Mackintosh’s Tea Room

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Mackintosh's Tea Room

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07/08/2018

BBC Two - Mackintosh's Tea Room

Following a businesswoman on her mission to restore the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow.

Documentary following Glasgow businesswoman Celia Sinclair on her mission to rescue the old Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

In 2014, Glasgow businesswoman Celia Sinclair decided that she wanted to rescue the old Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street and restore them to their former glory. They were one of the earlier works of artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Celia was inspired by pioneering Glasgow businesswoman Miss Cranston, who in 1903 commissioned the young and still largely unknown Mackintosh to design the luxurious, cutting-edge tea rooms with iconic chairs, tables, wall decorations and chandeliers. Celia bought the remains of the old Willow Tea Rooms building on Sauchiehall Street to save it for Glasgow and had a grand vision to reopen in time for Mackintosh's 150th birthday in 2018.

This hour-long documentary follows Celia on her mission to raise the money to push the £10m capital building project forward, waiting anxiously to find out if her Willow Tea Rooms Trust will be granted the heritage lottery funding they need, and organising VIP events for the private donors who have given generously to her ambitious project.

Celia also meets with historian Perilla Kinchin and, over a cup of tea, she learns how women came out of their homes in 1903 to take tea in the new respectable drinking establishments, and how Miss Cranston expanded her franchise.

Also featured are some of the expert craft makers under pressure to deliver to tight deadlines as they attempt to exactly recreate some of the 400 pieces of Mackintosh furniture needed for the reopening of the tea rooms.

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