Memories of the Red Road flats will be brought to life in a new exhibition next month – including stunning photos of the former underground bingo hall.

The ‘Red Road Underground’ exhibition looks at the history of the multi-storey flats in the North of Glasgow and records the memories of the people who lived in the blocks.

Photographer Chris Leslie and illustrator Mitch Miller have put together a unique collection of photos, drawings and videos over the past two years.

Their work forms part of the Red Road Cultural Project - a partnership between GHA and Glasgow Life to mark the history of the multi-storey flats before they are demolished.

Included in the multi-media display are the final photos to be taken inside the 1000-seat bingo hall, which is found under the car park at 10-30 Petershill Court. The hall closed its doors in the 1990s.


The photos show a glitter ball on the ceiling and also ticket stubs left on seats.

As part of the exhibition, the artists were also given access to the former Red Road bar ‘The Brig’ which closed in the late 1990s. Paintings remain on the walls as well as keys and glasses left on the tables.

Also included are interviews with former residents recalling their memories of life in the high rises.

Author Alison Irvine will also be giving a reading from her novel ‘This Road Is Red’ which was a finalist in the 2011 Saltire Society Literary Awards.

The exhibition runs from 1 February until 2 March at the New Glasgow Society at 1307 Argyle Street.

Mitch Miller said: "Even in the derelict condition we found them in, the bingo hall and The Brig were signs that life at Red Road was full of warmth, good humour, eccentricity and plenty of surprises.

"For the last few years we’ve worked closely with the Red Road Cultural Project. When the New Glasgow Society asked us to exhibit at their gallery we saw an excellent opportunity to celebrate some of the work we'd done as part of the project. We hope this will be one of many more exhibitions that show the complex and unexpected aspects of life in a Glasgow landmark."

Work is ongoing at 10-30 Petershill Court and 153-213 Petershill Drive ahead of the planned demolition of the blocks later this year. The remaining blocks at Red Road will be cleared by 2016. The demolition of the Red Road flats is part of GHA’s ongoing regeneration of the city.

(GK)