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Pupils’ mural is colourful message of hope

PUPILS at Paisley Grammar have created a giant signwriting mural that’s designed to bring a bit of colour and a message of hope and encouragement to the East end of Paisley.

The young people from the school’s art classes have been working with professional artist and graphic designer Ciaran Globel, who uses traditional signwriting tools and techniques to produce striking, hand-painted work.

The pupils choose the message on the mural which read: “Smile and hold your head high.”

The 14-metre long piece of artwork has now been erected at the children’s playpark in McKerrell Street.

Paisley Grammar has been working with S1 pupils at signwriting workshops with older pupils – Kitty Hunter, Victoria Torrance, Emma Brough, Melissa Murdoch, Grace Aitchison and Emma Forbes – who are in S4.

Artist Ciaran Globel said: “The pupils came up with a great phrase. I really enjoyed working with Paisley Grammar and hope everyone enjoys the results”

Paisley Grammar art teacher Lisa Cassidy added: We’re delighted that this powerful message will be in the park for everyone to see.”

The mural is part of the Artist and Residents Project funded by Renfrewshire Council’s Future Paisley legacy fund stemming from the town’s City of Culture bid.

Renfrewshire Leisure’s chairperson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes added: “Our Artist and Residents strand of Future Paisley is all about artists and neighbourhoods working together to create great art.

“This amazing mural reflects a great pride and positivity in Paisley’s future.

“We continue to work with Future Paisley to breathe life into new spaces and inspire people across Renfrewshire to make and create.”

Future Paisley is the radical and wide-ranging programme of events, activity and investment using the town’s unique and internationally-significant cultural story to transform its future.

26/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

On Saturday 7 March 14 couples rocked the dance floor at St. Vincent’s Hospice’s ninth annual Strictly Come Prancing event, raising more than £67,000 for the charity.

Based on the hit TV series, this year was the biggest in the organisations history with more than 500 people in attendance to witness the record setting evening. After a hard fought battle with contestants who have been training hard over the last several months to wow the judges, it was married couple Allan and Julie Greenlees who took home the trophy after a stunning Tango.

Fundraising Manager for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Carol-Anne Lamont said: “What an absolutely fantastic night and an amazing show from every single one of our prancers! It was one incredible performance after another, and special congratulations to Allan and Julie, who went all the way to a tense dance off, before being crowned the Strictly 2020 Champions.

“This event was a complete sell out and was our biggest and most successful Strictly event to date and we owe a massive thank you to not only all of our dancers, but to all of our sponsors for making the evening possible, Ingliston Hotel and Country Club for going above and beyond to make the evening go off without a hitch, and to all of our staff and volunteers who gave us their time to help out on the night.”

One of this year’s winners, Allan, said: “To be part of Strictly Come Prancing again was such a great honour, as I know from the previous year how much money is raised from the night. The Hospice plays a vital role in the local community, for families in their time of need and it is amazing to play my part in the fundraising effort. I can’t thank all the team enough for not only letting me back in this year, but for all the effort they put in to making the night happen.

His partner, Julie, said: “When Allan asked me to dance this year, I was a bit reluctant, however I’m so glad we did. Gordon and Rebecca did an amazing job teaching us our dance and did even better teaching it while we constantly argued about the steps! This was better than I ever imagined it would be and everyone taking part did brilliantly. To win was such a great feeling, although the standard was so high, we really were lucky! All 14 couples should be proud of what they achieved, and I can’t wait to watch again next year.”

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a specialist provider of palliative care, supporting individuals who are affected by a life-limiting condition.

Managing Director of Hillhouse Group, the Headline Sponsor of this year’s event, Robert McNaughton said: “Glad to hear that everyone, dancers and spectators had a great night. What an amazing amount of money raised and we would like to wish St. Vincent’s every success for the future.”

Event Host from the evening, Peter from Beautiful Events and Productions said: “This is the most successful Strictly in nearly 10 years of doing the event”

The Hospice is already looking forward to Strictly Come Prancing 2021 and welcome all applications from potential dancers and sponsors. For more information, please contact: Info@svh.co.uk.

25/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “In line with national guidance from the Scottish Government on the coronavirus, we have taken the decision to cancel all large-scale Renfrewshire Council-run events until the end of June.

“This will include the Paisley Food and Drink Festival which was due to take place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April and an agreement with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) to cancel the British Pipe Band Championships in Paisley, which was set to take place on Saturday 23 May.

“We will also look to reschedule both Renfrew Gala Day and Barshaw Gala Day for the end of summer.

“We will continue to review our future events, including Sma’ Shot Day on Saturday 4 July, as the situation progresses.

“We would advise everyone to continue to observe the medical advice available at NHS Inform. For further information, please visit www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus.

“For ongoing updates to our event programme, please visit www.paisley.is.”

16/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire has honoured local groups and volunteers for their work in the community at the Provost’s Community Awards.

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron was joined by comperè Libby McArthur to help celebrate the achievements of devoted community members who go above and beyond to make Renfrewshire a better place to live and work.

All winners with Provost

The award winners were invited to a special ceremony at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew after being chosen from more than 50 outstanding nominations submitted by their peers in the local community.

Renfrewshire Schools Clarsach Group provided music as guests arrived at the ceremony. Preceding the presentation of the awards, guests were entertained by Starlight Youth Music Theatre Group who performed a selection of Motown Classics.

The recipients of this year’s awards were:

Arts and Culture (sponsored by Renfrewshire Council) – Catherine Craig

Carer’s Award (sponsored by former Provost Nancy Allison) – Linda Clark

Community Group (sponsored by City Gate Construction) – Rays of Hope

Community Volunteer (sponsored by Glasgow Airport Ltd) – David Love

Employee of the Year (sponsored by UNISON Renfrewshire) – Pamela McKechan

Sporting Achievement (sponsored by Acre Industrial Services Ltd) – Harrison Lovett

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “The Community Awards recognises those who really go the extra mile to make Renfrewshire a better place without looking for reward or recognition.

“These winners were all nominated by their own communities and I’m honoured to be able to reward them for their dedication and commitment.

“Congratulations to all our winners, your hard work does not go unnoticed.”

The Provost’s Community Awards were first established in 1997 by former Provost Nancy Allison, who continues to sponsor the Carers Award today.

The awards have been continued by each subsequent Provost and have recognised more than 100 deserving community members for their commitment and devotion.

For more information on the Provost’s Community Awards, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/provostawards.

All winners with Provost Cameron and sponsors

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Further information on Community Award winners

Carer’s Award (sponsored by former Provost Nancy Allison) – Linda Clark

Linda has been a foster carer for Alex for five years and was nominated for this award by Fordbank Primary School, where Alex is a pupil. Linda gave up her full-time job to be able to care for Alex full time as he required additional support both at home and at school.

Sporting Achievement (sponsored by Acre Industrial Services) – Harrison Lovett

Harrison has multiple disabilities, including visual and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy and jouberts syndrome. He was selected to represent the United Kingdom at the Special Olympic World Summer Games in judo and brought home a silver medal.

Community Group (sponsored by City Gate Construction) – Rays of Hope

Rays of Hope are a self-help cancer group based in Elderslie. The group is led by volunteers who have either all had a diagnosis of cancer of have experienced cancer through a friend or family member. They aim to help turn negative experiences in to positive ones and help people regain control of their life. As well as being a safe space for people to openly talk about their experiences, Rays of Hope offer activities such as creative writing, craft groups, choir, exercise classes and walking groups.

Employee of the Year (sponsored by UNISON Renfrewshire) – Pamela McKechan

Pamela works for Families First and is based in Gallowhill. She is the first point of contact for families in the area contacting the service for help and she loves that her job allows her to empower people to make a difference in their lives. Her staff say she encourages them to develop their skills and is always around when you need a supportive chat after a hard day.

Community Volunteer (sponsored by Glasgow Airport Ltd) – David Love

David has been volunteering for Paisley 8^th Boys Brigade for 15 years. He attends every Friday night and works tirelessly behind the scenes researching activities for the group and applying for funding for future trips and excursions. Every three years David plans a big trip away and organises fundraising to ensure the cost is affordable for the young boys who attend – mostly from the Ferguslie Park and west end area of Paisley.

Arts and Culture (sponsored by Renfrewshire Council) – Catherine Craig

Cathy volunteers at Paisley Abbey and has been instrumental in developing the Abbey as a tourist attraction. She is a well-known face and can be seen taking tours around the Abbey or helping out on busy event days. Many of the displays and timelines in the Abbey have been created by Cathy in her own time, at her own expense, to enable visitors who don’t want a tour to still learn about the Abbey. She loves history and dedicates hours to researching her chosen topics.

16/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

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Empty town centre buildings could become flats if site-sale plans approved

A prominent Paisley town centre site which has lain empty for a decade could be brought back into use as new flats – with a proposal to sell it to developers going to councillors next week.

The former council office at Kelvin House and adjacent building on Forbes Place occupy a prime spot overlooking the White Cart River but were last occupied in 2009 when social work staff moved out.

kelvin house forbes place

Members of the council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board will next week be asked to authorise the site’s sale to developers Nixon Blue, who plan to build flats and a commercial unit.

Nixon Blue already own the adjacent site – the now-demolished former Institute nightclub – and were last year granted planning permission to build 36 flats and a restaurant there.

The site they are now hoping to buy takes in the B-listed buildings at 16-20 Forbes Place, the old Paisley social work office at Kelvin House, and a former depot behind that in Marshall’s Lane.

Their initial proposal is to refurbish the Forbes Place building and convert the other two to residential. Any future development would be subject to the relevant planning consents being granted.

When a previous move to turn the site into a hotel didn’t come to fruition, the building reverted to council ownership and was readvertised for sale.

Nixon Blue recently completed 32 new flats elsewhere in the town at Old Sneddon Street – on the site of the former Carnegie’s nightclub.

The Kelvin House site forms part of an emerging Abbey Quarter which has seen hundreds of new residents in recent years in Link Housing’s development on the former Arnotts site, with more to come, and in the new flats built by Westpoint Homes on Cotton Street and Mill Street.

With great views across the river to Paisley Abbey and Town Hall, development there would complement the council’s current investment to turn Paisley Town Hall into a landmark entertainment venue and to transform Abbey Close as an expanded events venue and attractive place to gather.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, convenor of the council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board said: “Should councillors give approval to this sale next week, it could see another long-time vacant Paisley town centre building being brought back into use.

“Earlier this year, the council unveiled A Vision for Paisley 2030 – which imagined what the town centre could look like in a decade – and central to that was the idea of new town centre living bringing life back to Paisley by helping drive new footfall to the surrounding traders.

“The initial proposals for this site are an example of how that Vision could be delivered on over the years ahead, and the various other town centre housing developments we’ve seen in recent years are proof Paisley is now recognised by the private sector as on the up and a great place to invest.

“The major investment the council is already making in our venues and outdoor spaces over the next few years will only help build on that further.”

The Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board will consider the proposed sale when they meet on Wednesday 18 March.

13/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

Lewis Sherlock - Puppetry Scratch Night - Fri 14 June 2019 - Roxy Assembly (© photographer - Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com) -2297 - Lewis Sherlock

NEW SPACE FESTIVAL, THE FIRST EVER FESTIVAL OF NEW WORK IS ON AT PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE ON FRIDAY 20 – SATURDAY 21 MARCH

The first ever New Space Festival makes its Renfrewshire debut on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March at Paisley Arts Centre. The festival is an opportunity for Paisley and the wider community to experience new work – plays, theatre, music and performances before anyone else and for artists and companies to try out new work in front of an audience. The festival is co-curated by Jordan Blackwood, a local theatre director and facilitator and Carla Marina Almeida, Performance Programmer, Cultural Services, Renfrewshire Leisure.

The Festival organisers said: ‘New Space is all about giving artists the opportunity to test out new ideas in a relaxed, supportive and creative environment. For the inaugural festival, six artists are being given space, time and resources to develop new work. The result of what happens in the rehearsal spaces will be shared over two evenings, giving audiences the opportunity to be the first to see new work that will one day become full productions. We’re putting new stories at the forefront, come and join us!’

Programme:

Friday 20 March, 7.30pm

FLESH by Kirsty May Hamilton

Flesh invites the audience to tour the prototype of a new world. Spectators are welcome to capitalise on an institution breeding sin free vessels in a future utopian state. Flesh weaves fragments of live art, video artistry and spoken word into an experimental theatre performance. This sharing of work explores the political potential of poetic language.

Unexpected Item by Suzi Cunningham and Dylan Read

Unexpected Item presents a surprise encounter between two of Scotland’s finest theatre/dance/performance artists. It deals with themes of connection and resistance and celebrates latent energy through humour, physical commitment and formal subversion.

Text Me When You Get Home by Siren

Text Me When You Get Home is gig theatre exploring hyper-vigilance necessitated by women in Glasgow’s club scene. Blending live music, storytelling and poetry, it examines rape culture, female solidarity and the aftermath of the #metoo movement.

Lewis Sherlock – Tech – Puppetry Scratch Night – Fri 14 June 2019 – Roxy Assembly (© photographer – Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com)

Saturday 21 March, 7.30pm

Thread by Kick the Door

An original musical about a changing town on the edge of a changing world. Thread follows Ellie, a young girl who has to return home after the passing of her mother to help her sister sort through her childhood home. It explores change, both within our own homes and within our communities.

The Thief by Lewis Sherlock

Here comes the Thief now! He’s given up stealing for slim pickings and pilfering purses in order to pocket the big prize. A theatre-going audience, he knows are totally minted…He’s gonna get away with him too, or so he thinks, because Picasso once said that ‘Art is theft’ – isn’t it? The Thief is a small puppet with a human head who directly responds to audience suggestions for actions whilst attempting to steal their possessions.

Men At Work by Wonder Fools

Men At Work will combine storytelling, movement and video design to create an exciting and dynamic piece of new contemporary theatre examining the mental health crisis on construction sites. In the UK, more than one construction worker takes their own life every day, 3.7 times the national average. The piece will be based on interviews with real people within the industry, explore workplace banter and demonstrate the importance of human connection.

For further information, interviews, photographs contact: Wendy Niblock PR: wendyjniblock@btinternet.com / 07961 814834

LISTINGS:

New Space Festival

Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March, 7.30pm

Paisley Arts Centre

£10/£6 concession plus booking fee

0300 300 1210 / www.renfrewshireleisure.com/new-space

13/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

Communities are investing in their local green spaces following successful applications to Renfrewshire Council’s £1.87million Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund.

More than £120,000 is set to be invested in four projects which will improve the play equipment for young people and upgrade the infrastructure in parks across Renfrewshire, after councillors approved the plans at the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board.

Sandyflats Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) have been awarded £50,000 to radically redesign their local play park to create more inclusive equipment for children of all ages, and potentially a community garden in the future.

£50,000 has also been awarded to Spateston Tenants and Residents Association to update their local play park, create a Community Hub and community gardens, kick starting their Place Plan which aspires to create a new community hub and gardens.

Bridge of Weir Community Council have been successful with their application for £12,000 which will see a new playhouse installed at Horsewood Road Park, and a new slide and activity boards in Lintwhite Park, while £10,000 has been given to Friends of Knockhill Park to upgrade the park’s main paths which they hope will encourage more leisure activities within the park.

£13,645 had already been granted to four other projects, which included a feasibility study for bowling green improvements for Lochfield Ladies Bowling and Social Club, a gardening project within Fountain Gardens in Paisley, Brediland Allotments will create a new pond and surrounding meadow area to encourage nature to thrive in the allotment, and Corseford TARA will paint and enhance the entrances to a well-used local underpass in the area.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “We are investing in the ideas and the enthusiasm of our local community groups and volunteers by helping them to make the difference they recognise is needed for their area.

“Young people are set to have more play opportunities than ever and our green spaces are becoming even more enticing places for local people and families to visit.

“It’s amazing to see the projects that people are bringing forward and we’re committed to supporting them to develop and progress their ideas wherever possible.

“I can’t wait to see how these latest projects advance and if you have an idea for a green space in your area, please get in touch and see if this fund could be for you.”

More than £800,000 has been awarded or committed from the fund already, with a further £640,000 allocated to other potential projects under development including new play equipment in Kilbarchan, Barwood, Lochfield, Hawkhead, McKerrall Street and Fountain Gardens.

In addition, upgrades to Thomas Shanks Park and South Park Mound are being examined, along with improvements to the community growing grounds in Foxbar and Linwood.

For more information, and to apply for the fund, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/greenspacesfund.

Photo Booth London

11/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

SCHOOL pupils produced some “outstanding” work when they entered Renfrewshire’s annual Inspired Art Competition.

Now 122 of the 678 entries of drawings and paintings are on display in a free exhibition, at The Tannahill Centre, in Blackstoun Road, Paisley, until April 20.

Two of the talented pupils – Aine Currie, aged 14, from St Andrew’s Academy, Paisley and 11-year-old Innes Baker from Elderslie’s Wallace Primary – have had their artwork chosen to be turned into posters promoting the exhibition.

And 13 of the paintings and drawings in the exhibition will be used as the artwork for the Renfrewshire Schools 2021 Calendar.

The exhibition aims to showcase the development of young people’s art and design work from three and four year olds, to the more sophisticated pieces, which form a Fifth or Sixth Year pupils’ portfolio for national qualifications.

For the first time, this year’s competition had a drawing section in honour of well-known Paisley artist, John Byrne

The competition is organised by Renfrewshire Leisure, whose chairperson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “Some of the work from the secondary pupils was outstanding and the artwork from nursery and primary pupils showed they have lots of potential, as they displayed great imagination and maturity in their drawings and paintings.

“Judging which pieces of artwork should be exhibited was very difficult and I would encourage people to go along to the Tannahill Centre and see for themselves the brilliant artwork on show.”

10/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

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Top Nightlife Attractions in Paisley

Many visitors to our area may prefer to head into the bright lights of nearby Glasgow, but by doing so, they would be missing out on some excellent nightlife opportunities in Paisley. While our town might not offer quite the same amount of big-name attractions, there’s still more than enough going on in Paisley to put us on the entertainment map.

Often known as being Scotland’s largest town, Paisley is well served by a good selection of bars, music venues and club nights. Plus there are even some popular cinemas and casinos available for those who like to take things a little easier in the evening. So let’s take a quick look at what nightlife highlights Paisley has to offer.

Casino Night Out

The Admiral Casino on Moss Street offers you a fun way to play a nice range of slots and table games. This place is renowned for its friendly and professional staff and you will even get served with free drinks as you enjoy your casino gaming entertainment. If you want to get familiar with what’s popular out there before a night out at a casino, there are tons of resources online. Slots listed at online-slot.co.uk and similar sites can be a great way to have some fun for free.

When it comes to the Admiral Casino however, it is worth noting that this establishment closes at 10 at night.

A great Place to Enjoy Music

Although many touring bands will head straight to classic venues like King Tuts in Glasgow, it’s worth noting that Paisley can punch above its weight when it comes to attracting quality touring artists.

If you take the time to head down to The Bungalow on Shuttle Street, you’ll see how this music venue became such a notable stop on the nation’s touring circuit. Here you’ll regularly get to see up-and-coming bands, and it’s also been known to be one of the favourite places to play for punk legends such as Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols.

It’s also well worth taking a trip over to The Cave on New Street as this regularly hosts some great live music nights on the weekend. Although the pub is on the small side, it has a very friendly atmosphere, and you can expect to see everything here from local talent to some highly rated tribute bands. Just don’t forget to check out our Paisley Music TV channel to see some of the best music to come out of our town.

Clubbing

What better way to start the weekend than by heading down to the legendary Blur nights at the Vienna nightclub? This is a great place to get the party started, although we should also mention how the Fantoosh nightclub is another very popular place for dancing to the latest club hits.

Honourable mentions must also go to Club 69 on New Sneddon Street that’s starting to cultivate a great reputation for putting on some quality dance music acts. It might not be the place to go if you’re not into the sounds of techno music, but it once again shows that there’s more to Paisley than initially meets the eye.

Classic cinema

Film films will definitely find plenty to enjoy at the Showcase Cinema in Phoenix Business Park. This cinema features Sony 4K projection and also has the potential to show movies in RealD 3D. You’ll get to catch all of the latest blockbusters here, but it’s important to know that the Showcase Cinema also regularly has screenings for films for the more discerning movie fan.

This means that you can enjoy anything from cult Japanese animation films like Princess Mononoke to live screenings of ballet performances such as Swan Lake from the Royal Opera House. Plus with a multi-million pound luxury upgrade, you’re unlikely to find anywhere quite so comfortable to watch the latest movies.

09/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

Blog, Events, Music, Newsletter, Paisley, Paisley Abbey, Paisley Events, Paisley Halloween Festival, Paisley Photographs, Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Visitor Attractions, People from Paisley, Press Release, Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire Arts, Renfrewshire Council, renfrewshire events, Renfrewshire Leisure

Paisley Halloween Festival wins top prize at Scottish Thistle Awards

Paisley Halloween Parade 2018 and flying witches

Paisley Halloween Festival has been named Best Cultural Event or Festival at the Scottish Thistle Awards 2019/2020 National Final.

Organised by VisitScotland, the prestigious awards celebrate innovation, excellence and success in the Scottish tourism sector.

Paisley Halloween Parade 2018 and flying witches

The popular event in Renfrewshire Council’s annual calendar picked up the National Award for its 2018 festival, which saw crowds of over 34,000 people flock to the town across two days to enjoy a bumper programme of spectacular aerial performances, thrilling live acts and a Mardi-Gras style parade with more than 500 costumed performers.

Inspired by the town’s dark and deathly 17th century witch history, the enhanced theme of ‘Something Wicked this Way Comes’ thrilled visitors from all over Scotland.

Judges were impressed with the seasonality of the event and the growth that it has seen in recent years. They also praised event organisers for their engagement with young people and the community.

Picture Copyright Chris Watt
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The festival was a highlight of VisitScotland’s Year of Young People 2018 celebrations, with young people at the heart of the festival’s development and delivery.

A 20-strong Youth Panel worked alongside Renfrewshire Council’s Events Team to design and deliver the programme, while more than 500 young people took part in a new creative learning programme. This provided young people with the opportunity to participate in all aspects of festival from performance to live event management and technical production.

Paisley Halloween Parade 2018 and flying witches

The Scottish Thistle Awards is based on five regional programmes with the winners of each progressing to the National Final.

Paisley Halloween Festival was among 15 winners in the regional finals for the West in November – which included businesses and individuals from Greater Glasgow & The Clyde Valley, Ayrshire & Arran, Dumfries & Galloway and Argyll & Bute.

The National Final took place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre last night (5 March), and saw 18 individuals, businesses and events honoured for their contribution to the tourism sector.

Louisa Mahon, Renfrewshire Council’s Head of Communications, Marketing and Events, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Paisley Halloween Festival has won Best Festival in Scotland at the Scottish Thistle Awards. We were in a category with some of Scotland’s most amazing cultural events and are delighted to be keeping company with them. Well done to everyone.

Paisley Halloween Parade 2018 and flying witches

“Paisley Halloween is one of the most highly anticipated events in our calendar – and is now regarded as one of the biggest and best of its kind in the UK.

“Winning this award continues to put Paisley on the map as a great place to visit and experience world class cultural events – and we look forward to continuing to welcome even more people to Paisley to enjoy.”

VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director Gordon Smith, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Renfrewshire Council on winning the national Scottish Thistle Award for Best Cultural Event or Festival. This is a fantastic achievement for Paisley Halloween Festival which has become one of the most anticipated events in the region’s calendars which has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

“The Scottish Thistle Awards give businesses and individuals working within tourism in Scotland the opportunity to earn the recognition and appreciation they deserve from their own industry peers.

“The impact of tourism goes far beyond the holiday experience. It is vital to the Scottish economy, reaching every corner of the country, creating jobs and bringing economic and social change.”

The Scottish Thistle Award marks another celebration for the Paisley Halloween Festival after it won Best Festival or Outdoor Event at the EventIt E Awards in June 2019.

The Paisley Halloween Festival is organised by Renfrewshire Council and the 2018 event was supported by the Year of Young People 2018 event fund managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

To find out more about the Paisley Halloween Festival, visit: https://paisley.is/featured_event/halloween/

For more information on the Scottish Thistle Awards, visit: https://www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk/

06/03/2020/by Brian McGuire