Nightclub owner steps in to buy up BBC’s former Scottish headquarters

NIGHTCLUB tycoon Stefan King has bought the former BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow’s West End – but insists he is only planning to open a new office there.

Royal Bank of Scotland, which bought the site after its previous owners plunged into administration, has agreed to sell it, six years after it was originally put up for sale by the broadcaster.

Mr King’s G1 group, Scotland’s biggest licensed trade operator, with more than 180 sites, has been rapidly expanding in recent months, taking over a string of venues in Edinburgh from the Festival Group.

G1 is planning to relocate its head office from Virginia Street in the city centre to the old BBC HQ, which is on Scotland’s “buildings at risk” register.

More than 150 new homes and a boutique hotel were planned under proposals for which housebuilder Applecross secured planning permission.

Months later it emerged that the Edinburgh-based firm had plunged into administration, after a period of rapid expansion coincided with the collapse of the property market.

The BBC vacated the site, near the Botanic Gardens, four years ago to move to new studios by the Clyde, at Pacific Quay. The site – which dates back to 1869 – was bought out of administration by West Register Investments, which is part of the RBS Group, two years ago. It had been occupied by the BBC since 1936.

Mr King’s company was involved in a protracted battle with nearby residents over plans to open a new nightspot in a disused tunnel in part of the Botanics, which the city council eventually pulled the plug on.

His company also took over and refurbished the Grosvenor Cinema in nearby Ashton Lane several years ago. Its Glasgow city centre sites include Corinthian and Arta.

A spokesman for the G1 Group said: “The building came to the company’s attention as a result of it being included in the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland’s buildings at risk register. It has lain empty since the departure of the BBC in 2007.

“The G1 Group prides itself in the work done in protecting and maintaining some of the most prestigious listed building projects in Glasgow and around Scotland. The proposal to base the group’s head office in the former BBC building falls neatly into that category.”

David McDowall, G1’s group operations director, said: “Everyone in the team is looking forward to working in such a stimulating environment and genuinely feels that the building and location reflect the ethos of our steadily growing company and our ambition to remain at the cutting edge of the hospitality industry in Scotland.”

The G1 Group’s recent expansion in Edinburgh has seen it take control of Cabaret Voltaire, The Three Sisters, Eighty Queen Street and The Bank Hotel.