My parents live in Robroyston, a town north of Glasgow’s city centre that’s so dull it might as well be a retirement community. There is one restaurant and one supermarket within walking distance of their house.  

Like many of their neighbours, my mum and dad were overjoyed when Golf It!, a new golf and entertainment facility, opened its doors at Hogganfield Park on August 5.  

“The community is crying out for something like this,” my dad said as we approached the centre on the Sunday of its opening weekend.  

The facility was launched by golf’s governing body, The R&A, according to Glasgow Live, and offers three adventure golf courses, community putting greens and a 52-bay double-decker floodlit driving range.  

Overlooking the golf courses are a handful of vendors from the Big Feed, Glasgow’s street food market that was previously based in Govan.  

My dad had visited the Big Feed once before, about a year prior at its previous location, and he had nothing but glowing reviews at the time.  

As for me, this was my first time trying out the market — and I already can’t wait to go back. 

Feasting at the Big Feed 

I soon learned that the Big Feed is difficult to miss. Food vans were spread out in an outdoor area adjacent to the car park, and dozens of adults and children tucked into their food on nearby benches.  

There was an indoor area which had a bar, benches and tables to sit on, face-painting, and a street performer keeping everyone entertained. I grabbed a table — one of the few not taken — while my dad grabbed our food from outside.  

The market at Golf It! has four resident vendors: FireDog (gourmet hot dogs), Hector and Harriet (coffee), Base Pizza, and Salt and Chilli (modern cantonise), according to the official brochure. There are also three guest vendors: Gelatoni (ice cream), Stag Bites the Hog (slow cooked meat), and The Floss Boss (candy floss), the brochure added. 

My dad was disappointed that Salt and Chilli was closed when we checked out the market on August 6, the day after Golf It! officially opened. He hadn’t tried the vendor’s food before and was most looking forward to trying the cantonese menu, which includes items such as salt and chili chicken, spring rolls, and curry.  

We asked around, but none of the other vendors or Golf It! staff seemed to know what happened to Salt and Chili. One person suggested that there may have been a fault with their equipment, but nobody was certain. 

 It was a disappointing start. But nonetheless, there were still a few other vendors to choose form. 

We kicked things off with a £8.50 toastie with pastrami, Monterey Jack cheese, and pickled gherkins from Hector and Harriet. I enjoyed the toastie, but the fillings didn’t blow me away. 

Moving on to Fire Dog, we opted for a £9 hot dog which was smothered in ketchup, mustard, and cheese sauce, and £8 nachos with barbeque pulled pork, jalapenos, and cheddar cheese. 

My dad was obsessed with the hot dog and  ate almost all of it by himself. The nachos were my favorite. The pork was tender, and the barbeque flavour perfectly complemented the cheese.  

We took a break from eating and filled some time with a round of mini golf. The course was unsurprisingly fun and mostly filled with families. That being said, I could imagine returning on a date night with my partner or for an evening out with friends. 

Back at the street food market, the tables had become slightly less crowded, but the atmosphere stayed cheerful. We settled into a new table as the street performer continued to play. The performer — a male guitarist and singer — played modern covers while the clatter of children laughing and parents clinking drinks filled the room.  

We shared a £12 haggis pizza from Base Pizza and chips from Stag Bites the Hog.

The chips were decent, but it was the pizza that I would eat again thanks to its unique topping of haggis and onion chutney. 

The vendor offers four other toppings: margherita, pepperoni, fun-guy, and fiery chicken. The latter option was sold out when we arrived (always a good sign!)  

It was my first time trying a haggis pizza, and I thought the spicy taste of the haggis went nicely with the sweetness of the chutney. My dad agreed with this assessment, although he said the pizza base could have been cooked for slightly longer as it had what he described as a “soggy bottom.”  

Overall, we had a fantastic day out at Golf It! Both the food and the atmosphere made the day a memorable one.  

Of course, I can’t speak for the people of Robroyston or the surrounding areas. But as someone who has spent my fair share of time there, I’d say this facility is a gem we’ve all been searching for.