STREET SPIRITS
Go west for the hippest Hogmanay around.
It's becoming quite the tradition that if you want a happening, yet laid back Hogmanay, Ashton Lane is the place to be. A picturesque cobbled thoroughfare for 364 nights of the year - and home to some excellent bars, eateries and the newly refurbished Grosvenor cinema - on New Year’s Eve it bustles with hundreds of Glasgow’s young and beautiful intent on seeing in the new year with a lick of style and an extra layer of clothing.
Belgian bar Brel, Irish tavern Jinty McGinty’s and Polish bar Vodka Wodka have collaborated to lay on a full-on street party. 600 tickets will go on sale on Thursday 11 December, and these allow you access to the festively decorated lane and its bars for drinks, music and choice revelry. Brel throws open its stable doors and happy Hogmanayers can spill out from the tightly-packed Wodka and Jinty’s to party al fresco. Sounds and turntable deckery is courtesy of the Johnny Seven DJs, whose festive funk includes a perfect mix of sleazy, cheesy lounge music.
When the clock strikes midnight, a lone piper will signal the new year‘s dawn and no doubt bring a wee tear to misty eyes. Of course, 2004 can’t begin properly without the requisite pyrotechnics, providing a stunning backdrop to really get the party started. So make like Russ Abbot and embrace that party atmosphere in the cool night air. (Jane Hamilton)
I Brel. Vodka Wodka 8 J/nty McG/nty's, Ashton Lane, 342 4966‘. Wed 37 Dec,
9pm— lam. £15.
Find happy nights and happy days with our guide to Glasgow’s Hogmanay entertainment. Words: Jane Hamilton, Anna Millar, Maureen Ellis
Café Gandolfi 64 Albion Street. 552 68l3. Hogmanay. 9am 6.30pm. If you decide to line your stomach in style before indulging in Hogmanay excess then (iandolli is an excellent place to do jtist that: a delicious festive menu is available all day. The eclectic design and l'layoursome food make for the perfect spot to refuel. people watch and prepare for the long night ahead.
Arisaig 24 ('andleriggs. 552 4251.
1 16 THE LIST 11 [300 20013—81111 .9004
Hogmanay. noon lam. Arisaig is the ideal place lo dine on Hogmanay with its modern take on Scottish cuisine. Using ingredients from Scotland's natural larder. it keeps both meat-eaters and veggies happy with its well thought-out menu. The a la carte menu is served until 8.30pm. after which glasses from the dessert menu are proffered.
Stravaigin 28 30 (iibson Street. 334 2665. Hogmanay. 5 8.30pm. Keeping with the traditional Scottish theme. Stravaigin dishes up its festive tnenu to tantalise the tastebuds. lixpcct a creative selection of Scottish fayre. served with style in this comfortable basement restaurant.
Rab Ha’s 83 llutcheson Street. 572
0400. Hogmanay. 5.30pm—tbc. This popular basement restaurant is bracing itself for a full-on New Year celebration with a Hogmanay menu being specially devised for the occasion. At time of press owners were unsure whether the restaurant would be open through the bells or if everyone would head upstairs to party. in what is sure to be a very packed. very lively little bar.
Brel 37 Ashton Lane. 342 4966. Hogmanay. 10--lam. £15 party ticket from 9pm. No matter the weather. this Belgian bar has its doors wide open to embrace the Hogmanay spirit. Book early if you want to dine on the night. or just be prepared to have fun and join in the street party taking place in Ashton Lane along with Vodka Wodka and Jinty McGinty‘s.
Nice’n’Sleazys 421 Sauchiehall Street. 333 0900. Hogmanay.
I l.30--lam. Free. Bring in 2004 Sleazy style with excellent music. cool kids and not forgetting that all-essential pool table. 1)Js drown out the juke box upstairs. while bands rock da joint downstairs. Not only is it free and unticketed. but it‘ll be a damn good way to raise some Hogmanay hell.
Mono 12 Kings Court. King Street. 553 2400. Hogmanay. noon~lam. Free. A large and spacious bar to enjoy yourself and adopt in the New Year notion. Plenty of organic ales are brewed onsite to keep you topped up on the alcohol front. while the delicious vegan menu keeps hunger at bay. The usual cool crew are invited to party in a laid back but very fun way.
Revolver 6a John Street. 553 2456. llogmanay. noon~ lam. Free. The hottest gay bar in town celebrates New Year with much fun frolicking. The festive ambience is set by tunes from the free juke box and the relaxed pool table set. With a slightly older. more discerning crowd. New Year kisses should be aplenty.
Barfly 260 (‘lyde Street. 0870 907 0999. Hogmanay. 8pm. £10 (in advance). A llogtnanay Deathkill 4000 night featuring Aereogramtne. The year goes out with a bang as (‘hemikal Underground's ‘llairy-o-gramme' dazzle with some surround sound and visuals. The night will then continue in its usual fucked-up fashion when l)cathkill 4000 take over the noise control.
Winter Wonderland Glasgow Science Centre. 50 Pacific Quay. 420 5000. Hogmanay. l0am 6pm. £6.95: £18.95 family ticket. The (iS(‘ boasts live festive-themed science shows for budding professors and big kiddies out there. Pop next door to the [MAX to take in the festive 31) film Santa vs the Snowman.
lrn-Bru Christmas a New Year Carnival Sli(‘(‘. Finnieston Quay. 08700404000. Hogmanay & New Year‘s Day. noon 9pm. £4 £16; £2.50 accompanying adult. Once you‘ve bought your wristband. and allowed all morsels of food to digest. you can venture aboard some of the (‘arnival‘s fairground favourites.
Scottish Ballet Theatre Royal. 282 Hope Street. 332 9000. Hogmanay. 2.l5pm. £3.50 £33 (£3—r£2l ). The dreamlike surrealist narrative of The Nutcracker is performed by Scottish
Ballet. With designs by Antony McDonald and lighting by Peter Mumford. it will be a festive feast for the eyes.
Ashton Lane Street Party Ashton Lane. 342 4966. Hogmanay. 9pm—lam. £15. See preview.
Glasgow’s Hogmanay George Square. 0870 ()l 3 4030. Hogmanay. 9.30pm. £2.50. See preview.
Sleeping Beauty King‘s Theatre. 297 Bath Street. 240 l l I l. Hogmanay. lpm & 5pm. £4—£l7.50. In true panto tradition the King‘s annual hash is gaudy. over the top and packed full of wonderfully cheesy gags. Princess Beauty turns Rip van Winkle and only a kiss from Prince Michael can save her. But fear not. there’s no winching between (ierard Kelly and [Elaine (‘ Smith. who respectively play the (iood Fairy and Chester. the jester with a heart of gold.
Pinocchio Pavilion Theatre. 121 Renl'teld Street. 332 1846. Hogmanay. 1.30pm & 7.30pm. £1 l~£l3
(£9.50 £10). Ah. (‘hristmas without the Krankies would be like Santa without the whisky breath. This year the mismatched duo are hamming it up alongside Christian and co in the story of the puppet who‘s falliny economical with the truth. Does Janette play Pinochs'.’ Oh no she doesn't. but it‘s probably fandabidozi all the same.
Cinderella Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. Hogmanay. 2pm & 5pm. £6.5()~£l2.5() (£6.50— £7); £35 family ticket. If you like your panto fun with a birrova kick. then Forbes Mason‘s take on the musty story of (finders will be right up your yellow brick road. Mason pinches heavily from our reality TV—obscssed culture to tell the story of Big Sister inmate lilla McKeehnie. her pop idol beau Troon (‘olquoon and her fairy dog-mother. Also featuring ‘scary bits‘.
Hogmanay Ho Down The Vault. l l 10 Pollokshaws Road. Shawlands. 649 0007. Hogmanay. 7.30pm. £17 (£15). Beat the taxi scramble and stay local with a top selection of mirth merchants. The stand-up first footers this evening are Beat 106‘s Paddy McCutchcon. plus Danny Fox and genial comedy terrier Patrick Monahan. See in the new year in this new venue for guaranteed giggles.
Hootfest The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. Hogmanay. 9pm. £15. 1f you'd rather end 2003 by taking stock of your sin-addled life and feeling positively violated. then the Reverend ()badiah Steppenwolfe is the man with the comedy plan for you. lie ends his four-night run at the West [End club in the company of John (iillick. Jo Jo Sutherland and deadpan compere Michael Redmond.
Aerodynamico Bar 9 1. 9| (‘andleriggs. 552 52! l. Hogmanay. 7pmv-late. £tbc. It’ll be full-on funk and breaks from the Aerodynamic chaps as they see in 2004 in considerable musical style. Set in one of the coolest bars in the Merchant (‘ity. it will be one of top Hogmanay hotspots.
Back to the Future Archaos. 25 Queen Street. 204 3189. Hogmanay.
8pm-4am. £tbc. Five rooms of music over five levels is a damn line way to