Plans for 'adventure bar' with axe throwing and crazy golf

An “adventure” bar with axe throwing and crazy golf could open in a Glasgow shopping centre.

Plans have been submitted to the city council which request permission to convert four units at the St Enoch Centre into a Boom: Battle Bar.

Submitted by the St Enoch Trustee Company, the application asks for a change of use, from retail to leisure.

It would see a former Mothercare, ex-Tui unit and two premises which have been used by Glasgow Museums, turned into a bar. All the units have been marketed for retail use, with the old Tui site offered to businesses since 2014.

Boom: Battle Bar is named in the application as the proposed operator of the site. The company, which is looking to open its first bar in Scotland, has premises in Norwich and Cardiff and plans to operate in Liverpool too.

Electric darts and pool are also listed as activities offered in the bars.

Savills, the applicant’s agent, has told the council: “The proposal would have a positive impact upon the wider environment by introducing an active use into vacant units and will generate a substantial number of new jobs.

“It will also help reduce the vacancy rate within the St Enoch Centre and will improve the prospects of leasing the remaining space for retail use, which will become more attractive as the vacancy rate reduces.

“Without the conversion of the units to leisure use, it is predicted that the units would be vacant for a further period. This would be detrimental for the vibrancy of the St Enoch Centre and the city centre.”

When the application was submitted in December, the centre’s first floor mall, which has 41 units, had 15 vacancies. There will be 50 units once a new cinema and leisure quarter is complete.

Bosses do not expect improvements in the retail sector “any time soon” due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Story by local democracy reporter Drew Sandelands