The Venue
Kate Cranston was a pioneer in the creation of a new type of public space. One in which women could congregate without worrying about impropriety: the tea room.
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Her fabulous 'Mackintosh at the Willow' re-opened to the public in September 2018 after extensive restoration. Originally designed by Margaret MacDonald & Charles Rennie Mackintosh, every effort was made by the restoration project to return this historic location to its former glory.
The tea room had been through several incarnations since Miss Cranston opened the building in 1903. First as a restaurant in the 1920s, then as part of Daly's department store, and then finally it became the frontage to Henderson's the jeweller from the 1980s.
If you want to find out more about their story and the restoration process please do visit the Willow Tea Rooms Trust website.
The Salon de Luxe
Our game takes place in the very fancy Salon de Luxe- the crowning jewel in Miss Cranston's tea room. ​
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The decor is shockingly modern (for 1913) with chairs, carpet, and wall decoration presented in the unmistakable Suffragette colours.
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What better place to re-enact debates about women's suffrage, than in the very place these discussions took place over 100 years ago?
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Physical Accessibility
The part of Sauchiehall Street on which the tea room is located has been pedestrianised. The nearest curbside drop-off is about 200ft away at the corner of Sauchiehall Street and Blythswood Street.
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There are several carparks nearby, please see their individual websites for charges and hours of operation.
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The venue is in the centre of Glasgow, and so is well-served by buses and trains.
The Salon de Luxe is on the first floor of the tea room, with access either via the staircase in the main tearoom or the elevator in the gift shop.
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Floors are level and carpeted. The event is intended to be a genteel affair, with minimal need to move around.
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There is a spacious powder room with 2 toilet cubicles near to the Salon on the first floor.
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Seating in the Salon de Luxe is cushioned straight-backed chairs without arm rests, or padded bench seats against one wall.
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The venue's own accessibility statement can be found here.
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Please don't hesitate to contact us with any queries.