Developer Structured House Group (SHG) will retain elements of what is claimed to be Glasgow’s oldest pub – if it is given planning consent for a student accommodation development on a High Street site.
SHG chief executive Craig Inglis today (Friday Jan 27) said that his company is considering what could be retained from the current building on the site, and incorporated into a re-creation of the Old College Bar.
He said: “It was always our intention to try and find a way of retaining some of the character of this pub, which obviously means a lot to the regulars and other people in the area.
“The actual building itself is in too poor a condition to be retained, but there are parts of the interior which could be re-used and bring character and a bit of history to a new pub. We also plan to retain the name Old College Bar.
“We’ll be looking closely at what can be retained of the internal bar over the coming weeks and we’ll include the regulars in that process.”
In addition, Mr Inglis intends investigating a claim by a local historian that the sub-structure of the pub could possibly date back to medieval times.
He said: “If this proves to be correct, we will include it as a feature of the new pub, perhaps a section of reinforced glass floor allowing the historic area to be lit and viewed.”
SHG’s student accommodation project, part of a £300m investment plan, will construct the 426-bed, 12-storey Merchant Point building on the corner of High Street and George Street – joining the university district to the vibrant Merchant City.
The plans, which include retail, start-up offices and restaurant units, will act as a focal point at the edge of Glasgow’s city centre, and would mark the third student development from SHG in the city.
Mr Inglis said: “This project will raise the bar for student accommodation in Glasgow. We’ve worked very hard to submit designs which will fit in with the surrounding area and provide students coming to Glasgow with a level of quality you don’t often find in this kind of accommodation, while local people will benefit from much-needed new leisure facilities in the area.
“We’re a Glasgow-based company and we want to see the city flourish and prosper. We also want to be a good neighbour to local people already in the area, hence our plans for the retention of what can be saved of the Old College Bar.”