Entertainment king reveals plans for live venue and themed bar in capital

A new live entertainment venue and Scottish-themed bar-restaurant will be created on the doorstep of the capital's Caledonian Hotel within weeks.

Stefan King's G1 Group yesterday announced the first details of the long-awaited transformation of a former tourism office and casino in the capital's West End.

The venue – to be called Ghillie Dhu after the faerie, or guardian of the trees from Scots folklore – will be open until 3am and is being billed as an "alternative" to the city's nightclubs. A traditional bar and bistro will operate on the ground floor, while the main first-floor venue is expected to host most of the entertainment.

The G1 Group is promoting Ghillie Dhu as a major new venue for this year's Fringe, but will be programming music, comedy and theatre productions itself rather than bringing in a promoter.

The 19th century church building behind the Rutland Hotel is being restored by the Glasgow businessman's empire, including revealing spectacular vaulted ceilings created by theEdinburgh architect David Cousin, who designed East Princes Street Gardens and also laid out cemeteries, including Dean and Warriston.

Marketing manager Angus Lawrie told The Scotsman: "The company has received a number of awards for its sympathetic reinstatement of historic buildings and we're very much following that tradition with Ghillie Dhu.

"We're keen to stress that it's not going to be a nightclub and is very much an alternative, although it will be open from early morning for breakfasts.

"Hopefully we will be open for business in March and we've started recruiting for the 70 jobs that will be created."

St Thomas' Episcopal Church, at Rutland Place, was completed in 1843, and was briefly home to the Scottish Tourist Board in the 1980s before becoming a casino.

Although based in Glasgow, the G1 Group has more than 40 venues spread across the country.