Edinburgh Hotelier Buys Glasgow Landmark Building
12th January 2006
Hotelier The Townhouse Company (Ryden acting) has purchased a landmark building in Glasgow, the former home of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club.
The building, which occupies the entire east side of Blythswood Square and occupies just under half an acre, is listed as being of architectural and historic importance. Planning consent has been granted for conversion to a first-class hotel and The Townhouse Company plans to convert the property to a five star 109-bedroom hotel.
Charles Guest of Ryden comments: "This purchase offers our Edinburgh-based clients an opportunity to gain representation in Glasgow in an unrivalled location at an address very well-known to many Glaswegians."
There have been a number of interested developers and hoteliers since the RSAC went in to administration but it was The Townhouse Company's unconditional offer that clinched the deal.
Peter Taylor of The Townhouse Company, which owns and operates The Howard Hotel, Bonham's and Channing's Hotel in Edinburgh, stated: "We are delighted to have secured this superb property and are currently exploring our options for upgrading and refurbishment to provide a new hotel for the Glasgow scene."
The Townhouse Company could have planned to convert the property to a 139-bedroom hotel but has decided to limit the number of rooms to 109 to ensure that rooms are more spacious and that public areas can be retained.
The original front period buildings were constructed circa 1823, with a major remodelling of the club undertaken in the 1920's. In more recent years, the club, with its famous 'Rally Bar', was the starting point for the Glasgow leg of the Monte Carlo Rally. The bar will be restored as part of the redevelopment.
Work is due to commence in February 2006 with the hotel opening for business late 2007.
