Blue Lagoon owner speaks about becoming a Glasgow 'institution'

However, in the 47 years since Ersilio Varese, and his childhood sweetheart Edda, opened the business, it has now expanded to 15 branches and has become a staple across Glasgow.

Gianluca Varese, a grandson of Ersilio and Edda, is now a director of the family business, working alongside his dad and two brothers, and puts their success down to their late opening hours which saw them become a key destination at the end of a night out.

Gordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

"Back in the day I think we were one of the only places to open past midnight selling food and that’s when they made the money up there with the nightlife," he says.

"We realised that Glasgow was a great location for us and then we opened other sites roundabout there, then down at Argyle Street.

"We always get good feedback, everyone seems to say that we’re an institution because we’ve been here so long."

Gianluca Varese [Gordon Terris, Newsquest] (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

While Gianluca says Blue Lagoon was "fairly lucky" during the pandemic because they remained busy with home deliveries, he says the biggest challenge the businesses is facing at the moment is skyrocketing electricity bills.

He said: "We’ve gone from paying in a shop in Queen Street £500 a week to £1500 a week, so the profits in some of the branches have taken a massive hit but thankfully we’re still busy.

"Now that the office workers are back, at lunchtime we’re getting busier again which is a good help, and people are going out again so although the cost of all the products we’re buying has gone away up, things have returned to almost normal in terms of the trade and figures."

Gordon Terris, Newsquest (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Blue Lagoon recently reopened its Gordon Street branch following a large expansion which saw them grow from a takeaway to a 70-seater restaurant after taking over the unit next door.

Decked out in their now recognisable tropical theme, with a fishing boat taking centre stage in the middle, the restaurant has been grabbing the attention of passers-by.

Blue Lagoon, Gordon Street [Gordon Terris, Newsquest] (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Gianluca said: "The response has been fantastic, we’ve really been over the moon with that.

"At nighttime, many of our customers, and people in general, are walking past taking videos of the shop, they’re coming in because of the boat feature I designed for the centre that customers can sit inside.

"It’s really grabbing the attention of the people walking past and because there’s a lot of LED and stuff in the shop it really glows at night."

Blue Lagoon, Gordon Street (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Before the end of this year, Blue Lagoon is set to open its 16th shop on Renfield Street with a new 70-seater restaurant.

And as well as expanding the brand across Glasgow, Gianluca also says the company is looking to make a move to the east coast next year.

He revealed: "In the pipeline, we have another shop to open early next year in Ayr.

"And then we’re always on the lookout in Edinburgh, we’re desperate to get into Edinburgh.

"It would be great for the brand to be in Edinburgh because we have a lot of customers that come to Glasgow and say, 'you’ve got to open one over there'. We hear it all the time so the customers are asking for it."

Gianluca Varese [Gordon Terris, Newsquest] (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

And while Blue Lagoon has become a staple across the city, it’s not just Glaswegians who enjoy their fish and chips.

"We’ve had Nigella Lawson in," Gianluca says.

"We’ve had many footballers over the time - Scott Brown and some of the Celtic and Rangers players.

"We’ve had Callum Best in a few times as well and, of course, Justin Bieber was the most famous one.

"It created a lot of attention, and it was great for the business and the brand."

The newly refurbished Blue Lagoon is located at 69 Gordon Street and is open from 8.30am daily.