Eusebi Deli granted permission to open new venue in former bank on Glasgow's Gibson Street

A popular Glasgow restaurant’s plan to turn a former bank in the city’s west end into a new venue has been given the go ahead.

Eusebi Deli has secured permission from Glasgow City Council to convert a Gibson Street building which has been empty for around ten years.

The family-run Italian restaurant firm, which has premises nearby on Park Road, has promised to “bring new life” to the “eyesore” property.

Planning approval was previously granted in February 2020 but work was delayed by the Covid pandemic and the permission lapsed.

A fresh application, submitted in March, stated it is now “financially viable” for the project to restart. Under the plan, the old United Bank building will become a restaurant and wine bar, creating an estimated 18 jobs.

Plans submitted on behalf of Eusebi Deli added: “The property has been vacant for almost ten years, which is down to a nationwide ongoing trend of banks leaving the high street.

“The building has been neglected for some time resulting in the interior and the shopfront falling into disrepair. The site is now an eyesore.”

They stated the applicants are “desperate” to get on with the project as they are “over the hump of the financial difficulties” caused by the pandemic.

“The premises are a bit of a blot on the landscape within this west end street,” the plans continued. “The proposed refurbishment will ensure the streetscape is tidy and more appealing to its users.”

The Eusebi family has been running businesses in the city for over 70 years. The application stated Eusebi Deli has a “reputation for its quality of food and homemade Italian cakes and pastries”.

One objection to the plan was sent to the council, raising concerns over the “means of venting cooking fumes” and an overprovision of food and drink premises [class three] on Gibson Street.

Council planners said the proposed ventilation was “initially confirmed in the 2020 consent and is considered acceptable pending the submission of updated technical information and demonstration of the efficacy of the installed system”.

They added there will be “overprovision of class three uses on Gibson Street” but it is “considered acceptable in this instance given the long-term vacancy of the unit and the consent granted in 2020 which was unable to be implemented owing to external factors such as flooding and the pandemic”.

The new premises are expected to trade between 8.30am and 11.30pm seven days per week.