Eyesore site earmarked for new Glasgow hotel
Plans will be lodged for an aparthotel
Plans are being announced to turn an eyesore building in Glasgow city centre into an aparthotel complete with a gym and rooftop terrace.
The site on the corner of Cambridge Street and Renfrew Street has been unoccupied for many years is expected to be the subject of a joint planning application from PMI Developments and Peveril Securities.
The developers say the aparthotel will include features of a boutique city hotel, including 24-hour reception, lounge and café, combined with the convenience and increased space of a self-catering apartment designed for longer stays, complete with a kitchen and living area.
Gap in Glasgow's hotel market
Nigel Jones, Director, PMI Developments, said, “Despite Glasgow’s buoyant hotel market there is a lack of quality aparthotels in the city which is growing in popularity across Europe amongst both business and leisure travellers.
“This prominent site with its central location lends itself well to an aparthotel and will be a boost to the ongoing regeneration of Sauchiehall Street.”
A drop in public consultation event will take place on Tuesday 15th November from 1pm until 6pm at Edward House, 199 Sauchiehall Street, as well as online, and a planning application is expected to be submitted in the new year following further consultation as designs progress.
Glasgow's spookiest buildings
The Cathedral House Hotel
The Cathedral House Hotel, built in the 1870s, was once used to house female prisoners during rehabilitation. There are numerous reports, but the most common are the voices of children at the top of the building. Investigators are drawn to the building and they have stated that there are anomalies with the light patterns, voices and movement of chairs.
Are you starting to believe?
The Theatre Royal
Glasgow's much-loved theatre in the heart of the city has more than one story about ethereal beings, but the most commonly reported tale is the one of 'Nora'. Nora was a cleaning lady with star aspirations. When she finally got a chance to audition and went on stage, her talent was mocked. She was laughed off the stage and is said to have killed herself. Today, there are still recurrent sounds of wailing and a door banging.
The Tron Theatre
Glasgow's iconic Tron Theatre is on the site of a church which was first built in 1529. The building has evolved through various churches, a police station and most notably, a place of execution. In 1793 the infamous 'Hellfire Club' set fire to the Tron. Apparently, they were testing to see who could stand the heat. So, have some of the perished stayed around to make their presence felt? Staff repeatedly claim they are being watched, sometimes touched and that they have seen doors open when nobody else is around. There are also reports of sightings of spectres with the key area being the Victorian Bar. Spirits eh?
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
A list of haunted sites wouldn't be complete without a hospital, and which one would be better than the historic Royal Infirmary in Glasgow's city centre? As you would expect, there are many tales of eerie goings-on. One of the most common is 'Archie' who is an elderly apparition pacing Ward 27 and talking to dying patients.
Another popular sighting is the 'Grey Lady'. This old lady, dressed in grey appears to be very real but then vanishes when she is spoken to. In 2002, a doctor reports running to a critical patient who was arresting. As he ran, he was stopped by another patient who asked for directions to the exit. The doctor pointed to the door as he continued to run to his patient. Once he reached the patient, he learned that the patient had arrested and died. When he looked at the patient, he recognised him as the man in the corridor who had asked for directions.
Well if you aren't spooked by now, then you must know something we don't! There are many more of these reportedly haunted sites in and around our city, so check them out and decide for yourself.
The Partick Poltergeist
This building now demolished, was on Mansfield Street to the west of the city. From 1959 to 1961, it was a private residence of a family who made many reports of nocturnal nuisances. There were unexplained noises and the home continually felt cold. After the mysterious levitation of a piece of coal and the figure of a man standing by the children's beds, the family promptly left the house.
Getting the shivers yet?
The original Museum Of Transport (at Glasgow Kelvin Hall)
The old Transport Museum was notorious for ghostly gems. It was after all, used as a mortuary during WW2. There are numerous tales of unexplained voices, footsteps, laughter and sightings of a headless figure.
Radio Clyde
Could it be possible that our very own Radio Clyde has its own spirit?
Well-known local 'Psychic Astrologer' Frank Pilkington used to host a phone in on Clyde 2 on a Monday afternoon and he was convinced that the studio 'On-Air 3' at Radio Clyde HQ in Clydebank was haunted and that he felt a presence! Other stories include mics dropping, hearing sighs and no one is there and even a tapping on the shoulder, turning round and the studio is empty apart from the presenter…
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