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Stories of the Anchor Line Building from the locals that worked there

Leading our guests of honour down memory lane wasn’t difficult, since we had kept so many of the original features. Features like the luxury ocean liner décor that has filled the headquarters since it was built, as well as glazed tiles, terrazzo flooring, cruise ship inspired carpets, wood panelled walls and fireplaces.

78-year-old Eva Morgan remembered it well, having started working as a shorthand typist in 1959 at the Donaldson Line offices on the second floor.

“I had many wonderful years,” said Eva. “You would start at 9.30am and work until 5pm. You would get a four-shilling lunching voucher – which was a lot back then – and four weeks’ holiday a year.”

We even uncovered a love story when Eva told us how she met her husband Norman there. He passed her a note, asking to take her out for a drink after work. She said yes, and they married in 1966.

Maureen Reilly brought a collection of precious photographs with her, to show us what the building once looked like. She married her beloved husband here, and had her wedding photos taken in front of the beautiful fireplace that we fully restored and now resides in our premium one bedroom apartment, 103. It was a wonderful moment when she was able to recreate the photo, all these years later.

On the date of her anniversary, we invited Maureen and her sister back to Native a second time, to experience a night’s stay. Having lived in the building while her Father worked as the Head Caretaker there, Maureen recalled the bustling atmosphere that filled their home.

“Mum was always inviting our family and friends over for lunch so it was very busy and social. We loved being up on the rooftop sunbathing or round the kitchen table together. Dad loved his job too, it was a happy time when we lived here.”

John Duffy, 80, told us about his time as a customs clerk, when he would be chauffeured to Yorkhill Dock to collect the captain’s articles and make sure everything was running smoothly.

“It was a great place,” he said. “I thought it was sad that Anchor Line themselves had to move out because it’s such a beautiful building and it was built specifically for Anchor Line, so it’s nice to see it’s being put to good use now.”

We couldn’t agree more, John.

Intrigued? You can find out more about the Anchor Line building from Scottish national treasure and TV historian Neil Oliver.

Neil Oliver visits Native Glasgow from Native on Vimeo.

Stay in one of Glasgow’s most iconic buildings, book here.

Recipe: Make some Bala Baya magic in your Native kitchen

Bala Baya’s Fish with Fennel

Serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1 whole sea bass, sea bream or red snapper (roughly 800g), preferably left whole on the bone or with the back bone removed
  • 2 red chillies (thinly sliced)
  • 4 cloves of garlic (thinly sliced)
  • Vegetable oil
  • 50ml Arak, Ouzo or Pastis
  • 50ml water
  • 50g butter
  • A bunch of chopped parsley, dill and mint
  • 12 cherry tomatoes
  • 3 sprigs of sage
  • 1 fennel bulb (thinly sliced into shavings)
  • 1 teaspoon of sumac
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 lemon

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 2200C.
  2. Fry the fish in some oil on both sides until golden brown. At the same time, burn the sage over an open flame. If you don’t have a gas hob, fry the sage with the fish.
  3. Put the sage into the belly of the fish.
  4. Transfer the fish to a roasting tray and put it in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.
  5. In the same pan you used to fry the fish, throw in the tomatoes, garlic and chilli and fry until golden brown. Add the alcohol and cook for 30 more seconds.
  6. Add the water, then the butter.
  7. Whisk everything in the pan so the tomatoes are crushed and mixed with the other ingredients, and the butter is emulsified.
  8. Take the pan off the heat and season.
  9. Add 1 tablespoon of the chopped herbs and a squeeze of lemon.
  10. In a separate bowl, mix the fennel shavings with the rest of the herbs and the lemon, then add a dash of olive oil and season.

Plate up and serve

  1. When the fish is tender, remove it from the oven. Make sure it’s cooked by checking the belly – the flesh should be white and not transparent.
  2. Put the fish on a serving plate.
  3. Pour all the sauce in the saucepan over the fish.
  4. Pile the fennel salad on the side.
  5. Sprinkle sumac all over the dish.

And dinner is served. Bon appetit!

Head to Bankside for a taste of Bala Baya.

Explore the cityscapes of Glasgow with local street artist Rogue Oner

Bobby’s accustomed to attracting a crowd of awe-inspired fans as he works, so he was happy to talk to Native Glasgow guests while he created Look Up, answering questions about where he finds his inspiration.

“All sorts of things inspire me,” he said. “Music, culture, fashion and life. I love the culture that’s in the city between the music and clubbing. The architecture. Quirky wee things that makes you fall in love with it and enjoy it.”

We told Bobby that we wanted to inspire all our guests to wander the city and take in all its amazing street art. So, once he’d finished working on this fantastic new mural, he kindly agreed to give some Native Glasgow guests a local’s tour of the city.

Join us on our wander with Rogue Oner.

Native Glasgow – Art Wander with Rogueoner from Native on Vimeo.

Rogue Oner’s mural trail

Follow Rogue Oner’s mural trail and keep an eye out for some of our favourite spots to Look Up:

The World’s Most Economical Taxi

Start your tour Mitchell Street adjacent to Buchanan Street, where you’ll find this fantastic floating taxi. Fun fact – Rogue Oner actually painted on the brick wall effect behind the taxi. While you’re there, be sure to look out for Smug’s mural on the same street called Honey, I shrunk the kids.

Billy Connolly

Rogue Oner created the mural of much-loved Glaswegian comedian Billy Connolly to celebrate Billy’s 75th birthday back in 2017. You can find another of Rogue Oner’s Billy Connolly murals in Old Wynd Car park.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Rogue Oner, along with Art Pistol, created the mural of Charles Rennie Mackintosh for the 150th anniversary of the artist’s birthday. It looms over the Clutha & Victoria Bar at the end of Stockwell Street.

Crazy Cat Lady

The mural of 3 cats playing beneath the feet of ‘the Crazy Cat Lady’ can be found on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow city centre. It’s on the site for the former Victoria’s nightclub which burned down in 2018.

 

If street art is your thing, then why not check out People Make Glasgow’s city centre mural trail.

If you’d like to see ‘Look Up’ for yourself, you’ll find it in its current home at Platform at Argyle Street Arches.

Book a stay in the city of street art in our aparthotel on St Vincent Place.

How to Have a Memorable Solo Trip to London

Economise transport costs with an Oyster card

As you’d expect from the UK capital, London benefits from one of the finest public transportation networks in the world. Whether you plan to use the Tube, the overground, the bus or the train, getting your hands on an Oyster card as soon as you can is a must for making the most of the city. Not only will you save on travel expenses, you’ll also make things easier and quicker when navigating its network of public transport. You can pick one up at all Tube stations or online in advance at Transport for London.

Sightsee via cycle

While the Tube is probably the fastest and most efficient way of getting around, you do risk missing out on the lovely scenery, impressive architecture and bustling atmosphere of London’s iconic cityscape. If you have the time, try setting aside at least one day to rent a Boris Bike – so named for the former mayor who implemented them several years ago, Boris Johnson – and take in the sights from the comfort of your saddle. With over 750 docking stations around the city and cycles available for as little as £2 per 24 hours, the city is your cycling oyster (excuse the pun).

Go Native and get insider know-how

Where you stay is just as important as how you get around, since a central location can cut down on travelling times significantly. Rather than cough up for the extortionate costs of London’s hotels, you could try the alternative option of going Native. With an abundance of locations all over the city to suit any budget and taste, our aparthotels offer all the benefits of an apartment with the convenience of a hotel. What’s more, we know the city like the back of our hand, so can offer unbeatable insider info on the local neighbourhood.

Follow your nose and go with the flow

One of the best things about travelling solo is the ability to be flexible in your plans and tailor them to your own preferences, without having to compromise at any time. Fancy spending an entire afternoon in the National History Museum? No problem. Feel like a lazy day wandering around Hyde Park? You’ve got it. Got a sudden urge to take in a West End show? You’re in luck – being flexible with your theatre plans definitely works in your favour with regards to pricing, since you can often lock down last-minute tickets at cut-rate prices. If your schedule allows, do everything you can.

Don’t try and see everything

Having said that, it’s also important not to try and cram too much into your visit. Some people want to try and make the most of their short sojourn in the capital and end up burning themselves out by the end of day one. This is especially relevant if you’re in town for business; sure, you might want to make the most of your evenings by taking in a show, sampling a cocktail or experiencing all the nightlife that London has to offer. By all means, do as many of these as your budget, timeframe and energy levels allow – just don’t exhaust all three in the attempt.

Plan your visit today and book a short stay apartment in London.

Ultimate Guide to Hyde Park Gigs 2019

Celine Dion
5 July 2019

The mega-voiced superstar will come to us fresh from her record-breaking Las Vegas residency, ready to headline the opening night of British Summer Time festival. As her fans know, her live shows are extraordinary, and she’ll be joined by heartthrob crooner Josh Groban and Claire Richards (the one from Steps with the great voice), so you’re in for a summer night full of soulful ballads and vocal acrobatics.

Stevie Wonder
6 July 2019

There are few music superstars as celebrated and adored as Stevie Wonder. The singer, songwriter, musician and producer will be bringing The Stevie Wonder Song Party: A Celebration of Life, Love & Music to Hyde Park, joined by very special guest Lionel Richie. Two legends for the price of one!

Barbra Streisand
7 July 2019

Diva extraordinaire Barbra Streisand has got London buzzing before she’s even taken to the stage. Iconic as an actress and activist along with her unmistakable vocals, expect her super-fans to be out in force. They’ll be hoping for classic songbook staples like Woman In Love, The Way We Were and Rain on My Parade, along with tracks from last year’s album Walls, her first collection of original songs since 2005.

Bob Dylan
12 July 2019

He’s one of the world’s most iconic singer-songwriters, a ten-time Grammy winner, was even awarded a Nobel Prize in 2016 – and this summer, he’s playing Hyde Park. Known as the soundtrack to a generation for over five decades, he’ll take you on a journey through folk, rock and beyond. Armed with his trusty guitar and brilliant band, he’ll also be joined by another living legend…

Neil Young
12 July 2019

Sending classic rock fans into raptures by playing on the same night as Dylan will be Canadian troubadour Neil Young. His classic albums like Harvest, After The Goldrush and On The Beach are still agreed to be some of the best in the genre and, this year, he’ll be bringing his band, Promise of the Real, which just happens to feature two of Willie Nelson’s sons. And you thought the night couldn’t get any cooler.

Florence + The Machine
13 July 2019

Riding high from the success of her fourth album, High As Hope, Florence Welch will be gracing Hyde Park with her otherworldly voice and belt-along hits from the last decade. Known for their festival-filling live performances, you can bet that Florence and her band will be kicking off the night in style.

The National
13 July 2019

Sharing the stage with Florence will be festival favourites The National. The American indie superstars have a huge British following and a recent UK number 1 album under their belt, plus they’ll be joined by support acts like Lykke Li, Blood Orange and Marlon Williams. Get ready to rock out – this is going to be an unforgettable night.

Robbie Williams
14 July 2019

Back in the day, Robbie was the cheeky, warbling, waistcoat-wearing youngest member of Take That. Today, he’s a national treasure in his own right after storming the music scene for nearly 30 years, and all on his own terms. He’s responsible for six of the top 100 best-selling albums in British history and it’s accolades like this that have him judging on X Factor, playing 12 nights in Vegas and wrapping up British Summer Time, all in the same year.

 

Get your accommodation sorted

The best thing about British Summer Time at Hyde Park? No flyaway tents, grotty showers or hold-your-nose bogs. In fact, the best way to enjoy two weekends of unforgettable music is by staying nearby – in civilisation! Things fill up pretty quickly, so take a look at our lovely studio, one and two bedroom apartments around the capital, not to mention Native Hyde Park – our aparthotel that’s just a stone’s throw from the gigs. Combining the benefits of a home-away-from-home with the convenience of a hotel, we’ll also give you insightful advice into each particular neighbourhood, giving you access to all the hidden gems the city has to offer. Just like a native.

Book your festival flat at Native Hyde Park.

Best classical music events in London

Outstanding Orchestras

No classical aficionado could resist paying a visit to one of the multitude of orchestras that make London their home. The London Philharmonic Orchestra, as heard on Howard Shore’s incredible soundtrack for The Lord of the Rings, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, who recorded the score for The Bridge on the River Kwai hold concerts in their home theatres. You’ll also find The London Symphony Orchestra, famous for recording John Williams’ beautiful music for Star Wars, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra at the heart of the BBC Proms. With so many extraordinary ensembles you really are spoilt for choice.

Royal Albert Hall
Image: By Diliff from Wikimedia Commons

The BBC Proms

Undoubtedly, one of the best seasons of classical music events – not just in London but in the whole of the UK – is the BBC Proms. Referred to by Czech composer Ji?í B?lohlávek as “the world’s largest and most democratic music festival”, the eight-week season should be on any classical music lover’s list. Concerts are dedicated to anniversaries of composers from around the world or notable events in history, and this year it’s the 50th anniversary of the moon landings. There are even special concerts like the CBeebies prom for young children, as well as family workshops, talks, readings and forays into jazz in tribute to the likes of Nina Simone and Duke Ellington.

The best and most famous night of the Proms is the final night, held in one of the most imposing classical concert venues in London – the Royal Albert Hall. It usually takes place on the second night in September and, although tickets are like gold dust and very difficult to come by, it’s well broadcasted by the BBC. It features some of the greatest and most recognisable pieces of classical music in the world, followed by a celebration of Britain’s contribution to the genre. It’s a night not to be missed.

In London for a night at the Proms? With 17 locations throughout the city, Native offers the perfect rest between events. Book one of our serviced apartments or short stay apartments in London today.