Revamp aims to create new world-class entertainment venue in Glasgow hub

Glasgow is set to welcome a new world-class entertainment hub and events venue as Forrest Hotels unveil plans to transform the North Rotunda.

The owners of the awardwinning Radisson RED hotel bought the building in June 2023 and plan to invest £15 million to transform the structure over three levels into The Roundhouse venue on the ground floor and The Rotunda on the upper floors, while carefully restoring and enhancing the historic features of the original structure.

Forrest has taken inspiration fromnashville’sworld-famous live music circuit to design a new ground floor space, created with live performance in mind – with two upper floors created for hosting weddings, conferences and events.

The versatile new venue with state-of-the-art bespoke sound and lighting systems will feature a new extension and external stairwell, allowing the building to meet modern building regulations and standards.

The design preserves and showcases the original features, like the cast iron and glass cupola and original round open-plan floors.

Keith Vallance from Forrest Hotels will oversee the development. He said: “Sadly the old building is in a sorry state, but we are prepared to invest heavily in order to restore this architectural gem, bringing a new generation through its doors. Our proposals will create 60 much needed new jobs for the city. “The North Rotunda is a beautiful old building with some lovely features, either covered up completely or worse, rotting away.

“We want to restore it and we have worked hard to come up with a design which enhances and showcases those features. We will retain the open plan round floors, allowing the unique design of the original building to take centre stage. We have carefully created a sympathetic external stairwell and extension to bring us into line with modern building regulations.

“We see the Rotunda as an important part of Glasgow’s heritage which we are keen to preserve and enhance, while creating a brand new venue to showcase the best of music and live events from Glasgow and beyond.”