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Celebrate Glasgow's Shipbuilding History in the Shipyard Bards & Tall Tales tour in Glasgow
John Brown's, Fairfield, Yarrows… Cutty Sark, HMS Hood, Queen Mary… Titan crane, Broomielaw, OVO Hydro… all names that have helped shape the past and present of the Clyde River and Glasgow.
Taking place in Mharsanta Scottish Restaurant on Bell Street in the Merchant City, Shipyard Bards, Tall Tales and Dinner uses entertaining stories and trad songs to explore the Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage and the Clydeside’s current regeneration.
A joint production from Glasgow Music City Tours and Mharsanta, the events also feature a delicious two course meal from a menu of Scottish favourites plus a dram of whisky.
Including material from Fairfield Heritage Museum and former shipyard workers, the stories – some funny, some more serious – range from famous work-ins to heated run-ins between the bosses in their bowler hats and the bunnet-wearing workers.
And of course there are plenty of songs inspired by the Clyde and its industrial heritage. Live music is from singer Mae MacInnes. Mae is from the Isle of Skye, and grew up steeped in the island’s music tradition. The performance part of the event is illustrated by past and present photos of the Clyde, the yards and their famous ships.
The food will be hearty, wholesome and local – think Peterhead haddock and chips; haggis, neeps and tatties (veggie version available) and Mharsanta’s steak and sausage pie. Desserts will be a warm apple pie with custard, traditional cranachan or sticky toffee pudding served with vanilla ice cream.
About the tour:
- Duration: Two and a half hours
- Minimum Age: All Ages
- Meeting Point: Mharsanta Scottish Restaurant, 26 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LG
Glasgow G1 1LG
Tour Meeting Point
Address: Mharsanta Scottish Restaurant, 26 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LG
What3Words: skills.funny.forces
Each Glasgow tour covers approximately a mile and a half (2.4 kilometres). They last around two hours, sometimes a little longer, and you will be walking for the majority of the tour. There are some stairs and, especially on the Music Mile tour, some inclines.
Comfortable, flat shoes are highly recommended for the Glasgow City Music Tours.
The guides are good at finding sheltered spots en route but warm and waterproof clothing is recommended for the tour.
The Glasgow tours take roughly two hours, sometimes two and a quarter.
Glasgow City Music Tours always aims to take tour guests inside certain venues but cannot always guarantee it. Band load-ins, sound checks, and filming are out of the guide's control, and can sometimes prevent you from gaining access to venues.
Yes, the guides will happily help with taking any pictures should you require it. There will also be plenty of selfie opportunities along the way.
Children aged five and over are welcome on the Merchant City Tour. Due to licensing laws, the tour can only take children aged 14 or older on the Music Mile tours.