It’s heartening to see the efforts being made to inject a new lease of life into Glasgow’s once-thriving commercial artery, Sauchiehall Street.
While we have to accept the halcyon days of the thoroughfare being crammed with the hustle and bustle of fervent shoppers are gone, reimagining Sauchiehall Street appears to be at the top of Glasgow City Council’s agenda.
And rightly so. Part of the city’s famous ‘Golden Z’, alongside Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, it has become a sad sight in the past 10–15 years.
As I’ve often commented on, our change in shopping habits, a difficult economic climate, and an increasing variety of choice for evening and weekend entertainment away from the city centre, have all played their part in its demise.
Without making this sound too much like Corrie, it’s also important we don’t forget that tragedy also struck the street not too long ago.
The 2018 Glasgow School of Art fire, which spread to the neighbouring unit which houses the ABC music venue and nightclub, shook the city.
Coming not long after a smaller blaze in 2014, which caused significant damage to the historic Mackintosh Building, it felt like the odds were stacked against Glasgow and one of its most famous streets.
While the reopening of the Mackintosh Building as a graduate school is still some years away, I was pleased to learn that plans are in the offing to redevelop the ABC.
The derelict building has become an eyesore and has left a hole in the lives of youngsters unable to experience a gig or night out in the iconic venue.
Not to mention, Glasgow’s nighttime economy has suffered for it, too.
Plans see the ABC moving in a new direction, though, as it appears property developers Vita Group are keen to gauge the appetite for a food hall and student flats, much needed to ease the strain on the rental and overall property market, to be constructed on the site.
A series of consultation events are to begin February 13 as they start to shape plans for the building.
Proposals include an urban park and a “destination food hall which will allow Glasgow’s concept restaurants to introduce their brand to the city”, according to Vita Group’s new brand, House of Social, which is leading the development.
Online shopping and the likes of Silverburn and Braehead put paid to Glasgow’s ‘high street’ many moons ago, but the rebuild seems to be starting now.
The world, and Scotland, has changed. No longer is retail the king of the high street, it’s hospitality, culture and entertainment.
I, for one, am all behind these new economic drivers. Indeed, you only have to look at other cities and towns across the country to see that it works.
Take Dundee for example. The Tayside city’s iconic Waterfront has been transformed in recent times, with the introduction of the V&A and refurbishment of its central train station, into a place tourists want to visit.
Glasgow’s near neighbour Paisley, too, is experiencing a revival as Renfrewshire Council ploughs tens-of-millions of pounds into redeveloping its museum and library as cafes, eateries, bars and flats spring up all over the town centre.
If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for Glasgow.
Indeed, in a statement, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick hailed progress with the ABC as a “major step forward”.
And that it is. I am a huge believer in commercial property being the cornerstone of any strong economy and this is something Glasgow needs more of, alongside crucial residential space for all walks of life.
The two must co-exist to allow the city to thrive again and the news of the ABC’s potential reinvention is hopefully a sign of things to come.
Scotland’s largest city and business hub may no longer be the shoppers utopia it once was in its pomp, but, in reinventing itself as a place to live, work and recreation, Glasgow can flourish again.
Coffee, lunch and the future of Scotland’s economy
Over the next few weeks, I will be having coffee with the current First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and lunch with Anas Sarwar, the potential next First Minister.
While there’s no specific agenda for these meetings, they are eager to hear my perspective on the Scottish economy and the current challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
We are a small country with big ideas. Just look at recent research from YFM Equity Partners, which was published at the tail end of last year.
Findings in their inaugural Entrepreneur Economy report highlighted that Scotland stands out as the most entrepreneurial of the UK’s devolved nations, with a high number of well-established entrepreneurs.
What’s more it suggests that these Scottish founders contribute £52bn in revenue, despite constituting only seven per cent of the nation’s small and medium-sized enterprises. A huge sum and one that should be applauded.
The part that really caught my eye though, and one that I truly believe, is that that as the third fastest growing part of the UK, Scotland holds “significant potential for future growth”.
I look forward to an informal chat with the powers that be on how they plan to harness that potential and what support would be on offer to ensure entrepreneurship continues to both thrive and makes a lasting contribution to the Scottish economy.
I’ll be sure to report back on some of their comments as well as their feedback around my views on other industries, which I have previously raised in my column. Watch this space.
It Made Me Laugh
Monkey Business in the Highlands
The Scottish Highlands is known for its stunning natural vistas and sprawling wildlife, but I couldn’t help but giggle at the idea of tourists hiking through its glens, only to come face to face with a wild monkey, after its daring escape from a local wildlife park.
The Japanese macaque, which ran for the hills last week, had the nation in a frenzy, with calls to help track down the furry fugitive as members of the public scrambled for a sight of the escaped simian.
Us Scots are well versed in using animals to boost tourist numbers, just look at Loch Ness, so I’m sure the local tourist board would have been rubbing their hands with glee at the news.
It Made Me Weep
Hospitality at Breaking Point
It feels like the Scottish hospitality sector is continually serving up doom and gloom and recent results from a Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) poll show that’s likely to continue for the foreseeable.
With 500 businesses polled, three out of four hospitality operators will need government support to survive this year, while a staggering 96 per cent believe that the Scottish Government is out of touch with the business community.
The findings make grim reading and highlights both just how challenging it is for operators to keep the lights on and the disconnect between key decision makers and the industry in general.
It goes without saying, we need strong leadership in the coming months to help ensure normal service resumes.
