Glasgow's Highland Cathedral touted as 'replacement' for condemned O2 ABC

Glasgow's Highland Cathedral has been touted as a 'replacement' to the condemned O2 ABC for the city centre's music scene.

St Columba's Church on St Vincent Street closed in 2021. Plans have now been lodged to turn the church into a music and events venue.

The church was dubbed the Highland Cathedral due to it being the home of the largest Gaelic speaking church community outside of the Highlands when the church was first established in 1904.

READ MORE: Paisley dad sheds three stone after being unable to keep up with children

READ MORE: We tried Bamboleo - the new Spanish steakhouse that lets you do a good deed while dining

The church continued to hold services in Gaelic until its closure. The building has a huge cathedral-like interior, and could initially hold up to 1,200 parishioners. The church was upgraded to being A-listed in 2022.

The proposal would see St Columba's follow a number of Glasgow churches in becoming a licensed events space. The applicant seeks to install a bar and kitchens in the church, strip out the pews, and stage musical and theatrical performances, public events and other entertainment at the venue.

The application states: "Following the devastating (second) fire that destroyed the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building and the adjacent O2 ABC in 2018, the applicant has identified the potential of St Columba’s Church to provide an alternative, replacement venue for performance and entertainment at this end of the city centre.

"It is stressed that only extremely sensitive, minimal alterations would be proposed to the interior of the nave – other than the removal of the ranks of pews, the proposal is for installation of booth seating to the transept galleries, installation of bar areas to the rear and side, and provision of storage and kitchen areas under the galleries to support the use of the main area."

The proposal states that the applicant "strongly believes the building 'speaks for itself' and would need little intervention," with architectural lighting installed to highlight the church's original features. The application does state, however, that after lying empty for four years, "the interior of the building is beginning to suffer with areas of peeling paint, crumbling plaster, condensation, and water ingress."

In the application, it is suggested that the Gaelic church community would be allowed "continued occupation" and use of some halls "on a weekly and ongoing basis." The applicant has also stated that they intend to bring the church organ back into working condition and utilise it for free events, including at Christmas.

Hours of operation would be between 10am and midnight every day, with a range of food offerings available. The applicant, Mr Bradley Mitchell, counts a number of Glasgow's listed buildings as among those in his 'care', according to planning documents, including the Britannia Panopticon music hall.