The Bothy and the Changing Rooms – two new Southside community spaces open
Two new community spaces are opening their doors in Glasgow's Southside this month, with South Seeds unveiling The Changing Rooms at Queen's Park and The Hidden Gardens launching The Bothy, a nature-inspired workspace for creatives and freelancers.
Two new community-focused venues are preparing to welcome visitors in Glasgow's Southside this spring, with organisations behind both projects hoping to create new opportunities for connection, creativity and local activity.
At Queen's Park Recreation Ground, environmental charity South Seeds is opening The Changing Rooms, transforming a long-vacant building into a community hub. Meanwhile, at The Hidden Gardens near Pollokshields, a new coworking and creative space known as The Bothy is being launched within the grounds of the popular community garden.
The Changing Rooms at Queen's Park Rec
The former football changing rooms overlooking Queen's Park Recreation Ground have undergone a major refurbishment after South Seeds secured a long-term lease from Glasgow City Council.
The renovated building will become the new home of the Southside Tool Library, which enables local residents to borrow tools for DIY, repair and home improvement projects. The venue will also provide flexible community space for meetings, workshops and events, while a park-facing kiosk is expected to host a food and drink operator in the future.
Energy-efficiency measures, including solar panels and air-source heat pumps, have been incorporated into the redevelopment, which was supported by a range of public and charitable funding programmes.
The Changing Rooms will officially open on Saturday 30 May with "A Grand Day Out", a free community celebration running from 1pm to 5pm. The event is open to all and will feature music, food and family-friendly activities, giving local residents an opportunity to explore the new facility and find out how it will be used.
The Bothy at The Hidden Gardens
Just over a mile away, The Hidden Gardens is launching The Bothy, a new workspace designed for artists, freelancers, wellbeing practitioners and creative organisations.
Located within the gardens, the facility offers hot-desking, coworking space and opportunities for creative residencies, providing a professional working environment surrounded by green space. Organisers say the project builds on the Gardens' existing role as a place for creativity, wellbeing and community participation.
The Bothy will be officially launched on Thursday 28 May with a public event that includes guided tours, creative activities, plant sales and outdoor yoga sessions. Visitors will also be able to learn more about the history and biodiversity of The Hidden Gardens, which has become a well-known community asset in the Southside.
Members of the public are invited to visit The Bothy during its launch day on 28 May. Alongside the official opening, visitors can take part in creative workshops, browse plant sales and join guided tours exploring the history and biodiversity of The Hidden Gardens. Advance booking is required for the tours, while contributions operate on a pay-what-you-can basis.
