Shepherd leases upper floors of Glasgow’s iconic Teacher building to Sonder and markets prime city centre leisure opportunity on ground floors

Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has leased the upper floors of Glasgow’s iconic Teacher building to Sonder and is bringing to market a prime city centre bar and restaurant opportunity on the ground and lower ground floors.

The upper floors are currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment by the landlord and have full consent for the provision of 25 serviced apartments for short-term accommodation.

The apartments will be operated by Sonder, a next generation global hospitality company which provides innovative, tech-powered service and inspiring, thoughtfully designed accommodations combined into one seamlessly managed experience.

This presents an outstanding opportunity for a Food & Beverage operator to occupy the ground and lower ground floor space. The accommodation, which has full consent for a public house/restaurant with outside seating, is currently in a shell condition, ready for an incoming tenant’s specific branding and fit out.

The ground floor will provide a bespoke bar area towards the front with restaurant seating provided towards the rear. Kitchen, staff and w.c. facilities will be provided at a lower ground floor level.

The Teacher building is one of Glasgow’s landmark buildings. Built in 1875 and category B listed, it was designed by architect James Boucher, known primarily for his involvement in the design of the Kibble Palace in Glasgow, and built to house the headquarters, offices, and dram shop of William Teacher & Son. This project breathes new life into the historic building, opening its next chapter as a vibrant commercial destination.

It is located in the heart of Glasgow city centre, occupying a prominent position on the western side of St. Enoch Square. The square is located at the southern end of Buchanan Street, which is widely regarded as the best retailing thoroughfare outside of London.

St. Enoch Square Station is positioned immediately adjacent, providing access to Glasgow’s underground. Located immediately opposite is St. Enoch Square shopping centre, one of the main shopping outlets within the city centre and which has undergone significant development to include the recently opened VUE cinema with further significant improvements planned.

Steve Barnett, managing partner at Shepherd Chartered Surveyors, said: “Having been involved in a number of hotel transactions within the immediate locale, including the sale of the iconic Custom House (now 4-star Clayton Hotel) and now the Teacher building, we are delighted to secure Sonder as operator for its upper floors as part of its overall expansion drive.

“With plans to open this summer, the 25 serviced apartments will be designed to balance the building’s whisky heritage with contemporary design.”

Will Kingston, Associate Director of Real Estate at Sonder, added: “We’re thrilled to expand within such an iconic landmark building in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

“We expect to accommodate local and international visitors travelling for both business and leisure, and our bespoke fit-out will be complementary to the original fabric of the building as part of its wider regeneration.

“We are delighted to work alongside the Landlord and Shepherd to bring this exciting project to fruition. Redeveloping vacant buildings into exciting new places helps bring visitors into vibrant city centres like Glasgow.”

The property has 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.

Mr Barnett added: “We are currently seeking a leisure operator to complement the upper floor use as a high quality bespoke serviced apartment building run by an international operator.”

Rental details are available to interested parties upon request from the sole letting agent on 0141 331 2807.

ENDS

For further information please contact Steve Barnett on tel 0141 331 2807.

Notes to Editors

• Directly opposite the Teacher building, St. Enoch Square shopping centre, one of the main shopping outlets within the city centre and providing some 900 car parking spaces, is currently undergoing a substantial refurb at a cost of £40 million, including a new Vue Cinema and food court.
• The surrounding area has also witnessed significant investment and development activity, including: a new Premier Inn on St Enoch Square and a Wetherspoons public house and a new 294 bed 4-star Clayton Hotel on the riverside site of the former Custom House, which Shepherd sold following a closing date in 2019. Also nearby on Clyde Street is the new Virgin Hotel and a new Adagio Apart Hotel, St Enoch.
• In addition, the centre provides multi storey car parking facilities, providing some 900 car parking spaces. The St. Enoch Centre has recently undergone a substantial refurb at a cost of £40 million to include a new Vue Cinema and food court.