Planners threaten Clydesdale outlet

By Angela Jameson

A Glasgow restaurant that has transformed casual drinking and dining in a run-down area of the city is fighting for survival this week, following an appeal hearing at the Scottish Office.

Stravaigin restaurant, part of the Ubiquitous Chip group, opened in Gibson Street two years ago.

Colin Clydesdale, chef-proprietor there, has built up a loyal following for the 76-seat restaurant, which has a 35-seat bar upstairs.

However, the business faces an uncertain future following Glasgow City Council planning department's attempts to close it down.

The planning department has issued an enforcement order to revoke the restaurant's planning permission in line with a Glasgow policy that no new pubs should be built under tenements.

The row centres on the wording of the original application for a Public House Licence for the upstairs bar by manager Carol Wright, which planners claim was ambiguous.

The hearing this week could result in the entire restaurant being closed, or at least the bar being forced to serve food with each drink.

Regular customers have been campaigning for the survival of the establishment, which they say is nothing like a traditional pub, and a petition has attracted a huge response.

Part of the restaurant's popularity with local residents and other customers is its relaxed approach to food and drink, modelled on Continental café-bars.

It attracts a large proportion of female customers and sells a mix of wines, beers and food from any of four menus, as well as tea, coffee and milkshakes.

Mr Clydesdale thinks of the controversial bar area as a less formal extension of the restaurant. "We may have broken the rules but sometimes the rules aren't that great," he said.

"We have invested a lot of money in this run-down area, and created something stylish and successful. The local residents are furious that we might have to close," he added.

The outcome of the appeal hearing was unknown as Caterer went to press, but Mr Clydesdale was confident the many letters of support sent by customers would persuade the planners in his favour.

"The bar is not offensive to anyone. If pubs are supposed to be an amenity, then why are they trying to destroy this one?"