The most talked-about food and drink places in Glasgow

Tomorrow brings the latest city centre opening with a new restaurant for seasonal seafood arriving on Renfield Street. Scamp completes a trinity of venues specialising in small plates, from the team behind Partick neighbourhood spot Eighty Eight and Hooligan wine bar.  

The debut menu features snacks like scallop toast with satay and kaffir lime, fish skin crackling, and Cumbrae oysters with pineapple and jalapeno. The sharing plates include langoustine scampi with lemon and chipotle ketchup, BBQ spiced monkfish on the bone with bhuna sauce and sea bream ceviche with strawberry and elderflower dashi.

There will be boneless skate wing with chili oil and black vinegar alongside prawn hot dog with smoked caviar and fennel. Chips and curry sauce on the side. Strawberries and clotted cream mille-feuille for dessert. Elsewhere in the city centre, the site formerly occupied by Grill on the Corner is set to reopen as a new venue called Bothwell House.

The Festival Village at Candleriggs Square is getting ready for summer sunshine with a new cocktail menu featuring Smugglers Spirits and slushies. Book yourself a tipi.

Cranside Summer Gardens launches today beside the Rotunda with bright and bold outdoor drinking and dining. Three new spaces have been added as a part of a sun-kissed makeover. Expect palm trees, garden picnic tables and a beach hut style tiki bar. New food options include Spanish style barbecue, poke bowls, ice creams and fruit lollies. A new sunset club will feature live DJs every Friday and Saturday night.

The Good Pub Guide has included seven Glasgow venues in their latest edition. Bon Accord is recommended as one of Scotland's best whisky bars, and there are mentions for Babbity Bowser in the Merchant City with its revamped beer garden, The Belle, Drum & Monkey, Pot Still, The State Bar, The Three Judges and Tennent's on Byres Road.

Jack Vettriano

An exhibition of art from the early career of Jack Vettriano opens at Kirkcaldy Galleries on 17 June. The painter made his mark on Glasgow five years ago when he created a mural to celebrate Billy Connolly's birthday. It's on the gable end of Hootenanny pub, overlooking the beer garden at Dixon Street. Give it a wave if you are passing.

Jack has fond memories of the experience. "It was fabulous. To actually meet Billy was wonderful. His wit is still very sharp. I love that it is on the end of a tenement block" Jack says.

"When I do paintings, I always do a small study, just to make sure that everything is in the right place and there's a certain balance to the painting. I did a small one of Billy Connolly, and I donated it to the  Kelvingrove Art Gallery, so I imagine that they've got it hanging in there. I hope so, anyway."

We get talking about a recent visit to the city. "I was invited to collect a lifetime achievement award, so I flew up to Glasgow, arrived at my hotel. I was standing outside and there's a woman out walking her dog, looking at me from across the road. I could tell she was trying to place me.

She comes across and she says "Vettriano?" I said, "Aye," and she said, "Gonnae gies yer autograph?" I said, "Of course." I said to her, "What's your name?" She says, "Oh, it's no for me. It's for the dog." It was drizzling and the dog was wearing a plastic mac, she produced a magic marker and she had me scibble on that." Somewhere in Glasgow, a dog called Anastasia wears a Jack Vettriano original when it rains.  

Something for the Weekend

Friday 3 June

The spring season for A Play, A Pie and A Pint continues at Òran Mór with Alright Sunshine by Isla Cowan. The play explores gender, power and the politics of public space as PC Nicky McCreadie responds to a mass brawl on The Meadows. At the Royal Concert Hall, two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Beck, one of the world's most significant guitarists will demonstrate a lifetime of influential riffs. He will be joined on stage by actor and Hollywood Vampires' guitarist Johnny Depp. Meanwhile, Bloc Party are at the Barrowland Ballroom.

Saturday 4 June

Riverside Festival continues by the Clyde with enigmatic singer Róisín Murphy topping the bill alongside local talent like Optimo and Taahliah for a celebration of electronic music. The beat goes on for the festival afterparty at SWG3 will Slam and Helena Hauff.  Books at the Botanics will be at the Hopkirk building at the Botanic Gardens with a selection of second hand, antiquarian and vintage books alongside prints and maps.

Sunday 5 June

The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust are hosting one of their regular open days at their home, Bridgeton Bus Garage. The family friendly event allows visitors to explore the 150 or so buses, coaches, commercial vehicles and fire appliances in the collection. Learn more about the University of Glasgow with a tour around the Gilmorehill campus. The walking tour explores connections to James Watt, Adam Smith, Lord Kelvin and Isabella Elder. Tickets can be bought from the SRC Welcome Point at the McIntyre Building and tours leave from the University Visitor Centre at 2pm. Merchant Square's weekly craft and design fair will host stalls with local art exhibitors, photography and handmade jewellery.