When is this year’s Bungo In The Back Lanes?

It’s always best to check on our calendar of upcoming events for details of dates of all our events.

We had a cracking day on Saturday 22nd June 2024, 1-5pm, more so once the sun came out, and Bungo in the Back lanes will return in 2025. If I were to bet on a date, it would be 21st June (but I’m not a Conservative Party insider, so I don’t know yet).

Can I help?

Absolutely. The event is run by a small team of volunteers, and we are grateful for all the help we can get, especially on the day. Please think about giving up a little of your time.

Contact bitbl@strathbungo.co.uk if you want to help out, putting up, taking down, stewarding, manning stalls, delivering newsletters or generally want to get involved with the work of the Strathbungo Society.

Tables and stalls

Whose permission do I need to set up a table?

No-one’s, if it’s in or behind your back garden. If you’d like to advertise what your stall is doing, let us know and we’ll aim to put it on the Bungo Map and flyers. Email bitbl@strathbungo.co.uk.

For those who don’t live on the lanes in use, the Society does not arrange stalls – you need to find a site and get the resident’s permission. The exception is for craft stalls if you wish to participate in the Makers Market – see below.

How much does it cost to set up a stall?

It doesn’t cost anything. However, BitBL takes lots of organisation by volunteers (you may have been involved!) and incurs a range of costs. We are very grateful for core grant support from Glasgow City Council to meet costs like insurance without which the event could not run. There are other costs though we need to meet and we also aim to raise some money to enable the Strathbungo Society to keep going and run other events during the year.

We therefore ask stallholders, except children or charities, to contribute 10% of their earnings on the day as a donation to the Strathbungo Society. Stewards will issue an envelope for donations to all stallholders which they will collect at the end of the afternoon, or they can be returned to the Strathbungo Society – receipts will be issued on request. The Strathbungo Society is a registered charity: SCO38276.

I don’t have a back garden on a lane, can I set up a table?

Yes. First of all, ask anyone you know who has a space on the lanes and see if you can set up there.  Failing that, come out at around 11.30am on the day and set up wherever you can squeeze in. It should be apparent by then if someone’s setting up or not. The lanes with the most available space are Nithsdale Street/Regent Park Square (Lane 1) and Marywood Square/Vennard Gardens (Lane 4).

Can I borrow a table from the Society?

Sorry, we can only afford to hire tables and chairs for the use of Society stalls, bars and tea gardens. You don’t necessarily need a table – people use all sorts of combinations of boxes and chairs to display their wares!

I don’t want to hold a stall myself but I’ve got some things I’d like to donate, where can I take them?

Unopened bottles and good-quality gifts can be donated to the Strathbungo Society’s tombola and bottle stalls. We’ll provide contact details before the event, or email bitbl@strathbungo.co.uk.

If it’s jumble you’re wanting rid of, ask the neighbours if they’re doing a bric-a-brac stall and would sell your stuff, or keep an eye on the blog.

Can I set up a stall to raise money for another charity?

Of course. If you let us know in advance, we can advertise it on the Bungo Map. We do not ask for a donation from stalls in aid of other charities.

Makers Market

After a great success when introduced in 2023, the Makers Market is now well established in the lane between Marywood Square and Vennard Gardens. If you’re a local craftsperson and would like to sell your products on the day, please email Nicola at soapetc@btinternet.com or DM her on Facebook at @bungosoapetc to apply. There is a charge for a space & table, rather than a doonation to the Society.

What are my responsibilities?

Stallholders & owners: The back lanes are privately owned and it is the responsibility of individual owners and stall holders to ensure they meet legal requirements.

Volunteers: Generally the volunteers who help organise BitBL do not have specific Health and Safety duties (HSE Advice for Volunteers) but need to take care of your own health and safety, for example, if moving equipment. Volunteers are covered by the Strathbungo Society’s Public Liability insurance.

Visitors: BitBL is a major community event which welcomes people from outwith Strathbungo. If you have not visited before, the Strathbungo back lanes are mainly cobbled, with generally uneven surfaces and contain many potholes. While people walk along them the whole time, there are many potential hazards in terms of tripping and stumbling, so you need to have suitable footwear and look where you put your feet. In order to reduce risks to visitors, the Strathbungo Society organises a community clear up the weekend before the event and also checks for other hazards on the morning of BitBL, while the Council does a street clean, but at the end of the day, visitors come at their own risk and should be aware that it is stallholders who are responsible for ensuring that any products they sell meet Health and Safety requirements.

Alcohol, Food and BBQs

Alcohol

The Society organises one or two bars with the aid of local businesses (e.g. The Bungo Bar, Simple Things Fermentation). These are fully licensed, with strict rules – no alcohol may be taken outside the bars, and there are security staff present to ensure rules are followed.

You MUST NOT sell alcohol from your own stall if you do not have a licence. It is illegal, and could land the event in trouble too. If we spot you, we will ask you to stop.

You must also not drink alcohol in the lanes. If you are drinking or serving to friends, please keep it confined to your garden.

I’d like to sell home baking or food, what do I need to do?

Any stall providing food needs to be aware of the requirements of Glasgow City Council for food handling and preparation. The food safety department of Glasgow City Council has provided up-to-date guidance for stalls selling food, which you MUST read and follow if you plan to offer food at the event. You will find it here. If you want to contact them yourself about any aspect of this, please email them at foodsafety@glasgow.gov.uk.

Will the event be cancelled or postponed if there’s bad weather?

It’s never been called off yet, other than for lockdowns.! Barring a hurricane (which might cause a spot of bother with the gazebos), the event goes ahead in all weathers. It’s always nicer in the sunshine but even on damp days we tend to get a decent turnout of local folk.