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For the more discerning al fresco cooks and diners, here’s The List’s lowdown on how to spark up your barbecue summer. Try these recommended restaurant barbecues, or test out some of our preferred spots to have your own
RESTAURANTS AND BARS INDOOR SUGGESTIONS
GLASGOW COTTIER’S
93–95 Hyndland Street, West End, 0141 357 5825, thecottier.com The grill here is fired up from Friday to Sunday, noon until around 9pm, and there’s an extensive menu including marinated chicken, lamb koftas, salmon and prawn skewers, as well as enticing salads.
In Glasgow Anatolia Chargrill (140 St Vincent Street, anatoliachargrill.co.uk) for theatrical Turkish kebabs on the large open grill, Tropeiro (363 Argyle St, tropeiro.co.uk) for the full-blown Brazilian Gaucho experience, Khublai Khan’s (26 Candleriggs, khublaikhan.co.uk) for a Mongolian barbecue, and Kebabish Grill (323–325 Victoria Road, kebabish- grill.co.uk), for an Indian-flavoured version.
ORAN MOR 731–735 Great Western Road, West End, Glasgow, 0141 357 6226, oran- mor.co.uk Set in the beer garden overlooking the bustling junction of Byres and Great Western roads, a barbecue runs daily if the sun shines, cooking up a range of flame-grilled classics to enjoy with a cooling cocktail or beer.
SLOANS 62 Argyll Arcade, City Centre, Glasgow, 0141 229 5270, sloans glasgow.com This venerable city centre bar celebrates the coming of the weekend with a Friday barbecue in its arcade courtyard. Should you feel the need, you can burn off those calories with some energetic moves at the upstairs ceilidh.
EDINBURGH BAR 50
Smart City Hostel, 50 Blackfriars Street, 0870 892 3000, smartcityhostels.com Tucked in off the Cowgate, they warm up the charcoals every summer Saturday and Sunday afternoon, with DJs playing some funky soul, and there’s a handy terrace for shelter against the Scottish summer weather.
HAWKE & HUNTER 12 Picardy Place, Broughton, 0131 557 0952, hawkeandhunter.co.uk There’s a classy barbecue option available in the secluded Secret Garden behind Hawke & Hunter, with barbecues running on Friday evenings or as private events under the watchful eye of head chef Mark Greenaway.
Edinburgh has its own branch of Khublai Khan’s down in Leith (43 Assembly Street, khublaikhan.co.uk), a
lively teppan grill every weekend at Koi (26/30 Potterrow, koiedinburgh.co.uk), and Hanedan (41 West Preston Street, hanedan.co.uk) for Turkish style sizzle and smoke.
THE OUTHOUSE PLACES TO DIY
lochside and woodland walks. Be aware though, a by- law prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the park – a ban that now stretches up much of the loch’s east side.
MUGDOCK COUNTRY PARK
Craigallion Road, Nr. Milngavie, 0141 956 6100, www.mugdock-country-park.org.uk A wealth of visitor facilities at this popular park north of Glasgow include two well-appointed sheltered barbecue sites that can be rented out during the day or evening. One is family-oriented, being close to the children’s play areas, while the other is a quieter
pond-side spot.
FINLAYSTONE COUNTRY ESTATE Langbank, Port Glasgow, 01475 540
505, finlaystone.co.uk This attractive estate park a short journey from Glasgow offers a
number of stone barbecue pits (booking advised, bring coals and grills) within its extensive woodland area. Entry fees are £4 for adults and £3 for children,
with walks, outdoor adventure
play areas and landscaped gardens all included. The responsible drinking of
alcohol is permitted, as it is a private estate.
THE MEADOWS AND THE WATER OF LEITH, EDINBURGH
The battle of the disposable barbecue has seen Edinburgh City Council install concrete slabs (handily marked ‘BBQ’) at 21 sites across the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links in a bid to avoid burnt patches on their lush swards. For a bit more thrill to your grill try the open area beside the Water of Leith beneath the National Gallery of Modern Art, with a Gormley statue for company.
GRANTON
The long, rocky breakwater on the eastern side of Granton Harbour is undoubtedly a scenic spot, with views to the Forth islands, Fife and the sun
setting behind the Forth Bridges. It’s a bit exposed in an easterly breeze, but if you’re a dab hand with a fishing rod you might just be able to catch a couple of mackerel for your firey feast.
EAST LOTHIAN BEACHES There are various options among the attractive beaches of the North Sea coast east of Edinburgh, with East Lothian Council (eastlothian.gov.uk) providing bookable barbecue sites at both Yellowcraigs Beach near North Berwick, and in John Muir Country Park near Dunbar.
12a Broughton Street Lane, 0131 557 6668, outhouse-edinburgh.co.uk Various Edinburgh pubs with beer gardens roll out their barbecues for summer, but the choice pick are the Outhouse’s reformatted weekly events on Fridays after work and Sunday afternoons, the latter featuring some fun summer DJ sounds. 58 THE LIST 26 May–23 June 2011
BALLOCH CASTLE COUNTRY PARK Balloch, 0845 345 4978, www.lochlomond- trossachs.org The best bet for a barbecue on the banks of Loch Lomond, this easily reached park area on the southern tip of the loch has picnic sites for visitors along with
■ Go to list.co.uk/bbq for further suggestions for spots in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as our handy guide to what to cook on a grill that’s not a sausage. How about lamb koftas in pitta bread, mackerel wrapped in newspaper or posh stroganoff with mushrooms?