A Sneak Peek Inside Zizzi

A look at the beginnings of Katy's artwork and the restaurant itself.

Katy Thomson

As you would expect from a restaurant that is still in the process of being built, there is a lot of noise and construction going on.  At the exact moment of typing that full stop (or period, for you Americanos), there was a loud metal clang to prove my point.  Today, Zizzi is positvely buzzing with activity in preparation for opening its doors to the public.  I take my place at a table with a rather nice riverside view and in spitting distance of a plug socket (phew).

There is an intense amount of work going on around me.  Large boxes of crockery are being ripped open whilst the builders work on the kitchen, ready for opening night on Saturday.  For a restaurant, I guess the kitchen's completion is pretty vital.  I feel like I should be helping.  I did once lend a hand to the construction of a wooden chair from Argos. No doubt, that's the first thing they would look for on a CV.

However, the most interesting bit of work around me comes from resident artist, Katy Thomson, 22.  Katy is originally from Aberdeen but now lives in Edinburgh and graduated from Edinburgh College of Art.  She will be spending the entire week working on her piece which stretches across 2 soon-to-not-be white walls.  A busy, working artist, Katy only has one day off when she returns to Edinburgh before she begins work on building a stage for a local festival.  Katy tells me her vision for the artwork and how Inverness has inspired her.

"I do drawing and installation type work.  The drawings that I usually do are much, much smaller.  They're a lot like the work I'm doing on the walls at the moment, only reduced about a million times so they are very small but very accurate.  In the drawings, I create an imaginary space and then I build it into reality, inviting the viewers to step inside these spaces and have a look around.

I have found it quite easy to blend my own style of art with the Zizzi project.  I had the idea from the outset to make it something that was much more related to what I would normally do.  I think my work's quite well adapted to being given sources of inspiration that I have to make something out of.  Projects like this are perfect.  I can be inspired by Inverness architecture and the Caledonian canal so it came quite naturally to create a blend of a realistic and imaginary landscape.

I wouldn't say that it's a direct representation of Inverness.  I communicate with the drawings my own interpretation.  All the architecture goes through my own imagination and then I put it on the wall.  You could say that it's quite distorted but that's what I see, my own vision of Inverness.  I try to create an atmosphere.  The architecture isn't in its normal setting.  There's loads and loads of condensed architecture that's piled on top of one another and then there's bits of castle peeking out the side.

I also worked on the art project in the Zizzi in Glasgow's west end which was quite intense.  I'm glad that I've got a bit more time up here.  I similarly based it on my interpretation of Glasgow, using bits of scenery that really stood out to me, such as the Waverley boats and the Glasgow skyline.  From working on that previous project, it's really taught me to have a time plan and schedule in place because with this work, I wanted to be a lot more adventurous with how much I could include.  I wanted it to be really dense and be able to develop it fully, like I would a piece of my own work.  The planning process always takes the most time.  I think that hopefully by tomorrow, I will have all the initial sketching done then I will start to go over it with marker pens.  I want to get a balance of really intensive bits and fade outs of the smokey mountains that you tend to get around Inverness.  They seem quite quiet and empty and you can really see them when the sun sets."

To find out more about Katy Thomson and to view her past drawing and installation work, you can visit Katy's website here

Drop-in Session Today!

Today, Tuesday October 5th, is my very first day in the restaurant.  I will be there between 1pm and 3pm to hear all your stories.  Have you fallen in love with Inverness? Tell me why! Was it a specifc place or event? That's one of my hot topics for today.

As you can see from the picture, Zizzi is really starting to take shape.  It's filled with builders and important looking people with clipboards.  One of the builders was even kind enough to climb the ladder and pose as the statue of liberty for me.

See you at 1pm, Inverness!

Gillian Grant

Gillian Grant, 39, is the duty manager of Inverness' Redcliffe Hotel. She calls herself an 'honorary Invernesian' as she has spent almost twenty years living and working in the city centre. Gillian tells us about the changes she has noticed throughout the city and how this 'big town' has evolved.

“I was born just outside of Helensburgh in Rue but have lived in Inverness for 18 years. It felt like the big smoke when I first moved here coming from such a small place. I live here now with my partner and my 5 year old daughter, who is definitely an Invernesian! I can really see myself staying here for the foreseeable future. Inverness is home to me now.

There have been a lot of changes in Inverness over the last 5, 10 years. When I moved here, it wasj just a big town. It didn't have all the businesses you would expect. Now, you can see that that's no longer the case and it's a proper city. Housing has expanded a great deal. Sometimes I feel like the shopping side of the city centre is lacking a bit. There are retail units lying empty. I suppose that's to do with retail parks but then we all love our retail parks! It's a real shame when the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker go. Luckily, there are new places opening up all the time to keep the city centre thriving.

Before starting at The Redcliffe, I worked in an Italian restaurant called 'Palio' in Queensgate, in the city centre. A local couple bought the building and renovated it. It used to be a building society. The restaurant was open for 9 years and I was with them from the very beginning, right through to when they sold it. It was a real shame when that happened. It was popular, lots of people liked it and full of great, fresh food. It was probably the only authentic Italian restaurant in the city centre at the time, specialising in hand-thrown pizzas. A lot of Palio's customers visit me here, at the Redcliffe, and they really miss that good quality mediterranean food. It's great that Zizzi is bringing that real Italian flavour back to Inverness. I've been to a branch in Leith and the menu really is beautiful. It seems relaxed and easy going. Somewhere that you can visit with your girlfriends or sit with your partner in a candle lit table in the corner. I want somewhere I can go and have a meal with my daughter that serves great olives and salads. She's not a cheese pizza kind of girl!

Inverness' history is great for drawing the tourists' in which is something that we really rely on. But for the people that live here, it doesn't make a great impact. I suppose it's the same as anywhere else; when something's on your doorstep, you don't bother with it as much. I'm certainly proud to be an Invernesian, or rather I call myself an 'honorary Imvernesian'! The beauty of Inverness and where it is placed is that you can go 2 miles out in any direction and you're in the country. You can cycle, you can hike, you can climb the mountains. There are lots of outdoor pursuits but Inverness is not completely on the outskirts. It's definitely becoming more and more accessible. Inverness is such a beautiful part of the country and now it's opening up to the world.”

For Fans of Bill Bailey...

My hotel room may not have a hosenbugler, but feast your eyes on the impressive tea and coffee making facilities...

Day One

I have arrived in Inverness and to prove it, here's a very generic, touristy shot of the castle.  It's not hard to take a good photograph with subject matter that beautiful.

I've had a wander round and spoken to a few people.  Sadly, I keep chatting to tourists who are, although very pleasant, no help with my task in finding out what it's like to live in Inverness today.  Bring on the locals!

I popped my head into Zizzi which is already starting to look rather swish.  I was on the lookout for restaurant manager Erica.  I was certain it was an Erica.  However, when I asked for the manager, I was pointed toward a rather tall gentleman.  'Eric?' I asked. 'No, I'm Bob*, that's Erica there,' the man said and pointed to the woman next to him.  What a way to make a first impression!  I think the only person I've impressed today was a lovely lady on the train asking me to fill out a survey.  She reckoned I was too 'glam' for that train and thought I might be a bit 'posh', before informing me that the usual commuters tended to wear 'those outdoor clothes'.  If anyone reckons they know what these elusive outdoor clothes are, then please leave a comment letting me know!

I have an interview lined up this afternoon which will be uploaded onto the blog tomorrow so stay tuned.

Don't forgot I'll be in Zizzi on 20 Bridge Street from tomorrow (Tuesday) until Friday 8th between 1 and 3, ready to hear your stories.

Now, I'm off to try and find some outdoor clothes...

(* It might not be Bob, but at times like that, my memory isn't very acute)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Well, two trains and a taxi.

Tomorrow morning I embark on my 3 hour and 27 minute journey.  I've dusted off my dictaphone and am really looking forward to hearing your take on modern day Inverness. 

In the afternoon, I'll be popping into Zizzi for a snoop around whilst the builders work then will be scouring the streets for some lovely people who are willing to speak with me.

Don't forget to visit me in the restaurant from Tuesday to Friday between 1pm and 3pm for a sit down chat and possibly a cuppa.