Will Glasgow gobble up what Michelin has to offer?

Dear readers — welcome to your Monday briefing. Within a few scrolls, you’ll soon discover it looks a little different. Ok, a lot different. We’ve done a full revamp. 

To take you backstage for a moment: The Bell has been in action for just about five months now and we’ve been absolutely blown away by the response — we’re less than 50 paying members away from reaching our late March goal of 500. 

This is, frankly, an unprecedented level of support from the good people of Glasgow (if you haven’t already become a paying member, please do press the button below now and grab a monthly subscription for less than the price of one delicious Outlier sandwich).

We’ve previously mentioned our lofty goals in covering this city; it’s one of the reasons we’re expanding so soon and hiring a news reporter to join our team (ever been described as ‘obsessive’ and ‘persistent’? Get your applications in before 21 February). But amid our plans for news and features, a question persisted: where was the space for opinions? This is not a city short on them, after all. 

So we went back to the drawing board for our Monday editions. Your new-look Bell briefings will now have a whole lot more views alongside news and recommendations. We’re also going to be featuring far more of the people who — dare we say it — make the city. 

And we want to hear from you. What do you make of a restaurant we loved? Did you have a different experience of a play we’ve critiqued? Got some thoughts about a news story we’ve held forth on? Tell us in the comments! This is a space for Bell readers to feed back in real time. 

We’ll let you get on with checking out the premiere of your overhauled Bell briefing. If you like it, let us know. If you don’t like it — let us know. 

Big story: Will Glasgow gobble up what Michelin has to offer?

Topline: The Michelin Guide brings its glitzy circus to town as the stars of the British and Irish fine dining scene flock to Kelvingrove Art Gallery for this evening's awards.

For starters: This is the first time Michelin — the tire company turned arbiters of culinary excellence — has hosted its awards in Scotland. In addition to announcing recipients of the famed stars in Great Britain and Ireland, the ceremony will also see Bib Gourmands, Green Stars and Special Awards doled out. 

Meat of the matter: Michelin deals in fine dining — which is not the main strain characterising Glasgow’s food scene, as excellent as it is. Only two of the city’s eateries currently hold a star each: Cail Bruich and Unalome by Graeme Cheevers. 

• Glasgow went through a prolonged dry spell without a starred restaurant, following the closure of Gordon Ramsay’s Amaryllis in 2004. Cail Bruich put an end to the drought in 2021, followed by Unalome the following year. 
• Until 2025, just 11 Glaswegian restaurants were recommended in the Michelin guide. Two more were added in the 2025 edition: Fallachan Kitchen and Margo. The latter joins sister restaurants Ox and Finch, and Ka Pao in receiving the nod from Michelin inspectors. 
• And not to bring up the dreaded Edinburgh comparison, but the Scottish capital has five Michelin-starred restaurants (out of a Scottish total of 11) and 34 included in the guide. 

Is this where Glasgow’s culinary direction is going? Probably not. Glasgow’s food scene is often described as ‘unpretentious’ and ‘vibrant’, with a focus on flavour, as opposed to the bells and whistles necessary to qualify an establishment as ‘fine dining’. The city is particularly well represented when it comes to gastronomic diversity, thanks to Glasgow’s unique role as a centre of migration in Scotland. This food is delicious, affordable — and, for the most part, doesn’t fit the Michelin brief. 

• Plus, few restaurants in the city are even trying to jump through the various hoops that would hold an establishment in contention for a star. 
• Michelin’s presence in Glasgow probably has less to do with the city’s reputation for fine dining, and more to do with Glasgow’s track record for hosting big events. That said, it’s undoubtedly great PR for the food scene across the board. 

The expert take? Restaurateurs are pleased; Peter McKenna who runs lauded spot, The Gannet (which held a Bib Gourmand from 2014–2018 and is still featured in the guide), told us: “Anything that shines a light on the Glasgow food scene, anything that promotes what's happening here in the city, is brilliant.” 

• McKenna says that while Glasgow has traditionally been “middle market”, rather than fine dining, that’s now changed with the city’s two starred establishments. He’s equally excited by this as he is the diversity of food on offer in the city, from Szechuan spots to a “strong” shawarma scene. 
• Big Counter gets a notable mention for McKenna, but is also a far cry from fine dining and the Michelin approach. “There's brilliant stuff happening in every corner of the city,” he says.

Bottom line: We’ll be watching with interest to see if any of the city’s fancier spots receive a star — viewers at home can also do so, by tuning in live to the ceremony at 6pm. But if they don’t, no hard feelings. Michelin is not set up to recognise Duke Street’s fresh falafel, or the chili-garlic aubergine plate at Gibson Street’s Noodles and Dumplings. And for most of the city’s residents, it’s these sorts of meals that blow our palates regularly (and, thankfully, not our wallets). The unasked-for opinion of a well-travelled London transplant who just loves eating? Glasgow is one of the best places this Bell staffer has ever had the pleasure of grabbing a bite in. 

And some stories you might have missed: 

Construction company Kier confirmed for HMP Barlinnie replacement
As in, Kier who were restoring the Glasgow School of Art when it burned down in 2018, and Kier who have handled the Citizens Theatre and Burrell rebuilds. They’ve got quite the monopoly on regenerating Glasgow’s heritage — for better or worse. Read more about the delays on breaking ground at HMP Glasgow here. 

The Lighthouse could become a net zero hub
Shuttered since the pandemic, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s former Glasgow Herald building may finally get a new lease of life: as a hub for sustainable tech firms. Not everyone’s happy though — the president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland has said a failure to fill the gap left by the Lighthouse’s former function as Scotland’s national centre for architecture and design would be a “tragedy”. 

Community orgs can claim cash for empty land plans
Got a vacant plot sitting near you? Glasgow City Council has been allocated more than £1m to dish out to local organisations who have a proposal for regenerating long-term empty or derelict land. Ideas have to either stimulate the local economy, create jobs, improve quality of life or support communities to flourish. A broad brief; email pbip@glasgow.gov.uk to apply or request more information. Closing date, 7 March.

Read/listen/watch 

Think synth: Have you heard about Glasgow’s new electronic scene? 

Glasgow has a long and proud history of innovation in electronic music but post-pandemic, momentum has waned somewhat. Now, according to a new independent documentary made by musician Stephen McLeod, things are picking up once more. The film focuses on the community formed around free monthly club night, Attack Release, where live experimental electronica is bringing audiences back — and beginning a new chapter in the city’s musical history. Watch the documentary here.

We also rec: 
Big Yin: the story of the comic that crowned Billy Connolly 
Ever wondered how Billy Connolly got the nickname ‘Big Yin?’ As the family of cartoonist Malky McCormick donates his huge personal archive, the BBC has done a retrospective on the Sunday Mail strip that created Connolly’s alter ego. 

Did you catch our weekend read? 

For over half a century, Sauchiehall Street has faced accusations of being finished. Following pandemic lockdowns, the impact of online shopping and disruption caused by major regeneration works, such cries feel like they’ve reached a fever pitch. But has the street been written off too hastily? Is a phoenix-like revival on the horizon?

We got a lot of traction with this one; one reader told us it was a “very timely and useful piece”, before positing that the Mack’s restoration might be “the key” to Sauchiehall’s regeneration.

Over on Bluesky, Ewan Sanderson said: “Excellent read rebutting the grim naesayers [sic] that Glasgow's a mess, regeneration doesn't happen overnight but there is hope”. 

Read the piece for free here, and weigh in with your thoughts. 

Just a perfect day

Every week, one Glasgow resident runs us through their ideal way to spend a day in the city.

Kerry, 33, Workshop co-ordinator for Glasgow Print Studio

DAWN: It’s a Saturday or Sunday, in summer. I’d head off to Daily [Coffee, in Dennistoun] with friends who live nearby. You can sit outside and the coffee is really good. My usual order is an oat latte but my friend calls that a childish drink so sometimes I get an oat flat white. Then we’d walk to the Barras and take in all the weird, amazing little shops that have been there forever, as well as the newer stalls, like How Bizarre Rugs, which is where I bought my rug, my favourite thing in my flat.

MIDDAY: I love Wilson Street Pantry for their eggs benedict and avocado. It also has outdoor seating and it’s near the print studio. Plus, it’s relatively affordable compared to brunch places charging you £20 for the same meal. 

AFTERNOON: I’d spend an hour at Tramway in the Southside, my favourite gallery in Glasgow. It’s such a huge bright space and they have so many interesting artists showing there. It’s not to everyone’s taste, which is great because if I’m there to see art, I don’t like being around loads of other people. Every Tramway show I’ve been to, I’ve lain down on the floor and taken it in that way as well.

After Tramway, I’ll head back into town and go to the CCA for more art, then have a drink upstairs with a friend. It used to be my go-to date spot; lots of handy exit routes…

DUSK: I’d meet with friends in Alexandra Park which is less rammed than Kelvingrove in summer. In Kelvingrove you can sit up top and watch the carnage below of all the drunk teenagers but it’s not somewhere I’d go to relax. In the long grass of Alexandra Park, it feels like you’re off the beaten track. We’d hang out until it gets dark or cold, then go for dinner. 

AFTER HOURS: I’d hop on the train and go to Ga Ga, a Malaysian-fusion diner in Partick. The menu is seasonal and the cocktails are amazing; Tipp Topp is my favourite but they’re all really tasty in that dangerous way that you can drink loads without realising. I like late dinners so we’d probably eat around 8pm and stay until 10pm, then head home. If we wanted one more drink, we’d drop by The Pot Still [on Hope Street] but most likely I’m off to bed.

If you’d like to feature in our Perfect Day slot, or nominate someone, drop us a line at editor@glasgowbell.co.uk.

Unconstructive critique: Beirut Star, 450 Paisley Rd 

Our new review corner.

Travelling along Paisley Road West towards Cessnock, passing various shawarma takeaways and African minimarkets, the transformation that’s taken place in this part of town is clear to see. Since 2017, Lebanese spot, Beirut Star, has been humbly dishing up some of the best Middle Eastern food in the city. It seems to have flown somewhat under the radar owing to its location, but is more than worth the trip.

The fried aubergine in pomegranate sauce, with a lick of hummus and a squeeze of lemon to cut through the sweetness, is simply joyful. The batata harra — crispy potatoes in spices — are a wonderful foil for baba ghanoush. Falafel, wonderfully crispy and laced with coriander seeds, were sadly a wee bit undercooked — so we’re not without complaint, especially given the restaurant was all but empty when we visited. Our main criticism though — why aren’t more of you eating here? 

Glasgow calendar 

💦 Love is in the… water? 
One of the more out there Valentine’s offerings we’ve stumbled across is the evening of music taking place at the Arlington Baths on 14 February. Flyers promise that ‘David and Gill’ will be helming an evening of tunes representing every emotion love can engender. But what really piques our interest is the unanswered question of whether this will be an aquatic concert or not. With tickets from £12, only one way to find out…

Other dates for your diary:
🍤 Japan meets Bangladesh in the latest Asian-fusion pop up to grace Glasgow. 
12 Feb, Ryan’s Bar. Free entry. 

🪑Bellahouston’s monthly antiques and vintage fair returns. 
16 Feb, 10am-4pm, Bellahouston Leisure Centre. Entry from £1.