BBC Scotland

This is for a review of a BBC broadcast before the holidays. My guy and I had put in a bid to see a holiday show and won tickets. Hooray! It’s a bit mad how this whole ticket pool works. I’m notoriously early to just about everything in my life, but even being early, it was still crazy.
We arrived and had to get in line, with the ticket we were given– given a sticker with a number on it and had to wait for our numbers to be called. After groups of numbers were called (completely out of order) we were seated or in our case, told to stand at the back of the seating area. A bit bummed out that we weren’t sitting, it ended up being ok standing. Some people who won in the ticket pool were turned away as they are not exactly guaranteed seats.
It was a live radio set up, so we were briefed as to when to clap and how loud to cheer. The bands that came on were a great mix of indie rock and folk and the evening ended up being great. One of the performers mic ended up not working, so he had to re-​record all the songs he sang– which was ok by us.
There’s a wee café at the entrance of the seating area that sells coffees, food and alcohol if you fancy.
All in all, this was an enjoyable experience even though a bit chaotic in the organisation of it all.

It’s a small café in the foyer of the bbc building. The choice is limited, but it’s a decent option for a quick lunch bite if you are already in the area. Not really a destination in and off itself though.
I had a backed potato that was ominously lacking in the advertised chorizo, but it was quite tasty. On the plus side it was highly inexpensive and so recommendable as a cheap eat.

Have visited several times as an audience member for TV shows and for the BBC at the Quay festival held during the Commonwealth Games. Have enjoyed each experience and have found the staff to be welcoming and helpful, and the events have been well organised. There’s a café at the front entrance and if you’re there for a filming the waiting area has a bar. Haven’t done a tour of the building yet but plan to in the future.

After a short trip on the outer subway to Cressnock and a long walk along Govan Road, we arrived at the BBC at the Quay. Wow, I have never seen so many people in the city. Seemingly 3.5 million people through the gates of Glasgow Central in a week! The Games have provided locals and visitors with an abundance of things to do see and experience throughout the city and further afield, not just at their live BBC event outside their studio.
Food, beer tent, live music and dance, amusements for the kids, a naval ship tour, camera tech in the Science Centre, but sadly no tours of the magnificent looking BBC building itself, though filming was taking place with someone famous inside (BBC Hogmanay presenter).
On a wee walk down the river we saw familiar sport personalities nearer the Hydro, but as we were on limited time before the train home couldn’t stay long enough to wait for tickets in the very long queues, just like we experienced in George Square.
But we did visit a v. nice restaurant when getting back into the city. Glasgow certainly knows how to throw an event like this but hats off to transport staff whom helped make the city an easier place to get around during this very busy time.

This was my second time visiting the BBC area and I must say I am loving what they are doing whilst the commonwealth is on! BBC at the Quay is opened up to every one. You can wonder around have a drink at the bar, sit on the deck chairs and watch the shows on the big screen. If you were not lucky enough to get free tickets from the ballot you might even get into a show as long it’s not full! You can wander into the BBC building to have a nosey! Set up on the river this place has a certain kind of buzz. Tv presenters news reader even some famous people wandering about. I was lucky to get tickets to the live lounge which was awesome, they have a great way of making you feel involved. Bar is reasonably priced Belhaven G51 (this must be the BBC’s own brand of Belhaven) £3.50 not too bad considering it’s the same price for a roll and sausage. Get down there whilst the games are on!

Been here a few times as an audience member. Nice building, clean facilities and friendly professional staff. Just a shame there’s no free parking on site for visitors, but I suppose they couldn’t be expected to host an audience load of cars!

We visited the BBC Scotland building at Pacific Quay yesterday for a tour. I’d heard about the tours but they get booked out quickly, so I suggest you sign up for the mailing list and get in fast!
The tickets are around £6 each for a 1.5 hour tour. When you get the tickets, you get detailed instructions about getting into the carpark and the building — I’d suggest reading these before you arrive to save confusion… (Ha!)
The tour starts right on the specified time so make sure you’re there early. There’s a seating area and a café to entertain you while you wait. Graeme got a sandwich which was surprisingly fresh and tasty. The tour groups are groups of 25 with two guides and a security guide. Our guides (Louise and Tanya) were both knowledgable, interesting and friendly which is everything you want from a tour.
The building itself is really interesting from the inside — initially it seems a little plain for a creative environment but there is a story behind everything. I don’t want to spoil the magic of the tour though!
The part I liked the most was the newsroom parts, getting to see the BBC Scotland News studio and having a sit in Jackie/Catriona’s chair. There was also an interactive part where people can live read the news and do a radio play, I think these parts are great for kids/​younger people but did go on for a little while and got a little boring.
I’m definitely going to add this to my list of places to take Glasgow tourists when they’re visiting as I think it’s good value and entertaining.

I came here with a few guests for a live show, the seating arrangement was tight as your knees where against the seat in front, the chairs where not comfortable we saw a large number of people going to the toilet after and hour, so we thought and made our move to leave and go home only to meet a large group of people doing the same as us (leaving).

‘Charles Rennie Mackintosh’, BBC Television.
A fascinating accountor was it?
This supposedly in-​depth documentary of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was just an advertisement for the ‘kitsch souvenirs’ that decorate museum shops!
Yes, it gave the date of his birth; even an account of his childhood and his passage through an Art School which he would design, then rebuild.
Historians and ‘art luvvies’ fell over themselves to see who could give the most glowing cloying portrait. They supped tea in his Willow tearoom; incessantly chirped at the surroundings of his ‘Home for a Music Lover’ and loquaciously licked each architectural corner of his beloved ‘School of Art’
All this was going swimmingly, until someone had the audacity to mention sex! S.E.X.
I suppose when the blue-​rinsed-​brigade sat down to watch this documentary, they’d probably choke on their tea and scones, seeing themselves on a TV programme that had more to do sex than the Art Nouveau movement of the late nineteenth century.
Quite frankly, this programme did not need all the sexual ‘ins and outs’ of Charles Rennie and Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh; perhaps the juicy gossip nature of this documentary was such as to reflect the attitudes of our times.
All in all, art is visual, and I for one certainly was not interested in their bedroom secrets: their Artwork speaks for itselfHe’ll be rolling in one of his fancy crypts!!!

Ok, so perhaps I may be biased because Lumberjack works for the BBC, and I get to experience all cool things BBC. But I must say that BBC Scotland Pacific Quay is quite an impressive modern space. From the architectural design to the actual layout and design of the space, setting foot in the foyer is always a «wow» moment for me. When I’m not inundated with coursework, I frequent the Beeb quite often either for a gig, or a late night food delivery and keeping Lumberjack company on super late radio shifts. The security guards are always super friendly and nice, and I love the different variations of my name when I get my badge to enter.
In the foyer downstairs, there’s a Costa coffee, and they’ll occasionally do gigs or live show recordings in that area. I’ve been to a Global Gathering recording, and it was pretty cool. The red sandstone is the main focal point of the interior as it spans all 5 floors of the building. The canteen on the top floor normally whips up some tasty grub, and if you sit out on the terrace, you have great views of Glasgow and the Clyde. I’ve come here for the BBC Hogmanay Party, and it was a riot with an open bar, ceilidh and funk band.
Overall, it’s quite an impressive and unique space. If you’re lucky, try and book a free 1.5 hour guided tour of BBC Scotland Pacific Quay… however, it seems to be completely booked for the rest of 2010!

This shiny new BBC Scotland building is an eye catcher off the River Clyde and in shouting distance from the STV building too.
Been here before for some Children in Need thing I got unwillingly roped into and had a good laugh!
The immense let down that was Limmy’s Show is a testament to the poor output in Scottish comedy today, but you cant argue with BBC Scotlands news.
A good spot for all you stalkers out there.

This big shiny building is home to the good old BBC, well BBC Scotland to be exact. Located just by the River Clyde, it’s in the perfect location for tourists and locals to wander on by and admire it in all its glory.
You might be lucky enough to spot a newsreader, TV presenter, or as I did, one of the cast of River City! Sad I know, but spotting «the gay one» from River City crossing the Clyde made my day.
This lovely big building plays host to many big BBC shows and members of the public are often invited along as audience members for live recordings. It’s worth keeping an eye on the website to see what’s coming up and who knows, you might be able to do some «celebrity» spotting yourself…

The BBC’s new office building is incredibly impressive from the outside, and undoubtedly far bigger and better appointed than their old West End address. It’s possible to get free tickets to come and see shows being recorded, and there’s a public area with a café and usually some sort of exhibition on, which while not really making the place a tourist destination in itself, makes it possibly worth a look before or after a visit to the nearby Science Centre.
Unfortunately, the days of Rab C Nesbitt and Naked Video are long gone, and I honestly can’t remember the last time a decent programme came out of BBC Scotland, with most of their budget now appearing to be splurged on Gaelic programming. Around 1% of the Scottish population actually speak Gaelic, and those that do tend not to have running water or any concept of civilisation never mind a TV.
It’s an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money, and so while the building might look nice, BBC Scotland fails quite miserably to live up to it’s potential.

The new BBC building down at Pacific Quay is the new home of our treasured institution. Having moved from its longstanding home on Queen Margaret Drive it is now set up in a shiny new building by the Clyde. Obviously you can read, listen and watch the BBC but the main building also offers a more hands on BBC experience. How so?
Well if you keep an eye on what is on you can ask for tickets to see the shows that are being recorded in one of the 5 studios. My friends and I went to see a live recording of the Culture Show and when the offices were at Queen Margaret drive I saw Lenny Hennery record a new show. These nights are usually free and offer some free drinks to loosen up the audience (excellent). Though I must say seeing Mark Kermode up close was not the highlight of my week. Sorry Mark but will just expain why the film is bad rather than simply saying it is bad? WILL YOU? Moving on…
The building is massive and is home to all manner of recording and broadcast facilities. To quote the website: «The 34,000sqm Pacific Quay building is five storeys high and home to over a thousand staff. It was purpose built not only to meet needs of broadcasters but also of the public. The ground level foyer is open to the public and includes a café, viewing and listening stations, public wi-​fi access and exhibitions spaces. As one of the most sophisticated digital production centres in Europe, it will be the only BBC building fully equipped to take maximum advantage of digital switchover, as it starts in Scotland in 2008.»