Glasgow Armadillo, SEC (Scottish Event Campus), G3 8YW
About the Venue
Originally known as the Clyde Auditorium, the SEC Armadillo was built in 1995 and completed in 1997, by which time it had become known as the Armadillo, due to its resemblance to the armoured mammal.
Seating 3000, it stands as part of the Scottish Exhibition Centre complex, which includes the Hydro, where James have played several times previously. The unique design of the building is a nod to the Clyde shipbuilding heritage and represents a series of interlocking ships’ hulls.
The seating in the venue is spread over three levels, stalls, front and rear circles and gallery seating. There are also wheelchair platforms along each side of the stalls.
The stalls seating is all on the flat, which may cause a problem if you are smaller and towards the back – but the upper levels have raked, sloping seats so should provide a good view.
How to get there
Parking
The SEC (Scottish Event Campus) is conveniently situated for motorists, just off the M8 motorway and with plenty of parking, and this link goes to their own “how to get here” page.
Leave the M8 at junction 19 and join the westbound Clydeside Expressway (A814). Westbound on the Expressway (A814) take the cut off for the campus. Turn left at traffic lights and take the right lane to access multi-storey parking. The 1600 space multi-storey car park (height restriction 2m) is the closest place to park and is at postcode G3 8GS.
0-1 hour £5.50, 1-12 hours £11.00, 12-13 hours £16.00, 13-24 hours £22.00 Mon-Sun. Event & concert pre-pay facilities available 12 hours – £11.00, pay at the car park pay station.
Glasgow has many other car parks, which you may want to use if you’re going into the city centre, don’t want to queue after the show or your vehicle is over 2m high – click this link for an interactive parking map.
Train
With it being Bank Holiday Monday, most trains will not be operating, so you may arrive at Glasgow on a Rail Replacement Bus. The Scotrail trains from Glasgow Central to Exhibition Centre do appear to be running as normal.
The SEC is a three-minute train ride from Glasgow Central. If you arrive at Queen Street, you’ll need to walk or get a bus to Central to continue your journey by train.
The SEC has its own dedicated railway station – Exhibition Centre – allowing easy access from the city centre and suburbs. There are six trains an hour (around every 10 minutes) from Glasgow Central station, departing from Platform 17 (low level).
If you want to walk from Glasgow Central to the Armadillo, it is a 1.2mile, 26 minute walk west along Argyle Street.
The number 100 Bus goes from Queen Street to the SEC, departing every 45 mins
Walk from City Centre
The Clyde Walkway runs right past the SEC, providing an invigorating start to day time events, or a scenic stroll to night-time happenings. There are two foot bridges, which cross the Clydeside Express Way (dual carriageway connecting the west end to Glasgow city centre) at both the front and rear of the campus.
Three pedestrian bridges traverse the River Clyde near the SEC. Bells Bridge and the Millennium Bridge connect the campus to the Science Centre and BBC while, a little further east, the Clyde Arc (affectionately known as the ‘Squinty Bridge’) carries both vehicles and pedestrians.
Eat and Drink
Glasgow is full of loads of places to eat and drink beforehand, too many to list, but if you are going direct to the venue and don’t want to wander too far, there are a few local options. There is a great little venue within the SEC complex called Clydebuilt Bar and Kitchen, with a bookable restaurant area and a walk-in bar, both of which serve dishes such as pizza, burgers, fish and chips, pasta and salad dishes. Menus and booking info here – https://www.sec.co.uk/visitor-information/eating-at-the-sec
Between the Campanile and the Hilton is a circular building which houses a restaurant called Cranside Kitchen, https://www.cransidekitchen.co.uk/# which houses several individual food traders, including Italian, Hawaiian, Thai and Chinese cuisine in an open air courtyard and beer garden.
On the 2nd floor of the nearby Campanile Hotel is a French restaurant called, imaginatively, Le Restaurant, although information isn’t available regarding its menu. The Radisson has a restaurant called Ouibar and the Hilton has an outside dining terrace called Recess, all open to non hotel guests.
There is also a takeaway Deli and Bakery within the complex as well as a McColls convenience shop.
A hi-res version of the map below can be found here – https://www.orangesmile.com/common/img_city_maps/glasgow-map-2.jpg
James Fanzone 
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