Scheme to establish area as ‘entertainment destination’
By Gillian McKenzie
BAR and nightclub operators on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street have backed a new initiative which aims to establish the area as the city’s “premier entertainment destination”.
More than 90% of eligible voting businesses backed plans to create the city’s first Business Improvement District (BID) in the non-pedestrianised section of Sauchiehall Street, between Charing Cross and Rose Street.
Under the scheme, which will go live in April, the owners of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and music venues in the area will pay 1% of their business’s rateable value into the BID fund, which is expected to top £180,000 in the initial five-year period.
Funds will be used to launch a high-profile marketing campaign – #allinSauchiehall – which will aim to drive footfall to the area by promoting the diverse range of venues on the street under taglines, such as ‘eat in the street’, ‘dance in the street’ and ‘meet in the street’.
The BID fund will also be used to make improvements to the area, beyond those provided by the authorities, and develop a programme of events.
Brian Fulton, chair of the BID steering group and a director at Garage nightclub owner CPL, said he is “delighted” operators have backed the scheme.
“It’s great and it shows we’re willing to help make a difference to the street,” he told SLTN.
“Most major cities have an entertainment district or street that everyone gravitates towards and we want Sauchiehall Street to be Glasgow’s.”
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, described it as “great news” for the city.
