Dear readers, why, what’s this? A mini-briefing all on its own? That’s right. We’re trying something new as part of our drive to always improve our offering to you, our Bellerinas. Below is a briefing very similar to what would appear atop your midweek stories. But we thought, because we put as much original reporting as we can into our bulletins, they deserve a space unto themselves which will also appear on our website. Behold, our experimental news edition.
The idea is simple: a few stories that we think are important for life in Glasgow, delivered first thing in the morning. Not too much, not too little. And hopefully you’ll find our in-depth midweek stories easier to digest in the process.
Please tell us what you think of this and, if popular, we ultimately plan to make future news editions available to paid subscribers only to further thank them for their ongoing support.
🏗️ Albert Drive's withheld report
Displaced residents of flats neighbouring the collapsed Albert Drive tenement have told The Bell that a report detailing the structural integrity of their homes has been withheld from them by Glasgow City Council and their insurers. Two tenement blocks on Albert Cross were destroyed by two separate fires, one in 2019, and one in 2020 which led to its partial collapse and demolition in July of this year.
The report, which displaced homeowner Fergus Walker says was commissioned by the residents’ building insurance company AXA, could hold the answer to when they can expect to return to their homes. AXA handed the report to the council and the building factor a month ago, says Walker who is renting a place and living “month to month” while waiting for word on his building. The contents of the report haven't been shared with residents despite asking for it, Walker says.
As we’ve reported previously, residents of neighbouring blocks haven’t been granted access to retrieve belongings. The council have deemed their buildings unsafe to enter following the collapse at 187-193 Albert Drive, and the Pollokshields community have had to support some of the roughly 30 residents left displaced by the events. Walker describes the three-way catch-22 they’re in: for the council to issue a dangerous buildings notice, which would compel the owners to carry out works, they need to have a timeline; for a timeline, the factor has to be sure that the works will be paid for; but residents don’t know if AXA are going to accept liability and pay up. For now, they just want to know what’s in the report.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council told The Bell that the report is a “matter between [the building factor] and their clients”. We have approached AXA for comment.
However, there is a slightly more upbeat development. The council, if approved at a meeting on Thursday morning, will run a competition for designs for the two gap sites at Albert Cross. In what GCC hopes can be a template for reviving other parts of the city, architects will be invited to pitch proposals, and the winning designs will “help restor[e] vibrancy and the historic feel” around the area.
🍺 Epochal closure
A Port Dundas specialist brewery has closed after four years of beer-making. Epochal Barrel Fermented Ales, run by self-proclaimed “ex-philosopher and enthusiastic fermentationist” Gareth Young, produced beer with traditional Scottish barrel-fermenting methods such as using oak fermentation and Brettanomyces, a.k.a British yeast. The company had access to its premises suspended by its landlord in April after months of unpaid rent, according to The Drinks Business website.
Last year, Young saved one of only two historic Burton Union fermentation systems remaining after it was discontinued by Carlsberg Marston Brewing Company (now Carlsberg Britvic). It was a period of momentum, as the specialist barrels arrived just two months after Young opened an on-site taproom following a successful crowdfunder campaign.
But, on Monday, Young posted to followers on Epochal’s Instagram account that the “extremely tough” environment facing businesses and the “especially acute” challenges that small breweries deal with have led to the closure of his business. He says he’s currently in discussions to save the Burton Union, which had attracted international visitors given its significance to brewing nerds, and is “hopeful” it can be preserved. Epochal’s closure is a blow to Glasgow’s micro brewery scene, as only around three carry on fermenting, after Ride Brewing Co closed in 2025 after 12 years in business.
Welcome to The Bell. Every week, just two of us put together a Monday briefing jam-packed with everything you need to know about what's going on in Glasgow, a midweek briefing like this one, a midweek in-depth story, and a fantastic weekend read. We are, of course, helped out by some of Glasgow's most talented writers and journalists.
If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, you can sign up for free by clicking the link below.
🏨 Radisson plans stall
A listed building in the city centre was handed a lifeline on Tuesday by Glasgow City Council’s planning committee. McCorquodale Printers on Maxwell Street had an application refused that would have seen it entirely demolished, as councillors overall agreed with the 61 letters of objections attached to the plans, including representations from the local community council and Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney.
Ultimately, claims made by the developer Jay Singh of Regent Property Ltd, that the stonework, along with its Alexander 'Greek' Thomson iron railings, was beyond saving in a cost-effective manner weren’t seen as credible by objectors and the committee. Also, the committee concluded that the 1868 print works, which has been on the buildings at risk register since 2004, would have represented too great a loss to the city centre conservation area’s heritage for full demolition to be justified.
The development, however, was touted as a major investment into the area directly to the south of St Enoch shopping centre. Hotel giants Radisson were expected to open a 19-storey hotel on the site, and the associated economic benefits this would bring had swayed some on the committee to grant the application. But, with refusal winning out 5 votes to 4, the future of the building is called back into question.
Feeling “relieved” after the decision, Paul Sweeney told The Bell that it was “completely ridiculous” for the owners to justify complete demolition. For Sweeney, McCorquodale Printers could be another example of tasteful retention of the facade while developing the rest of the building, as seen in the new Social Hub development just up the road.
Contrary to outward appearances, the building is very much occupied: there are artist studios as well as offices for Regent Property itself. In the basement, EXIT nightclub has been pounding ears and growing a passionate following for over two years. Co-founder of the clubnight and business Miko Szatko told The Bell they plan to carry on running their events while the building owners allow them to remain, as the nights are becoming culturally “important”. He added that in an ideal world he’d love to see the artist studios preserved and the club night continue.
Stories you might have missed
🌉 Kingston bridge to close for three nights for ‘investigations’, Glasgow Live
🎼 Glasgow musician Eddie Reader receives honorary doctorate, Glasgow Times
🐟 Clyde salmon return to river in Barrhead for first time in 170 years, East Renfrewshire Council
🥊 Kevin McKenna weighs in on Andrew Neil vs Sauchiehall Street, The Herald (£)
If someone forwarded you this newsletter, click here to sign up to get quality local journalism in your inbox.
Comments
How to comment:
If you are already a member,
click here to sign in
and leave a comment.
If you aren't a member,
sign up here
to be able to leave a comment.
To add your photo, click here to create a profile on Gravatar.
