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October 2024
Retail decline sparks rediscovery of lost Sauchiehall Street tea rooms

Retail decline sparks rediscovery of lost Sauchiehall Street tea rooms

October 28 2024

A faded century-old Sauchiehall Street tea room is to be reinvigorated under plans to convert vacant upper-floor space into serviced apartments and introduce a restaurant to the rear lane.

Originally operated as The Rhul when it opened in the 1920s the name is to be brought back for the 2020s as part of efforts to see Sauchiehall Street roar back to life.

Entasis Architects, acting on behalf of Threadneedle Property, has responded to waning retail demand by converting the B-listed 123 Sauchiehall Street, retaining key heritage features such as a grand staircase and surviving plasterwork and timber surrounds on the second floor.

In a statement, the applicant wrote: "Changing requirements for space in the city centre, with the decline in larger format retail and reduced requirement for office space, along with the removal of empty property relief, have made the re-use of vacant upper floors in historic buildings more viable than has recently been the case.

"123 Sauchiehall Street has large upper floors that are currently only accessible for maintenance purposes. The structure and fabric of the building are largely sound, despite substantial damage to some historic features, there are still some very well preserved areas of significant heritage value."

Works extend to the rear elevation on Sachiehall Lane where bricked-up windows will be reinstated and a basement area opened up to accommodate the new restaurant.

Traditionally styled shopfronts will be reintroduced to the main frontage and a lift and stair from the street will return the building to its original configuration. A lightwell will be removed and replaced by a third-floor roof light.