Latest news with #TacoMazama
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow local fumes as "bins overflowing" onto Ashton Lane
Stephen Johnstone lives just off Byres Road in the area and was out for food and drinks with friends and family when he was appalled by the "overflowing bins" on Ashton Lane. He also complained about the "graffiti and weather-beaten murals" on the side of the Iceland store at the entrance to the lane. Stephen, 63, said the sight "spoiled his day" and "put him off" going to the pubs and eateries on the busy foodie lane. Stephen Johnstone, 63, on Asthon Lane in Glasgow (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Council suspends bin collections as Storm Floris hits READ MORE: Glasgow bus services axed after 'stone lobbed' at bus in city centre Stephen, 63, said: "I was just out for a meal on Ashton Lane, and what a state! "As these photos show, there's graffiti and weather-beaten murals on Iceland's walls, at the entrance to this once jewel in the crown of places to drink, eat, and visit in the West End. "Rats, vermin and strewn rubbish and bins overflowing - not what you want in this high street tourist trap. "This is an eyesore and spoiled my day, it put me off going to the many bars and restaurants with my family and friends. "What has become of society, and where is our pride gone when we can't keep our places clean, hygiene is out the window, folk are enjoying a meal, then come out to find this round the corner shocking, so now we need to rename Ashton Lane Trashton Lane." Glasgow local fumes as bins overflowing onto Ashton Lane (Image: Supplied) (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Two-bedroom flat in 'one of the most envied' Glasgow areas Some of the bins in the lane belong to local restaurant Taco Mazama, and their owner, Allan Bell, spoke with us about the issue. Allan said: "I understand that issues with the bins can arise very quickly, and we do regular checks on our own bins and the surrounding area. "While some of the photographed bins are indeed ours, none of the waste strewn around them in the images would appear to be. "We keep our bins locked to deter flytipping, and what appears to be domestic/public waste has in these images been dumped on top and around them. "Part of the solution might be if there were a public bin for passers by to use, to discourage them from leaving stuff next to the commercial bins. "However, we are happy to discuss with the other businesses using the lane what the best way to keep the area clean should be. "At the time these photos were taken, Glasgow City Council Neighbourhood Regeneration Services (NRS) Commercial Waste Team (CWT) was present on-site. "They confirmed that our business was in full compliance with all commercial waste disposal duties and responsibilities. "The commercial waste practices of neighbouring businesses are a matter for those organisations and Glasgow City Council." An Iceland spokesperson said: "After receiving reports and concerns regarding one of our store entrances in Glasgow, we can confirm our team are looking into organising removal of the posters and graffiti. "We thank the local resident for bringing this to our attention." A spokesperson for the council said: 'This is a privately owned part of Ashton Lane and its maintenance is the responsibility of the owners of this property. "Issues with a commercial waste service require to be resolved by the waste contractor and the business who receives that service. "The council does not provide a commercial waste service for these premises. "Businesses are required to contract a pest control service privately. "The council's pest control service is available for domestic premises only. "The condition of this part of Ashton Lane has been referred to our environmental health team for further investigation. "Any follow-up action will fall to the owners of the property to resolve."
Glasgow Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Taco Mazama founder opens Italian pasta restaurant in Glasgow
Allan Bell's newest venture in the West End blends fresh ingredients with casual dining at an affordable price. Pasticcio, located at 378 Byres Road, officially opened its doors to the public earlier this month. Bell, who doesn't have previous experience working in Italian restaurants, told our sister title The Herald: 'I really love eating Italian food, and pasta in particular. I've always felt that there is a shortage of accessible and convenient pasta that is also really fresh. 'There seems to be very little between the supermarket instant pasta salad and the full service dine-in meal, so we wanted to do something where it would be really easy to get something for lunch or a meal on the go which is both convenient and has high quality ingredients. 'We really are going for a casual feel. We want people to be able to pop in and have a pasta for their lunch, as well as coming in for a nice meal in the evening. Pasta is fresh-made on-site. (Image: Pasticcio Glasgow) Bell said that it takes his team around ten minutes to shape and cook the fresh pasta and sauce, something which lends itself to convenience and efficiency. The University of Strathclyde graduate, who founded Taco Mazama in 2009, has 15 years of experience in the Glasgow dining scene. The Californian-inspired burrito franchise operates locations further down Byres Road and on Renfield Street in the city centre; as well as a branch in Thessaloniki, Greece. Taco Mazama's Sauciehall Street location closed in January after three years of operation. Asked why he believes the area would suit his new venture, Bell said: 'I'm based in the West End myself. I feel like I know the area really well. We've been looking for something here for some time now. 'It's quite a busy area. Byres Road in particular has so many kinds of customers. 'There are students coming from university, people from local businesses, tourists that are out and about, and it has also got a huge residential market so there is lots of room to tap into home deliveries.' It's not the easiest time to open a new business in the West End, with high business rates forcing some long-time restaurants in the area to close. Soul Food Kitchen in Finnieston ceased operations in March, while the Marigold Cafe on Park Road closed last December. 33 Irish Kitchen on Ashton Lane shut its doors in January, after being open for less than a year. READ NEXT: First look inside Glasgow's new Paesano Southside ahead of opening READ NEXT: 'It's in my DNA': Partick's new Revival Cafe's been generations in the making Taco Mazama shut a city centre location earlier this year. Indeed, the building Pasticcio now occupies has hosted a range of businesses in recent years, leading one social media commenter to call the unit 'jinxed'. Peri-peri joint Burger Cartel served fried chicken and cheeseburgers between 2020 and 2024, preceded by Parisian cafe and patisserie Matilda's between 2014 and 2019. At Pasticcio, customers can order a range of traditional pastas and other Italian street food specialities, ranging from freshly prepared linguine egg pasta to wholewheat fusilli and vegan pappardelle. Sauces include carbonara, arrabbiata, and aglio e olio; while beef ragu, pesto and mozzarella, and sundried tomato and mozzarella arancini are also on offer. Cannoli and tiramisu are available for purchase. News of the opening was met with a range of reactions from social media users. ''Pasticcio' means 'mess' in Italian. Let's hope it's not', Laura Harper quipped. Jim Greenway said: 'Good luck but Byres Road is a difficult trading area now due to rates, rent, water and parking costs.' Linda McKellar added: 'Italians are very passionate about their food and I'm sure it will be very busy. Look how many cafes there are in Byres Road now, and they are always full.' Asked for the reason behind the restaurant's Italian moniker, Bell told The Herald: "Our designer Alessio came up with the name: 'because it is a messy Italian menu and in Italian we say 'pasticcio'. Also, because 'pasticcio' sounds like pasta." Pasticcio will be introducing an offer where customers who post content related to the venue and tag the restaurant's social media pages will earn a free espresso or cannolo. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner service, as well as takeaway orders, between 12pm and 10pm during the week, and 11am to 11pm on Saturday and Sunday.
