Glasgow's first Dishoom restaurant could open if plans to combine two units approved by council

Plans have been submitted to Glasgow City Council to combine two units in the former Stock Exchange building – which could be transformed into the city’s first Dishoom restaurant.

The council has received an application to make changes to an A-listed property in Nelson Mandela Place – and drawings list Dishoom, which has venues in Edinburgh, Manchester and London, as the new occupier.

Two units, one which is currently leased to Premier and another which was previously chicken restaurant Absurd Bird, would be amalgamated under the scheme.

Real estate firm Savills has submitted the plans on behalf of AECR UK Investment I Ltd. They state internal and external alterations are proposed to “combine two units into one larger unit to be occupied by a restaurant operator”.

A statement adds Absurd Bird left the unit in July 2022 and since then there “has been no interest in the marketplace from new occupiers”.

“As such, the proposed amalgamation of these units to create an expanded restaurant unit will allow the operation of a new restaurant while helping to reduce the vacancy rate within the city centre,” the plans added.

“Without the amalgamation of these units, it is predicted the unit at 3 Nelson Mandela Place would remain vacant for a further protracted period, which would be damaging to the vibrancy of the city centre.”

Ground and basement levels at 3 and 11 Nelson Mandela Place will be combined to increase the available floor space.

The developers believe their plan would “have a positive impact on the wider environment by introducing an active use into a vacant unit and generating a substantial number of new jobs”.

They added: “It will also help reduce the vacancy rate within the city centre and will improve the prospects of leasing the remaining space for commercial use, which will become more attractive as the vacancy rate reduces.”