THEY were the epitome of luxury and style, a haven for ladies who lunched, and the vision of one of Scotland’s earliest female entrepreneurs.

Now the old Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintoshand run by Kate Cranston, are being faithfully restored by another pioneering woman, whose plans encompass much more than tea and tiffin.

ANN FOTHERINGHAM talks to Celia Sinclair about her plans to create a much-needed Mackintosh hub in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

THERE have been a few surprises lying in wait for Celia Sinclair and the Willow Tea Rooms Trust, as their ambitious project - to restore the original Mackintosh tea rooms on Sauchiehall Street to their former glory – gathers steam.

“I was a bit taken aback when I arrived at the building the day after it had been announced I’d bought it,” smiles Celia.

“I’d thought I might pop in and get my bearings, take a few photos – and the entire Scottish press pack, TV cameras and all, was waiting for me.”

She grimaces: “I’m a very private person, really, not used to speaking to journalists, and I had nothing prepared.

“But at the same time, I was thrilled by that reaction. People did care, after all.”

Celia, who is from the west end, was a trustee of Glasgow Art Club, the city’s private members’ club for practising and retired artists and lay members with an interest in art, when she heard the original tea rooms were in trouble.

She made enquiries and realised a sale of the entire block, all the way down to West Campbell Street, was imminent.

“I knew if it went to auction, it would be a disaster – everything would be stripped out and sold off, perhaps disappearing out of Glasgow and we would lose it all forever,” she recalls.

“I’m just an ordinary Glasgow citizen, but I couldn’t let that happen.”

She laughs: “I remember sitting on a bench opposite the building, in the middle of Sauchiehall Street, and saying we can’t let this go - who is going to save these tearooms?

“I came to the conclusion that it had to be me.”

Mackintosh at the Willow will involve restoring the tea rooms, including the impressive Salon de Luxe, to their former glory; creating a visitor centre, education hub and exhibition; and involving apprentices in the building of more than 400 pieces of furniture.

More than 200,000 people are expected to visit in 2018 and the education centre will play host to 2500 children. It’s estimated it will bring in £1m to the local economy, as tourists flock to the first ever, dedicated Mackintosh ‘museum’.

The aim is not just to preserve one of Mackintosh’s finest buildings, and pay tribute to the original tearooms owner Kate Cranston, but also to encourage the next generation of artists, architects and entrepreneurs who follow in their footsteps.

“I’ve always been surprised by how much more popular Mackintosh is abroad than in his native country,” says Celia, over coffee in the project offices on the ground floor of the building.

“For a long time, he was neglected by his fellow Scots – even at the start of this, when I approached various organisations for support, I was amazed by the lack of interest.

“He was a man ahead of his time and we should be proud of him, proud of our heritage.”

Celia’s own interest in art and architecture was sparked by regular Saturday morning visits to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries when she was a child.

“I’d walk down to Dumbarton Road to get the tram – it cost a penny ha’penny, and I got sixpence pocket money, so I’d have fourpence ha’penny left over for a cup of tea and an empire biscuit in the café,” she recalls with a laugh.

“I loved Kelvingrove – I knew that building inside out. It stimulated my interest in art.

“My love of Charles Rennie Mackintosh came later, but I felt – and still feel – very passionate about his work, and about saving it for the people of Glasgow.”

Attention to detail is key, explains Sinclair. None of the original carpet survives, but the team discovered a drawing pin with unusual threads on it, which has been sent away for closer examination.

“If that is indeed the original carpet, we may be able to recreate it,” smiles Sinclair. “We are restoring the originals, where we can, and recreating everything else.”

It is a painstaking process – all of the original glass has been sent away for restoration and exterior works are due to be completed in July. The interior doors are currently in Kelvingrove Museum for safekeeping.

“We had them valued at £1.5million,” says Celia, calmly. “When I got here, they hadn’t even been insured.”

Once the exterior is revealed, the team will move inside, restoring Mackintosh’s famous decorative panels and all the wrought iron, textiles and glass. The building will open to the public on June 7, 2018, in time for the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh’s birth.

Despite the scope of the ambitious £10m project, Celia is undaunted.

“I’ve always had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve,” she says, firmly.

“It is a big responsibility, of course. But my ethos has always been – if you are going to do something, do it properly. Make sure you get it right, and that it will stand up to academic challenge.”

She smiles: “But I want Mackintosh at the Willow to be here for a hundred years and more.

“I hope it will inspire and educate young people about art. It is so important to introduce young people to art and design, to encourage them to understand their heritage and to be proud of it.”

*Do you have memories of the old |Willow Tea Rooms? We’d love to hear them. The Willow Tea Rooms Trust is hoping to build up an archive of artefacts, photographs and memories. If you have a story to share, please email ann.fotheringham@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 6555.