On Glasgow’s historic St Enoch Square, the ground and lower ground floor space of the recently refurbished Teacher building is looking for a hospitality tenant ready to make the best use of the space.
Originally designed by architect James Boucher – known for his involvement in the design of the Kibble Palace in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens – the 1875 building housed the headquarters, offices and dram shop of William Teacher & Sons.
At the time, the building was ideally located across the square from the St Enoch railway station and hotel, which was on one of the main routes to the south and London St Pancras.
In latter years, the building became a conference centre for the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Now Glasgow design agency Mosaic Architecture + Design has converted the building’s upper floors into 25 serviced apartments for short-term accommodation by hospitality company Sonder, leaving its lower spaces free for a ‘whisky-themed’ bar restaurant.
The development, for JFM Electrical (Holdings), is described as a ‘prestige addition’ to Glasgow’s leisure offering, with an eye to revitalising this landmark St Enoch Square focal point.
The renovation included new external lighting and external repairs to the façade, while the ‘Teacher’ gilded sign has been refurbished, and permission has been granted to reinstate the full original signage which also had gilded signs stating ‘Scotch Whisky Distillers’ on the lower levels.
Mosaic has secured full consent for a public house/restaurant with outside seating, and the ground and lower ground floor is currently in a ‘shell condition’ ready for an incoming tenant’s specific branding and fit out.
John Moore of JFM Electrical (Holdings) said: “It was particularly gratifying to be able to work alongside Mosaic’s design team to restore this historic listed building to its former glory while giving it a new lease of life with new opportunities for fresh uses and to be its custodian for its exciting future over the years ahead.”
Director of Mosaic, Stephen Mallon, added: “It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to work on such an historically significant building and to be able to reinstate the iconic ‘Scotch Whisky Distillers’ signage.
“With planning permission to create a ground floor restaurant/bar (Class 3) with the capacity for 101 covers and a further 110 bar capacity with additional outside seating areas, it looks like the building has a bright future.”
