UK-wide pub chain Wetherspoons has moved one step closer to establishing their plans of opening a new pub at the site of the former Tusk nightclub in Shawlands.
JD Wetherspoon Ltd is planning to replace its pub on Kilmarnock Road, the Sir John Stirling Maxwell, which closed earlier this year, with new Shawlands premises.
The firm is now set to develop the former Waverley Tea Rooms and Tusk nightclub — however, the team in charge have yet to confirm a start date for the work.
It is safe to say that the news has been a little divisive, with Glasgow Live asking local residents on Facebook for their thoughts on the matter.
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The majority of responses were positive about the plans, with many in favour of the redevelopment of what was a much-loved spot in its previous incarnations.
One resident responded: "It’s a 100% go go go for me, beautiful building that needs money put into it, looking forward to seeing the end result."
While another added: "Tusk is a massive beautiful building inside and I’m just happy it will be preserved and people who never got to go when it was risk get to appreciate it."
Some locals were particularly happy with the news, writing: "Lovely old building restored and maintained (unlike so many others in the city), cheap place for the community to eat and have a drink, excellent remote working space with free wi-fi and bottomless coffee. What's not to like?"
Others weren't so delighted with the plans but could see the overall benefits of the move.
One resident thought it might be good for the local area, writing: "Given the current climate it might no be so bad, would rather pay for a cheap guest Ale than ripped off for an overpriced beer in some Hipster joint. Will put a bit of life back in Shawlands again."
Another preferred the idea to the possibility the building might be turned into yet more flats, adding: "Wetherspoons has a track record of restoring buildings like this to their former glory - have a look that the Sir John Fairweather in Cambuslang. And they sell real ale, supporting local Scottish brewers, which I'm sad to say no other pub or bar in Shawlands can be bothered to do.
"And they don't charge nearly £6 a pint for it either. Anything is better than letting that fine building rot like the Stirling Maxell school. If we don't get another 'Spoons they'll pull it down and build more 'luxury apartments'."
One local who wasn't a fan of the chain, posted: "I hate Weatherspoons and would prefer a nice independent restaurant/bar - but anything is better than letting that building rot even more. Shouldn't be allowed to leave buildings empty like that."
Others offered a more prosaic response: "In a perfect world, it would be a better company that’s taking it over. However, only a company like that could afford to renovate it. Better than it lying like a heap."
Some were quick to point out the benefits to the people who needed somewhere to go to meet friendly faces: "Maxwells had its regulars it was a community, I took my dad a lot so he could bump into old faces and chat. We need that back. And of course, that building needs to be put to use."
Describing the situation as the "lesser of two evils", another added: "Would Wetherspoons be anyone’s first choice of a company to take over the building in question (or any for that matter)? However, I don’t see that a building being left to rot for further months or years is better."
Some couldn't see past the new owners, writing: "Hate Wetherspoons, would prefer anything else."
Meanwhile another added: "Wish it was an Everyman cinema or something."
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