Rangers given permission to sell alcohol at new events space

Rangers have secured permission to sell alcohol within the events space at the club’s new Edmiston House.

The £10m development, which includes a museum and club shop, has been awarded a provisional premises licence by the Glasgow’s Licensing Board.

Drinks would be sold in the family-friendly hospitality space on the ground floor on match days and during functions, including weddings and live gigs.

Stephen McGowan, representing the club, said: “The Edmiston House proposal is a fantastic addition to the club for the vibrancy of matchday experiences, with the interactive museum and all the rest.

“But more than that, it is a welcome investment as a wider events and cultural space, particularly for this part of the south side of the city.”

The Edmiston Drive venue, which is expected to create around 100 jobs, is scheduled to open this summer and Dave Pyatt, the former general manager at King Tut’s and the O2 Academy in Islington, has been brought in to run the events space.

Mr McGowan said: “Edmiston House is more than a Rangers venue. The event space is something they hope to use to attract a wide range of activities.

“The plan is to use this space as a wider cultural and community destination, in a space which we believe would be a fantastic addition for the south side of the city.

“My clients also see the venue adding further buoyancy to the music city badge, which Glasgow carries internationally.”

On matchdays, the events space will be used as a “family-friendly, hospitality space” with “activities geared towards a family audience”.

These will include TV screens showing old footage and player interviews, players doing Q&As with fans, and photo opportunities with the club mascot, Broxi Bear.

The area will only be accessible to match ticket holders and will close 30 minutes before kick-off, reopening after the match.

Mr McGowan said: “The principal ethos of Edmiston House is to create a family-friendly experience.

“It is about the club building a wider enjoyable matchday experience to be more than the game itself, although obviously the game is very important to those fans who are attending.”

Edmiston House’s hospitality area will be closed on non-match days, but the shop and museum will remain open. However, it will be available for use for events, with live music activity required to stop by 11pm.

Cllr Alex Wilson said: “I pass this by on a regular basis and I’ve seen the development coming along, it looks absolutely fantastic.

“I think for the area it would be exceptional and the plans they’ve got for it sound really promising.”

By local democracy reporter Drew Sandelands