Passport Launch Event

Fab evening with great music, great offers and yummy cake and cheese
Mmmm cheese
Pity I couldnt stay longer, I would have demolished the cakes!

Another cracking event in another place I’ve never been.
A fine selection of great stalls from some lovely people was the order of the night, where my tastebuds were treated to a fair few sensations!
A high turnout made for great chat where I ended up discussing cannibalism for well over an hour, chomping away on delicious cheese. Way above my average Thurs (and way stranger!).
Made a convert of my friend Lauren who was a newcomer to Unilocalage, turned up by the pun-​laden merchandise and free grub.
I was delighted to pick up my passport and catch up with folks, making plans for the immediate future in Unilocal land.
A great night!

I was looking forward to this event as I knew it would be up to the high standards on the Chris-​o-​meter! I very was intrigued by the venue as normally we’ve been to various eating/​drinking and shopping establishments so to have a Unilocal event in a church was going to an interesting different night out. I had never been to Lansdowne Church but I had noticed from various posters outside there’s always things happening there.
The place was filled with helium baloons galore and looked like it was going to be a great big party. I think secretly it is like Chris’ birthday each month minus the cake mind you although there was some pretty tasty cupcakes available from The Flamingo Bakery.
There was plenty of goodies from various west end venues and also companies featuring from the Passport. I did hang about the cheese stall quite a bit. Nom!!! It was a shame not all companies from the Passport were able to make it but it was still a good turn out.
I met even more Unilocalers I’ve talked to online so felt not only finding out about more local businesses but new Unilocal peeps too including surprise appearences from good friends which I think my bad er I mean good influence of getting them also addicted to Unilocal.It’s funny when you bump into friends on the street and they all know about my Unilocal addiction. (Happened en route to Lansdowne)
It was a great evening with fabulous entertainment with a bit of piano and bass in the corner, helium balloons (oh yeah, we had fun with them), and great samples from the various companies.
Chris did a brilliant job, the Passport really opens up the west end to places I wouldn’t have thought about going to or just didn’t know about in the first place. It was a great night with great banter and can’t wait to use my Passport.

This is what happens when you take the best of what Scotland is offering now and put it out there.
I know it was advertised as the West End passport but I believe that these events exemplify the types of independent businesses that the West of Scotland is generating right now. Small, energetic, smart entrepreneurial ventures that know their market and are not afraid to take that step of faith and put themselves out there.
Gathered in Lansdowne Parish Church accompanied by the Drumming Circle on the ground floor — Unilocalers and Business Owners alike — to find out the real work that is happening in that small enclave — Glasgow’s West End.
I have spent a long time working in this fantastic geographic area of Scotland. It became a running joke that the folks from the East would venture over to our corner simply because we could beat them on eating, drinking and shopping. This Passport event will hopefully start the process of taking a lot of the newer ventures and introducing them to a wider audience.
Got there with the Vegan and started to introduce her to a host of regulars and semi-​regulars. Andrew and Alison were bright and lovely to talk to and I felt I could leave Liz alone and venture about the hall. Lots of stalls and one that drew me near and continued to draw me all night long. Kevin L finally told me where he came from the United States — TBH his accent gave it away.
Fiona and Claire found me and we discussed upcoming plans. I directed them to the special stall and things continued to progress well. Finally ended the night discussing Psychology with Steven and Lauren as the Brewdog stall finally ended its involvement.
The parking meter outside was ticking over and so we departed Great Western road and headed back home. Good night — well spent.

This was my first visit to the Lansdowne Church, and there is something unmistakable about a church hall. It was great to meet up with friends and make new ones. Slightly disappointing that not all stakeholders in «The Passport to the West End» were represented, but there was something for everyone: cheeses, whisky, beer, cupcakes, arts and craft, live music, pizza…