Billy Connolly has given his seal of approval to a Glasgow restaurant, calling it the home of the best chips in town and describing it as a special place close to his heart.
The Big Yin made the comments while announcing a new exhibition dedicated to his life and career, taking a moment to shine a light on the eaterie he clearly has a soft spot for.
Connolly, who grew up in Glasgow and remains one of the city’s most beloved sons despite living abroad for many years, has never been shy about his love for the place that shaped him. And it turns out that love extends firmly to the food.
The legendary comedian described the restaurant as somewhere genuinely worth visiting, not just for the nostalgia but for the quality on the plate. High praise from a man who has eaten his way around the world over a career spanning more than five decades.
The exhibition itself is set to celebrate Connolly’s remarkable journey from a tough Glasgow childhood to becoming one of the most recognisable comedians on the planet. Born in Anderston and raised partly in Partick, his connection to the city runs deep, and the exhibition is expected to draw huge interest from fans across Scotland and beyond.
Connolly has spoken openly in recent years about living with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with back in 2013. Despite the challenges that brings, he has remained publicly active, continuing to share his thoughts, memories and humour with the world.
His recommendation of a local Glasgow spot will likely send food lovers flocking to find out exactly where he means. There is something about a Connolly endorsement that carries weight, partly because he has always come across as someone who says exactly what he thinks without any of the usual celebrity polish.
Glasgow has long had a proud food culture, and the humble chip remains central to that identity. Whether smothered in salt and vinegar from a late night takeaway or served properly in a sit-down restaurant, the chip holds a near-sacred place in Scottish culinary life. For Connolly to single out one spot above all others is no small thing.
The exhibition announcement has been warmly received by fans who have followed his career from his early days as a folk musician and welder on the Clyde through to his sell-out arena tours and Hollywood film appearances. He has always maintained that Glasgow made him who he is, and moments like this serve as a reminder of how genuine that connection remains.
Details on the exhibition, including where it will be held and when it opens to the public, are expected to be confirmed soon. If the response to the announcement is anything to go by, it is shaping up to be one of the more popular cultural events the city has seen in some time.
In the meantime, Glasgow chip shops across the city are probably hoping they are the ones Connolly had in mind.