As can be seen from this photograph, the Treetops Restaurant afforded spectacular views of the site of the Empire Exhibition and beyond. Uniformed waitresses and fine table linen and crockery added an air of elegance.
Glasgow Corporation had stipulated that the trees on the hill in Bellahouston Park should not be removed, so architect Thomas Tait simply built around them, making the trees a feature of the restaurant. Situated at the base of the Tower of Empire, the Treetops restaurant was raised on stilts. Its exposed position proved a disadvantage one day in October when one of the 20 feet plate glass windows blew in, but there were no serious injuries.
It was a frequent complaint in the early weeks of the Exhibition that refreshment facilities were inadequate to cope with the crowds. In response, refreshment tents were set up to supplement the sixteen restaurants and cafes.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC ef606.4 (1938)
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
cafes, Empire Exhibition, Empire Tower, exhibitions, restaurants, stilts, Tait's Tower, Tower of Empire, trees, Treetops Restaurant, waitresses, windows, women
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