TOOTS sashayed out of the kitchen, getting closer by the second. She smelled the way the Taj Mahal looks by moonlight.

“I’m ready to fly,” she proposed.

“I can take you to the sky, my dear.

“And what’s more, in our own private shuttle.”

But first, we had to get ourselves downtown.

Down by the riverside, there’s a newcomer piercing Glasgow’s skyline.

The land between the Squinty Bridge and Bells Bridge has been transformed.

The latest to emerge from the old Glasgow Docks is the Radisson Red Hotel, a four-star charmer with a quirky style and all the elegance of the liners that used to be built here.

“Help ma boab!” said Toots, gazing skywards.

“Haud your boab my sweet one, for we’re going up there!” I said indicating the rooftop of the Radisson.

“And this private shuttle, you mentioned?” said the tall droll Moll as we entered the jazzy reception of the hotel.

“Why, it’s just over here,” I said as we entered the private lift that whisks you to the Red Sky Rooftop Bar.

Seconds later, the door slides open and the end of the daylight glints off rows of specialist gins and vodkas and whiskies.

Beyond the gantry, the floor to ceiling glass unveils the city with unrivalled views over the River Clyde to the Finnieston Crane, the Hydro, the Science Centre, the Waverley and Queen Mary.

To the south, rolling hills and windmills; to the north, the University of Glasgow …

“To the food, Tec! To the food!” said m’lady as she commandeered a sofa and continued to drink in the view, aided by a glass of champagne.

“Well, we deserve it and it used to launch ships just over there,” she said with a menacing grin.

I smiled back as we clinked glasses above Glasgow.

Our food arrived and was arranged carefully on the table before us.

It was our personalised buffet, almost tapas-style, as we gazed upon Halloumi fries with a sweet chilli dip; scampi with a tartare sauce; haggis bon bons and an outstanding pepper sauce. Oh, and a skillet of fries, each one more crisp, golden and delicious than the one we just shared.

Our charming waiter told us the little plates of carefully-prepared food usually come in servings of four pieces, so just perfect for sharing, which is exactly what we did.

The haggis was moist and surprisingly light.

It engaged perfectly with the pepper sauce, mild with just a hint of heat.

Halloumi is relatively new to me. This plate of delight arrived in the slightest shell of breadcrumbs and melted in folds. The sweet chilli sauce gave it an exquisite lift.

Shrimp is shrimp, but this plateful impressed as the tantalising tartare completed the trio of sauces before us.

The fries were simply an indulgence, allowing us to simply have a good time.

“Ah cannae get over that view, Tec. It just mesmerises me,” said Toots.

So does the menu, I suggested, as we continued to graze as we gazed.

“Here’s a fine glass of wine to help us along,” I suggested.

We both clinked again as we enjoyed a Bush Telegraph Pinot Grigio from Australia.

“How did you find this place, Tec?”

“It just kind of appeared on my books. I sauntered by, stepped in and enjoyed the zany style of the ground floor diner and then one of the friendly staff proposed I look over the rooftop bar.

“It seemed like a nice neighbourhood to have bad habits in.”

“You mean like me, Tec?” said the fair one.

“Every gumshoe needs a Toots. And you’re the cutest.”

She tapped one handful of scarlet-painted nail extensions as she poured us both another glass of Pinot.

“Then let’s take these to the open-air deck through there,” she suggested.

Which we did as we drank in the setting sun.

“Lovely, intit?” said Toots. “It’s our private red sky at night,” she added.

“And you’re my sailor’s delight,” I smiled.

Red Sky Rooftop Bar, Radisson Red Hotel, Finnieston Quay, 25 Tunnel St, Glasgow G3 8HL, Tel: 0141 471 1700

MEAL

Haggis Bons £6.50

Halloumi Fries £8.50

Scampi £8

Just Fries £8

DRINKS

Bush Telegraph Pinot Grigio £24

Palmer & Co Reserve Champagne £10

TOTAL £65

VERDICT

Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐