New Deli in the Village

Welcome, ViVi's Deli to Strathbungo. Located in the cooperage, in the lane across from the Wee Beer Shop, ViVi's provides sandwiches, home-brewed coffee, small plates, chilled beverages and B.Y.O.B both indoors and in the picturesque courtyard. Open 12:30 to 7:30pm.

This poem about a resident of the village was written by Thomas Lyle two centuries ago.

 

Strathbungo Jean

 

Blytrhe, blythe could I be wi’ her

Happy baith at morn and e’en

 

To my breast I’d warmly press her.

Charming main, Strathbungo Jean.

 

The Glasgow lasses dress fu’ braw,

And country girls gang meat and clean,

But nane o’ them’s a match ava

To my sweet maid, Strathbungo Jean.

 

Though they be dree’d in rich attire,

In silke brocade and mus-de-laine,

Wi’ busk and pad and satin stays,

They’ll never ding Strathbungo Jean.

 

Bedecke’d in striped gown and cait,

And hankerchief and apron clean.

Cheerfully tripping to her work,

Ilk day I meet Strathbungo Jean.

 

Ye gods who rule men’s destinies,

I humbly pray you’ll me befrieu’.

And aid me in my dearest wish

To gain my sweet Strathbungo Jean.

 

Gi’e to the ambitious priest a kirk,

Gi’e riches to the miser mean,

Let the coquette new conquests make.

But, O! gi’e me Strathbungo Jean.

 

No happiness a’ day have I,

My senses are bewulder’d clean.

In bed at night on her I cry,

My heaven on earth, Strathbungo Jean.

 

Should fortune kindly make her mine,

I would not change for Britain’s Queen;

But fondly in my arms I’d clasp

My charming maid, Strathbungo Jean.

 

Thomas Lyle circa 1820

The Cooperage

 

The former whisky barrel manufacturer in the lane at 674 Pollokshaws Road in the Village has been converted into offices and studios. The Cooperage also features a courtyard setting and a number of retail units including Emily Rose Vintage and Seamster Vintage. The hub is a welcome addition to Strathbungo Village.

Mexican in the village!

The Luchador is coming soonish to the site of the former Grays Kitchen. 'The Luchy' will be a bar and eatery inspired by all things Lucha Libre and serving craft beers, cocktails, tacos and Mexican dishes. The venue will be the second opened by the team behind Dundee's all-American dive bar, Abandon Ship. The Luchador, 719 Pollokshaws Road, Strathbungo Village G41 2AA

John McNicol & Sons - Strathbungo's Zulu Connection

The removal of the signage for 1st Class Restorations above the alleyway at 674 Pollockshaws Road has revealed another glimpse into the history of the village in revealing the name of JOHN MCNICOL & SONS JOINERS & VAT & TUN BUILDERS.

Although we haven't been able to discover anything more about the company at this site we did find them in Grace's Guide to British Industrial History  which states that that the company was established in 1904 and in 1914 were located at 202 - 204 Rutherglen Road, Glasgow, employing 12 people and listed as 'Joiners and vat and tun builders. Specialities: vats, wooden tanks of all sizes and shapes and erected at home and abroad/ chemical tanks; refrigerators; wooden shives and plugs: general turners'.

When the Birmingham based Kynoch company closed their ammunitions factory in Ireland which had employed almost 5,000 workers during World War 1 and moved production to Umlazi in South Africa in order to supply explosives to the gold mining operations on the Witwatersrand, 

John McNicol & Sons erected all the Vat Plant for the South African Factory which initially employed workers who had transferred from the Irish plant and the town of Umbogintwini or "Mbokodweni" in Zulu was established to house these Irish immigrant workers.  John Udal who was the general manager of both the Irish and South African sites aggressively pursued the recruitment of local Zulu workers with 15 years old boys being offered five-year apprenticeship with the factory with Kynoch providing being accommodation food and payment 12/- a month, rising to 16/- following completion of their apprenticeships.

The South African Kynoch company diversified into the production of fertilizer and grew from strength to strength.

Strathbungo the Pottery Village

The village is fast becoming a centre for pottery with Govanhill Baths Ceramics operating from the Deep End arts space at 21 Nithsdale Street since late June 2019 and Wild Gorse Pottery opening on 5th October at 684 Pollockshaws Road by professional Potter Jen Smith. 

Both Govanhill Ceramics and Wild Gorse Pottery provide a range of pottery classes and courses, further details can be found here:


Govanhill Baths Ceramics

Wild Gorse Pottery

Vini in the Village!

Bar Vini opened on 12 September 2019 in the former site of The Depot bar at 80 Victoria Road, Strathbungo. Initially offering a front wine and antipasti bar,, their plans are to open a trattoria in the backroom in mid-October. The bar offers a selection of wine by the glass and a small antipasti menu with aperitivo (happy hour) running daily from 4pm-6pm.

Have a Butcher's at this Historic Signage

Following the closure of the short-lived Kowloon Bar and Kitchen at 72 Nithsdale Road, work being undertaken by the new owners has revealed a look back into the history of the village.  The rear of the building backs onto Nithsdale Street and the sign refers to a previous owner, William Bennie and Sons Butchers. The Post-Office annual Directory record of 1894/95 show that the said butcher was located at 62 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo and even further back in 1878/79 the same directory lists William Bennie as living at 19 Titwood Place, Strathbungo and having a Flesher's shop at 4, 5 and 8 Titwood Place. Flesher being Scots for a butcher.

Titwood Place was the original name for what is now 18-76 Nithsdale Road.  Given the fact that the street was build in 1876 by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's partner Robert Turnbill a year after the architect himself had passed away, it's fair to assume that William Bennie would have been the first occupier of the building. Bennie also had another Flesher's shop at 29 Vermont Street.

The name change from Titwood Place to Nithsdale Road came with the development of Nithsdale Street, although reminders of its former title still exist, not least of all in the name of the Titwood Bar located at 52-58 Nithsdale Road.

Strathbungo Village is Scotland's Seventh Best Place to Live

It's official our wee village on the South Side of Glasgow has been recognised as one of the top ten places to live in Scotland. The Sunday Times list of the best places to live in the UK has included Strathbungo Village within its top ten places to live north of the Tweed. Here's what they said about us:

 Sandwiched between the grit of Southside and the grand villas of Pollokshields, this family-friendly enclave unites an ever-improving menu of restaurants and cafes with an authentic sense of community. There’s a choice of secondary schools, and the improving Shawlands Academy is easing the pressure on tiger parents to fork out for private Hutcheson’s Grammar or move to East Renfrewshire. Strathbungo is 10 minutes from Glasgow Central by train; Queen’s Park and Pollok Park are close by, for a healthy helping of fresh air and green space; and, best of all, there are lots of beautiful Victorian properties. There’s also a playful energy that you won’t find on the other side of the Clyde. The gnarlier pubs have been replaced by gastro bars festooned with fairy lights, there are two artisan coffee shops, and Marchtown is a cool and classy wine bar/bottle shop. The real secret of happiness hereabouts, however, is to get involved in the events and mini-festivals organised by the Strathbungo Society.

Why we love it:  Village life in the heart of the city.

Melrose was named as the best place to live in Scotland, replacing last year's winner North Berwick. The former winner remains one of the top ten and is joined by Dundee, Orkney, Aberdour, the Black Isle, Aboyne, Morningside and Wigtown and the best wee secret in Scotland, Strathbungo Village.  

KOELSCHIP YARD OPENS IN THE VILLAGE

Koelschip Yard opened to the public this weekend, offering a wide range of craft beers, some 14 keg lines of good beer, and 2 cask lines of good beer.

There is also a further 50-60 different good beers in can and bottle format. 

With good wine, good spirits, and good soft drinks too, the bar should be a good addition to the village. 

One thing that Koelschip Yard do is serve full pints, instead, they prefer to serve 2/3rds and 1/3rds.

The Yard is the latest incarnation of the bar, previously known as Kelly.s. 

We welcome them to the Village, why not pop in for 2.3rds of a pint, or two, just to be sociable of course.

Koelschip Yard, 686-688 Pollokshaws Road, Strathbungo, 

Glasgow G41 2QB

Sweet Memories of Rock in Govanhill

With Govanhill being the focus of the music and political worlds this weekend, with the Govanhill Against Racism Festival commemorating the 40th anniversary of Rock Against Racism, it seems like an opportune moment to recall Govanhill's own rock star, Brian Francis Connolly McManus who died 20 years ago

Born in Aitkenhead Road on the 5th October 1945 he was to change his name to, Brian Connolly, and become the blond lead singer with the Seventies glam-rockers Sweet. 

The band sold over 50 million records with hits including: "Funny Funny", "Co-Co", "Poppa Joe", "Little Willy","Wig Wam Bam".,"Blockbuster", "Hellraiser", "Ballroom Blitz" "Fox on the Run" - a million-seller in the United States - "Action" later covered by Def Leppard) and "Love is Like Oxygen". Not too bad for a wee lad from Govanhill who never knew who his dad was and who's teenage mum abandoned him in a Glasgow hospital when he was still an infant.

Pot Luck a place to eat in the village

Sadly No Way Back at 38 Nithsdale Road has now gone, the good news is, that as luck would have it, it has been replaced with a new informal and dog-friendly cafe/restaurant offering great looking and tasting imaginative food in a friendly and informal atmosphere.

Serious food and low prices, what's not to like?

Pot Luck
38 Nithsdale Road
Strathbungo
G41 2AN

 0141 636 3915

New Bungo Barista Beckons

Pic by Ian Goudie Photography

The latest addition to the array of establishments choosing to sell their coffee in the village will be opening in the near future on Pollockshaws Road, next door to Tapa Coffeehouse, We welcome them to the village and wish them every success in their venture.

 Bungo Barista, 719 Pollockshaws Road, Strathbungo.

Brodies new Bar Restaurant opens in 'Bungo

Brodies new Bar Restaurant opened for business today, 20th June 2017 on the site of the former Shimla Pinks, 777 Pollokshaws Road, just next to the entrance for Queens Park. We wish them every success. Welcome to the best village in Glasgow.

Southside Roasters opens in the Village

Another coffee option has recently opened up in the village. Southside Roasters offer a fantastic range of coffee and a great selection of cakes, pastries and other food. They also sell roast coffee to take home either from the shop or to order online.  Southside Roasters is located at 742 Pollockshaws Road in the heart of Strathbungo and is on the sunny side of the street, they've also got some external seating so that you can take advantage of the sunny weather.

 

SOUTHSIDE ROASTERS

742 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD, GLASGOW, G412AE

INFO@SOUTHSIDEROASTERS.CO.UK

0141 3286557

New Speciality Coffee and Cake Shop in Strathbungo

A new independent café with a focus on speciality coffee and unusual baked goods came to the village in April 2017.  Buchta is the Czech word for cake and indicates the origin of the owner.  the shop is a welcome addition to village and joins with Bakery 47 and Studio 70 in bringing a long neglected part of Strathbungo back to life. 

Buchta

72 Victoria Road

Strathbungo

Glasgow

G42 7AA

+44 7403 536315

www.buchta.co.uk

Buchta is open everyday except Mondays - 8.30am - 5.00pm

Kelly's No More?

One of the village's oldest Bars and live music venues Kelly's has closed. The Irish pub, previously known as the Elcho Bar was built on the site of Granny McDougall's inn, which was also known as the Robert Burn Tavern dating back to the time when the village's original 'land' buildings constructed on top of the old burn when it was covered over in 1849.

   

BBCSicks Music Festival in Strathbungo!

As part of the BBCSicks music festival, the legend that is Paddy Steer returns to Glasgow and this time visits Strathbungo's Jamaican themed bar the Rum Shack's downstairs 'Dancehall'.

We're told that he is part cosmic, part afrobeat, 100% mutantturbojazzpunkdisco It's hard to put Paddy Steer's live shows into words. One thing's for sure, they're different from his studio recordings - they're a lot more energetic, freestyle and definitely aimed at those who might feel the urge to suddenly dance uncontrollably.

Also on board for the ride we're happy to have Ewan Chambers spin some records for us. Ewan runs the Healthy nights at Glasgow's Berkeley Suite where we've lately seen a spate of great guest DJs: Joakim, Daniel Wang B2B Eric Duncan, Rebolledo, Tama Sumo, Justin VanDerVolgen and more.

GK Machine stamps the Invisible Inc seal of approval on the remainder of the night. https://invisible-inc.bandcamp.com/



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Entry is £5*

*a percentage of the takings will be donated to the great Edinburgh Direct Aid charity. Ran by volunteers EDA was one of the first charitable organisations to send aid and personnel to Syria at the start of the civil war. You can read more about them and what they do here: 

Marchtown Comes Home to the Village

An exciting new off-licence drinks retailer, wine & beer bar, and events and activities venue opened in the village on 16th March 2017. Marchtown is the legal name given by the owners Maxwell family of Nether Pollok to the land in which Strathbungo now stands. The name reflects the fact that the village was located on the border of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.  March meaning border. Although the border has long since been redrawn but if you walk down March Street in the village, you can still see the Monogram of Renfrewshire County Council 'RCC' on the building which was once the Renfrewshire Police Station.

























The people who brought Little Botanica to the village are behind the new venture and Marchtown is located in its former premises at 741 Pollokshaws Road.  Opening times are Thursday to Sunday 11am to 11pm. Website here. http://marchtown.co.uk/

Studio 70 - Strathbungo's First Yoga Studio is Now Open

A warm welcome from Laura and Michelle 

Studio 70 is Glasgow’s newest yoga studio and the first purpose built yoga studio in Strathbungo. Founded by instructors Laura Barton and Michelle Lang, the Studio's aim is to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for people to explore awareness of body and mind through mindful movement.  The Studio is already proving very popular and all ages, body types and abilities are made welcome.

Yoga Studio

Studio 70 provides Flow Yoga, Restorative Yoga classes and others designed for kids, teens and the over 50s. 

Hannah Doyle

The Aroma Room

The studio also hosts The Aroma Room, from which Hannah Doyle offers a range of complementary therapies including Aromatherapy Massage, Swedish Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Indian Head Massage, Thai Foot Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, Chair Massage, and Aromatherapy Facial Massage.

Studio 70 is located at the east end of the village, above Bakery 47. 

Studio 70, 

Victoria Road, 

Strathbungo, 

Glasgow 

G42 7AA

T: 01412378941

E: info@studio70glasgow.com

www.studio70glasgow.com

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