CONSTRUCTION work is underway on a project to create a bar, restaurant and events space in Glasgow’s famous Beresford building.
Pacific Building is delivering the Sauchiehall Street project. Designed by Glasgow practice Allison Architecture, the offering will feature a 1930s-style cocktail bar, complete with a unique self-service area, statement lights, pastel and metallics décor scheme and a mural by Australian artist Catherine Abel.
The Beresford Lounge will occupy a ground-floor space and will also boast a restaurant showcasing Scottish and British dishes using locally sourced produce.
For Pacific, who are based in Hillington, it will provide the opportunity to showcase their expertise with bespoke manufactured joinery fittings.
Daniel Halasz, the owner of the new Beresford Lounge, said, “We’re really excited to finally start refurbishments. Despite the current pandemic and other events that affected venues on the street, we believe in our long-term vision and success of Beresford Lounge.”
The Beresford – named after architect William Beresford Inglis and built originally as a hotel – opened in 1938 to coincide with the Empire Exhibition and is now a Category-B listed building. It was the location of an address by John F Kennedy to 150 American survivors of the sinking of the Govan-built passenger liner SS Athenia, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland in September 1939, killing 117 people. The Americans had been taken to the Beresford and put up there following the attack. The building then went on to house troops during World War Two. A private function room in the new lounge will be named in JFK’s honour.
More recently, it was turned into student accommodation and for the past few years has housed a number of serviced apartments.
Pacific plans to hand over the completed project ready for its scheduled opening on May 1.
Pacific Building MD Gerard McMahon said, “This is truly a landmark project – working on one of the city’s most famous and visually striking buildings. We are sure the Beresford Lounge will be a stylish and welcome addition to the city’s premier street and to the local social scene.”
