshire
Optical
King’s Inch Road, G51 4BN
ELDERSLIE
Paisley Arts Centre
JOHNSTONE
Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA
Bowfield Hotel & Country Club
13 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN
William Phelps Butchers 41 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YL With Love Flowers
30A High Street, PA1 2DQ Skirlies Café
CROSSLEE
6-8
Cairn 1
KILBARCHAN
The Houston Inn North Street, PA6 7HF
12 Brownsfield Holding, Barnsford Road, PA4 9LZ
Andersons Jewellery Workshop 38 High Street, PA4 8QP Cardbox
5 Moss Street, PA1 1BG Tannahill Centre 76 Blackstoun Road, PA3 1NT Taste & C
The Gatehouse Coffee Roasters Benn Avenue, PA1 1JS The Gleniffer
Aleo
Piccolo Mondo Renfrew 63 Hairst Street PA4 8QU Quality Cards & Gifts 17 Canal Street, PA4 8QE Renfrew Leisure Centre Paisley Road, PA4 8JL
22 Earl Haig Road, G52 4JU
The Coach House
Ice Mania
1 Dalgety Drive, PA7 5LN
7 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP ReMode 43b High Street, PA1 2AH Roasters
DARGAVEL
Lorimers
2JF Habbies 25
24 Causeyside Street, PA1 1UN Rainbow Turtle
133 Main Road, PA5 9ES
71 High Street, PA5 8QG
The Farm at No.12
The River Inn Houston Road, PA6 7AW
The Lion’s Paw
Quality
The Wee Howff 53 High Street, PA1 2AN White Cart Company
13 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AG
15 New Street, PA1 1EZ
4 Broomlands Street, PA1 2LR Specsavers
Prieston Road, PA11 3AH
Hair Hair
Bracken
98 New Sneddon Street, PA3 2BD RAMH REstore
Lynnhurst Hotel Park Road, PA5 8LS
HILLINGTON
The Trust Inn Low Barholm, PA10
The Carrick Centre Coffee Shop
Houston Road, PA4 9LS
Braehead Shopping Centre
HOWWOOD
Road, PA13 4HE Carriages Bar & Restaurant Station Road, PA13 4DW Cross Café Port Glasgow Road, PA13 4ET Punto 4 St James Terrace, PA13 4HB LINWOOD Linwood Farm 1 Hillhead Drive, PA3 3FB The Salon 15 Napier Street, PA3 3AJ LOCHWINNOCH Castle Semple Café Lochlip Road, PA12 4EA Cucina Minucci 2 High Street, PA12 4DA Handcrafted Coffee 2 High Street, PA12 4DB Little Coffee Caravan A737, PA12 4JG Now & Then 8 Church Street, PA12 4AD RSPB Largs Road, PA12 4JF The Brown Bull 33 Main Street, PA12 4AH PAISLEY Abbey Mill Business Centre 12 Seedhill Road, PA1 1JS Accord Hospice Superstore 37 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PA Alison Capaldi Hair 84 Arkelston Road, PA1 3TS Armstrong Massage Therapy 98 Arkelston Road, PA1 3TZ Bailey’s Antiques 34 High Street, PA1 2DQ Barga Paisley 25 New Street PA1 1XU Bella & Fella Sir James Clark Building, PA1 1TJ Bianco Nero Coffee Shop 27 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Black & Lizars 6 New Street, PA1 1XY Blend Coffee Lounge 25b Causeyside Street, PA1 1UL Bull Inn 7 New Street, PA1 1XU Burger & Keg 15b Gilmour Street, PA1 1DD Café Fairfull 12A High Street, PA1 2BS Café 77 Barshaw Park 77 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE Caffè Pronto 96 Causeyside Street PA1 1TX Caffè Royale 71 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE Cardosi Espresso Bar 65 High Street, PA1 2AS Castelvecchi 10 New Street, PA1 1XY Cloud 9 Deli 9 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP Comicrazy 45 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AN Courtyard by Marriott Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport Business Park, PA3 2SJ Claire Reid Hairdressing 7 Mill Street, PA1 1LY Doghouse Grooming 4 Johnston Street, PA1 1XG DP Group 119 Renfrew Road, PA3 4EA Elixir Lounge 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Emulate Hair Studio Brick Lane, PA3 4DW Finishing Touches 7 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Frangelinos Fish and Chips 26 High Street, PA1 2BS 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 Ironed Out 20 Wellmeadow Street, PA1 2EE Ivad Gifts 29 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Jam Jar 16 Shuttle Street, PA1 1YD James Martin Hairdressing 74 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YP Japan Street Food 9 Renfrew Road, PA3 4AF Kaoss Hair and Beauty 29 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Karis Massage Therapies 5 Hunter Street, PA1 1DL KB’s Café 56 Kilnside Road, PA1 1RN Kenneth Edwards 45 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YN La Banca 63 Neilston Road, PA2 6NA Malatso 50 High Street, PA1 2DJ M&S Food Wallneuk Road, PA3 4BF Meat in the Middle 8 New Street, PA1 1XY Milano Boutique 5 Mill Street, PA1 1LY Moon Gemz Baby & Gifts 32 High Street, PA1 2BZ Morrisons Falside Road, PA2 6JE Morrisons Thread Street, PA1 1GZ My Hair Guru 48 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Napier
15 Hairst Street PA4 8QU Luna Rossa
65 High Street, PA5 8QG
Tulip Hair Design Unit 10, 23 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN
The Ugly Duck 38 High Street, PA1 2DQ
Bernie’s Café Deli Main Street, PA11 3PN
13a Kirk Road PA6 7HW
53 Kilpatrick Drive, PA8 7AF
KILMACOLM Lochwinnoch Hair & Beauty
Tastys 29 George Street PA1 2LD Telfords 1 Stow Brae, PA1 2HF
Pandamonium Play Centre
Johnstone Coffee Café
Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA
The Boarding House Main Street, PA9 1BQ
Scoff & Patter
28A
Where to pick up Mill
The Ladyburn 1 Ladyburn Street, PA1 1PH
31 Main Street, PA11 3NR
8DT Signature Permanent
Bobbins Steeple Street, PA10 New Street, PA10
BISHOPTON
Piazza Shopping Centre
Pro-Life Fitness Centre
8 Castle Terrace, PA11 3EF
2LN
5 Hairst Street, PA4 8QU Coffee Jam Hairst Street, PA4 8QD Highland Cathedral Kilts
Angelini’s Pizzeria & Café
Morrisons Napier Street, PA5 8SF Express High Street, PA5 8AH Cards & Gifts Houstoun Square, PA5 Cosmetics Walkinshaw Street, PA5 8AB
42 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AP RENFREW
136 Neilston Road, PA2 6QH Takeaway
Nibbles
Main Street, PA6 7HD
The Fox & Hounds South Street, PA6 7EN
1 Morrison Place, PA11 3NU
Renfrew Town Hall Hairst Street, PA4 8PF Savage Slice 50 Fulbar Street, PA4 8PD
5 St James Street, PA3 2HL Sinclair’s of Paisley
Barnhill Farm
2
Origins Fitness
3 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ
INCHINNAN
ERSKINE
Elderslie Coffee Shop
Spateston Inn Road, PA5 0SA
69 High Street, PA1 2AY Rowantree Café
Hallhill
Ingliston Country Club & Hotel
Nomads’ Coffee Shop
70 Greenock Road, PA7 5JB
2ET
25
The Paper Shop North Street, PA6 7HF
16 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ
BRIDGE OF WEIR
Versari Beauty
35 Moss Street PA1 1DL Taste Buds 22b Lawn Street, PA1 1HF
165 Glasgow Road, PA1 3LF Scotts Café
11 Stoddard Square, PA5 9AS
Paisley Physiotherapy
1-3 Canal Street PA4 8QE
30B High Street, PA1 2BZ
Harrods Dry Cleaners
Old Greenock Road, PA7 5PA
8
Look Opticians
Bowfield Road, PA9 1DZ
63 High Street, PA1 2AS Orchard Clinic
9 Glenburn Road PA2 8TA
48 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YH Woodlands Coffee House 44 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Zambretto
HOUSTON
76 Greenock Road, PA7 5JB
Central Way, PA1 1EL
Woody’s FAVOURITEPUB? The Ugly Duck NATUREFAVOURITESPOT? Boden Boo in Erskine Q
LASTMILLWORD
is approachable and genuinely supports creatives. We want creatives of all kinds to come in and not only get what they pay for, but also have a sense of co-ownership of the space. Once we get somewhere, the plan is to have a communal working space, access to a tool library, a digital library and there’s hopefully going to be a café element to it as well. On top of that, we’d hope to have a place where people can sell their wares. So, if a ceramicist was selling pots, they could be purchased at Bide, no commission taken. It’ll be a proper community space. Right now, we literally just need funding and premises to get it off the ground.
A multimedia artist who has big plans for Renfrewshire’s creative community, Indie McCue tells us all about SCOPE, BIDE & more.
It took me like a year to find a space before I ended up on Causeyside Street and I spent like a month making it habitable, but I really loved it and everyone who displayed work got a fee as well. Hopefully, we’ll get a rerun this year.
Recently, you’ve been running a series of free art chat meet ups from your space at Start Up Street. Did these emerge from the foundations laid by Scope? Absolutely. It changed my life because now, I know so many other creatives in the area and became good pals with them. Afterwards, there’s been so many collaborations that have stemmed from it that I’m not even a part of. We meet up every month and it’s such a positive thing. A lot of the time, we’re just whinging, but when else do you get to do that? (laughs). We all come from different backgrounds, so it can be really helpful. For the future, it’d be great to bring people in to lend their experience too.
Last year saw the inaugural edition of your pop-up gallery, SCOPE. How did this concept come about? Initially, I rented a space in Bailey’s Antiques and that’s where I met Mark [Swaroop, Paisley-based photographer]. Soon, I realised that the experience of being around other creative people was really invigorating.
At the moment, you and Mark Swaroop are in the midst of setting up the Bide creative hub. What is the ethos behind this new venture? The plan is to create a contemporary arts space which
Find out all about Indie’s work via indiemccue.com. For an extended version of our chat, please visit millmagazine.com
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After that, it made me want to create something that wouldn’t just virtue-signal, but really support other artists.
PEOPLE
TAKEAWAY?FAVOURITE &A
SwaroopMarkbyPhoto
FAIRFULL Café Fairfull, 12 High Street, Paisley PA1 2BS I www.cafefairfull.com I OPEN 7 DAYS Show your mum just how much you care with our Luxury Afternoon Tea on MotheringSunday DINE IN or TAKE AWAY TIME SLOTS AVAILABLE : (12pm - 1.30pm) (2pm - 3.30pm) (4pm - 5.30pm) BOOK BEFORE 1ST MARCH TO RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF PROSECCO ON ARRIVAL. To book call: 0141 387 3621 (FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED AT TIME OF BOOKING) This includes a taster bowl of Homemade Soup, Chef’s selection of Sandwiches, Mini Goats Cheese Tartlet, Cheese & Herb Scone, Mini Prawn Cocktail Tartlet, Scone with Jam and Fresh Cream, Mini Strawberry Tart, Mini Lemon Tart, Mini Empire Biscuit, Little Mint Cup and Freshly Brewed Tea or Coffee. £15.00 per person Add a glass of Prosecco £5.00 pp
Discover stunning architecture, striking street art, a surprising musical history and a great day out in Paisley.
