Easdales Reveal Plans To Kickstart Sauchiehall Street Rejuvenation

Multi-millionaire brothers Sandy and James Easdale have taken the first major step in the renaissance of Glasgow’s world-famous Sauchiehall Street.

Plans have now been submitted to Glasgow Council for the £20million rejuvenation of the landmark Watt Bros store for a multi-concept boutique hotel, luxury residences and shopping complex.

The Easdales’ architect, Douglas McConville of Silverfern Consultancy, has created a scheme which saves and dramatically enhances the architecturally significant listed building.

The well-known Glasgow landmark, on the corner of Bath Street and Sauchiehall Street, has been vacant since Watt Brothers fell into administration in 2019.

Stretching to more than 80,000 sq. ft, the McGill’s Buses tycoons reached a deal to save the art deco building with Watt Brothers’ administrators, KPMG.

Sandy Easdale said: “We wanted a classy design that would maximise the use of the huge site but would not compromise the unique character of the original building.”

James Easdale added: “We are also acutely aware of the strategic shortage of hotel room supply in Glasgow and we feel this is a stepping stone on the way to restoring Glasgow to the great shopping and leisure centres like Edinburgh and other great English cities.”

Both brothers hope that other UK property entrepreneurs will see the enormous opportunities there are on offer in Glasgow and follow the Easdales’ lead.

Sandy added: “Glasgow may have temporarily lost some of its glamour, but the energy of Glasgow folk remains undiminished and the younger generation both here and in Europe love the vibrancy of the place.” 

The northern end of the building was initially constructed in 1914 and latterly extended into the southern building in 1929, the two linked on the second and third floors by an archway over Sauchiehall Lane.

A third building on Sauchiehall Lane was added to the ownership in the 1980s. The property has been in department store use since the initial construction.

Sandy continued: “The building benefits from brilliant art deco features and this will play a part in its rejuvenation.”

Currently, the brothers have £750million worth of projects in the UK and are spending considerably more time in their London offices assessing opportunities.

James Easdale concluded: “Despite the two-year hiatus of the pandemic, Sandy and I have always taken the view that opportunity can come from adversity.

"We are very optimistic that the economy will bounce back in due course.

"Whilst our transport businesses which include McGill’s Buses remain hugely important to us, property and construction investment opportunities in England and Scotland are constantly presenting themselves.”