The best of Glasgow
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Written by: Anita Lišková & Todd Shaw
Photo by: allphoto images
From a declining industrial center, Glasgow has been transformed into a forward-looking city and one of the hippest spots in Europe. Architectural styles abound, as well as a burgeoning cultural sector, while some of Scotland’s most beautiful mountains, glens, and lochs are easily accessible.
| Omar Sattar director of asset management, Orco Property Group Favorite hotel: Langs Hotel, 2 Port Dundas Place, tel.: +44 141 333 1500 Opposite Royal Concert Hall. Favorite restaurants: Cafe Mao, 84 Brunswick St Merchant City, tel.: +44 141 564 5161 – Asian fusion cooking at its best Cafe Gandolfi, 64 Albion St Merchant City, tel.: +42 141 552 6813 – quality Scottish cuisine Favorite night club: Sub Club, 22 Jamaica St, tel.: +44 141 248 4600 Favorite attraction: AArchitecture – Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Glasgow University in West End. Best-kept secret: 5pm.co.uk Internet site offering excellent deals on dining throughout the city. Favorite shops: House of Frasers , 21-45 Buchanan St, tel.: +44 141 221 3880, Department store Slaters Menswear, 165 Howard St, tel.: + 44 141 552 7171- for a wide range of suits and prices Advice: Merchant City area in general offers a large array of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. It’s a popular residential area in the city center for professionals and students. |
| Lenka Stárková entrepreneurFavorite hotel: Travel Inn, 187 George Street, tel.: +44 870 238 3320 – clean and very centrally located Favorite restaurant: Cafe India, 171 North Street, tel.: +44 141 248 4074 – it has the best curry in town Favorite night clubs: Sub Club, 22 Jamaica St, tel.: +44 141 248 4600 – for dancing the night away Horseshoe Bar, 17-19 Drury Lane, tel.: +44 141 229 5711 Favorite attraction: Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, tel.: +44 141 420 5000 The tower at the center, it has a fantastic view over the entire city. Best-kept secret: Riverside Club, 33 Fox Street – great venue with lots of different types of music nights, from ceilidh dancing to hip hop Favorite shop: John Lewis, City Centre, 97 Argyle St, tel.: +44 141 353 6677 It has everything you could want! Advice: Try to stay in a central hotel, as getting a taxi after a late night out is impossible. |
| Václav Rout owner, KiltFavorite hotel: The Pipers’ Tryst Hotel, The Piping Centre, 30-34 MacPhater Street, tel.: +44 141 353 5551 – hotel with a pleasant atmosphere located in a reconstructed 17th-century church Favorite restaurant: Corinthian, 191 Ingram St., tel.: +44 141 552 1101 – near Royal Exchange Square Favorite night club:Tiger Tiger, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, tel.: +44 141 553 4888 Favorite attraction: Celtic Connection – The biggest winter festival of Scottish music in the world, taking place in Glasgow every year in late January and early February. Favorite shop: Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre, Buchanan Street, tel.: +44 141 333 9898 Right after London, Glasgow is the best place for shopping. Advice: Glasgow has the best clubs and night life in Scotland, so don’t hesitate to enjoy yourself. |
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Where on the web?
For further information, we suggest the following websites dedicated to Glasgow:
www.cityguide.travel-guides.com/cities/gla/BusinessServices.asp – prime contacts /links for anyone seeking to do business in Glasgow.
www.scottishlaw.org.uk/scotlaw/usecitiesglasgow.html – a good overview of things to do and see in and around the city.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/glasgow/ – the folks at Lonely Planet turn their eyes to “the most Scottish of cities”.
www.glasgowguide.co.uk/info.html – a portal page for links to Glasgow, as well as a discussion board.
www.virgintrains.co.uk/destinations/glasgow/overview.aspx – a stylish site on travel tips to and within Glasgow, run by Virgin Train lines.
Business etiquette
· The business atmosphere is a little more relaxed than in cities such as London, although normal standards of business attire apply and punctuality is important. Most companies operate during standard business hours of Monday-Friday 0900-1700.
· Clients are usually well entertained by their Glasgow hosts, most likely taken to lunch in a restaurant or pub – depending on the formality of the business meeting – or to a restaurant in the evening. It is not usual for clients to be invited to one’s home.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
Business profile
· One of the engines of the industrial revolution, Glasgow is today spearheading developments in the IT and service sectors. Currently, 84% of the city’s working population is employed in service activities, with 9% in the manufacturing sector (nearly half of which is in engineering) and 7% in construction.
· Glasgow is generally recognized as the Britain’s call-center capital and is developing an ever stronger profile in areas of high technology, accounting services, and technology-based financial operations. It has one of the most advanced fibre-optic telecommunications networks in Europe and ISDN connections are readily available. Glasgow is also the commercial, retail, leisure and educational hub for half of Scotland’s population. The workforce is increasingly multi-lingual and includes a high number of university graduates.