PATTER, n. Talk, esp. fluent, fast, meant to impress.

SCRAN, n. Food in general, provisions, “grub”.

 

Glasgow may not be a city best known for its food, but the local cuisine is a delight — and a gateway to understanding the history, people, and culture of the "Dear Green Place." True to the name ‘Patter&Scran’, our tour offers tasty food and lively conversation, led by a Glaswegian chef (and sometime stand-up comic) who loves sharing the fascinating foodways and rich history — both the good and less savoury — of his home city.

Let us help you explore this wonderful city and its traditional cuisine. Come on a culinary adventure with Glasgow Food Tours!

 

HISTORY BY THE MOUTHFUL

With Patter&Scran: Glasgow Food Tours’ personal guided small-group tours you’ll taste your way through the heart of the city, savouring Glasgow’s traditional cuisine and discovering unique insights into its history and culture on the way. The dishes Scots and Glaswegians have always loved may sometimes defy contemporary notions of healthy eating, but they’re delicious — and they reveal much about the long and frequently surprising history of this, the second city of the British Empire.

MEET THE REAL GLASGOW

Want to explore the city like a local? That’s not always easy for visitors, but we promise a truly authentic encounter with the real Glasgow. We love new and upscale eateries, and we give every guest a list of recommendations for our favourites. But our tours focus on the dishes that have nourished and delighted Glaswegians for generations. Patter&Scran: Glasgow Food Tours lets you experience the city's beating heart, meet the locals, and even learn a bit of the city's fabled slang.

“Patter can mean ordinary chatting, as in ‘Sit doon an gie’s aw yer patter’; it can also mean talk intended to amuse or impress, as in ‘He’s got some patter that pal a yours’, or any kind of insider’s language, as in ‘Ye’ll get naewhere if ye don’t know the patter.’ To patter away is to chat in an easy and friendly manner.”
— The Patter: A Guide to Current Glasgow Usage by Michael Munro

Explore Glasgow with a local chef

 

Patter&Scran: Glasgow Food Tours offers lunchtime tours through the heart of Glasgow lasting two and a half to three hours and dipping into all types of local eateries, bakeries, and family-run restaurants. We know the city, we know the people, and we know all of the best spots off the tourist trail. On the tour we sample a diverse range of foods unsung elsewhere but beloved in Glasgow, from cullen skink to filled rolls to Scotch pies. And of course, because the fryer is a local institution, we'll also give deep-fried pizza the attention it deserves. (Trust us on this!)

 
“ You know how as a traveler, you’ve always wanted to have that extremely cool, generous, well-connected local chef friend who will show you around and make sure you sample all of the best food in town? That’s what it’s like taking a tour with Steven — he is exactly that guy.”
— Darren, Washington, DC
 

  • £85 per person includes all food, drink, and banter.

  • The tour starts at 11:30 a.m. and is over around 2:30 p.m.

  • There is a 2-person minimum and 6-person maximum. Solo travellers and larger groups can contact us for additional options.

  • Kids are welcome. There’s no charge for those under 3, and those under 12 cost £65.

  • The tour involves walking, although it is not strenuous and there are frequent stops. If you have mobility issues, please let us know.

  • Tours start at a central meeting point. Afterwards we can bring you to the town centre or, if you prefer, to one of our favourite local pubs.

 
 

Steven Halcrow leads the tours. Not only has his family been in Glasgow for hundreds of years, but he’s also a chef who has worked in some of the city's best dining spots, cooked at Scotland's only Michelin two-star restaurant, and moonlighted in stand-up comedy. He has lived around the world (so don't worry, you will be able to understand his accent) and is the co-founder of Siem Reap Food Tours in Cambodia. His tours have been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and Lonely Planet. He's elated to be back in his hometown of Glasgow and to have the opportunity to show visitors around the city he loves.

 
 
 
 

Lina Goldberg does the admin for the tours. She's a genealogist and food writer from California who has written for CNN, BBC, and VICE. Her grandfather was born in Glasgow and she's returned to this storied city to study family history. Lina is a member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society and has completed the PG Cert programme in genealogy at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. If you'd like to hire her to find out more about your Scottish and Irish roots, you can drop her a line.

 
 

If you'd like to book a tour, please make a reservation on our booking page.

If you've got questions, please check the FAQs and if they aren't answered there, drop us an email.