Licensed bar and restaurant given the green light at former Fair City Showrooms

A decision to grant planning permission for two bars and a‘licensed discotheque’in the town centre was hailed by the Observer of 1979 as a‘boost’to Stirling’s nightlife.

Alan Hamilton of Gartmore had applied to convert the former Fair City Showrooms at 35/37 Upper Craigs into a licensed restaurant and lounge bar.

A similar move had previouly been rejected by the planning committee of Stirling District Council.

Objections to the proposal were again raised, with councillors arguing that there were already too many licensed premises in the Upper Craigs area.

This led one councillor, Mrs Marion Williamson, to claim that the area was becoming“the Rose Street of

Stirling”.

Committee members, however, were impressed by Mr Hamilton’s plans to invest a‘considerable amount of money’to restore the premises, in a bid to create an ‘up market’establishment.

It was also reported that Mr Hamilton sought to reinstate the third floor of the building to a ‘dwellinghouse’for himself and his family.

The former Co-Op chemist building at 31 Barnton Street was also set to be transformed, with planning permission approved for a pub and‘continental-style cafe’development. David Alexander wished to use the development as primarily a public house, with a ‘sub-division’for the cafe.

Plans were also outlined for a licensed disco in the two-storey warehouse adjacent to the Hot Co Freezer Centre at 40 Maxwell Place. The application was lodged by GWG Stewart, Scotstoun Road, Cowie.

The region’s director of roads had recommended refusal, arguing that the formation of a public access to Goosecroft Road would“not be in the interests of road safety”.

However, planning director Maurice Dobson recommended approval. He said in locational terms, it was difficult to imagine a more satisfactory position. It was close to the railway and bus stations and away from other established town centre uses where possible confict could occur.