Paul Trainer's first look at new Glasgow hotel 'Revolver'

While familiar names are back, it’s clear that a surge of new arrivals are ready to establish themselves on the local scene. 

Virginia House on Virginia Street in the city centre is the latest location to be undergoing a transformation. I was given a first look tour this week by owner Jonathan Doherty as the project starts to take shape.

Reception at Revolver

Together with his brother Chris they have a portfolio that includes Riva Hotel in Helensburgh and Hemingway’s Bar in Leith. 

A first look at one of Revolver's new rooms

Their arrival in Glasgow will include multiple projects. Revolver will be a 43 bedroom hotel at Virginia House that will open in September. It will include a rooftop event space, gym, sauna and hot tub. 

There will be a 14-seat restaurant fine dining experience with a rotating tasting menu. Accommodation styles will include king and twin rooms, pod rooms and dormitories, with a selection of family rooms. The first floor will have a street food style offering and a small stage for live music. 

14 Seat restaurant at Revolver

From the reception of Revolver you will be able to look out the window and spot a low-key entrance further up Virginia Street. When you go through the door there, you will reach a tunnel of moving lights that will lead to a speakeasy margarita bar. 

This in turn is connected to El Santo at 84 Miller Street, above Thundercat Diner. Expect Latin American small plates with some added theatre, an oval cocktail bar, plush surroundings and a DJ booth. 

To complete their ambitious plans, the start of August will see the 10 bedroom Boutique 50 open on Bentinck Street near Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

Mika & Me 
There’s a new eye-catching shop on Park Road. The stylish Mika & Me is planning to open 10 optician units over the next two years and it all starts from here in the West End.

Barry Hutcheon and his sister Wendy Bremner developed the concept based on Barry’s time living in Tokyo and Wendy’s 28 years as an optometrist. 

Barry explains that they will offer Japanese aspheric lenses as standard.

He said: “These lenses dominate the market in Asia because they are thinner, flatter and lighter. We want people to enjoy the shopping experience, to come in with a pal and try out the lenses and we can ensure they have brand-new glasses in under an hour. There’s a style for everyone here, you can get a smart business look or go full Elton John.” 

The range includes Scottish and UK eyewear designers with Caron, Black Label and Finlay & Co among the collection.

Irvine Welsh’s Crime 

Irvine Welsh is currently involved in the filming of a six-part series for streaming service BritBox.

It’s been widely presumed this is an adaptation of his novel Crime, but since that book was largely set in Miami, why has filming been taking place at Glasgow’s Tradeston? 

“What we’ve done is we’ve taken the backstory of Crime, which is the story of Lennox, all set in Edinburgh, it’s almost like the prequel to the book” Irvine tells me. 

DI Ray Lennox will be played by former Taggart star Dougray Scott, with a supporting cast including Angela Griffin, Ken Stott, Joanna Vanderham and James Sives.

“I see some of the same faces on the set that were there with Trainspotting 2, Filth and
Trainspotting. You have an almost 30-year relationship with them. It tends to be the same crew that you use, mostly Glasgow-based. Then there’s the casting directors, the set designers and the costume people. It’s great to have a lot of these people coming back into the orbit again” the author says. 

Talk of the Town 
I’m beginning to think that the St James Quarter development in Edinburgh should just be called the Glasgowist Quarter. Ka Pao, The Gannet, chef Gary McLean and Broken Clock Cafe are already set to bring a local presence in the capital.

Jimmy Lee’s Salt and Chilli Oriental, a recent addition to Whiteinch, is the latest to join the gang making their move, launching a Hong Kong inspired street food menu next month at the Bonnie & Wild marketplace. 

You can live your best outdoor life this weekend at the reopened Merchant City Festival Village at Candleriggs Square. Expect cheese toasties, burgers, gin cocktails, pints and good times when the sun is shining.

Meanwhile Bier Halle has been granted permission for more outdoor seating on Buchanan Street to add to the long-established drinks terrace on Gordon Street. It makes you wonder why we are not taking full advantage of the space available on the pedestrianised part of Sauchiehall Street. 

Back to the Merchant City and the Vincent Van Gogh themed speakeasy The Absent Ear is now open for cocktail reservations 3pm to 10.15pm Wednesday to Sunday, email vincent@theabsentear.com.