UK’s Supreme Court to sit in Glasgow for four days

The UK Supreme Court will sit in Glasgow for four days this week, setting up in the city chambers.

The court, which is the highest court of appeal for civil cases across the UK, will sit in the Burgh Hall of the city chambers from Monday to Thursday.

It will be open to members of the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Court President Lord Reed will be joined by Lord Stephens, Lady Rose, Lady Simler and Lord Doherty, as well as former deputy president Lord Hodge.

Lord Reed, who studied law at Edinburgh University, is reportedly “delighted to be sitting in his native Scotland”.

Three appeal cases are listed for the period when the court is in Glasgow.

One of these, Forthwell Limited v Pontegadea UK Limited, concerns a Glasgow restaurant called Rogano which closed during the coronavirus restrictions and was not able to reopen.

The case, which involves the tenant and the landlord of the restaurant, concerns the responsibility for repairs to flood damage at the premises.

Seafood restaurant Rogano was damaged by water ingress three times in 2020 and early 2021.

The Supreme Court has sat outside of London on several occasions previously, having done so in Edinburgh in 2017.

An update from the Supreme Court earlier said: “The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is preparing to sit in Glasgow for four days of appeal hearings between May 18 and 21.

“During this time, the court will be located in Glasgow’s city chambers on George Square.

“This prestigious central location has been the headquarters of municipal government in Glasgow for more than a century and the court would like to thank the council for agreeing to allow it to use the chambers for the week.”