High-rise student flats plan on Waterloo Street in Glasgow to incorporate part of old Admiral pub

A plan for a 19-storey student flat block with podcast and karaoke rooms will incorporate an iconic Glasgow pub, say developers.

Varsity Developments have drawn up an application for 350 student flats which involve demolishing a listed building on Waterloo Street.

The exterior of the iconic Admiral pub – a B-listed Distillers’ building – would be “incorporated” and an unlisted tenement building knocked down as part of the plans.

The pub was forced to close in March last year due to the site being redeveloped. Owners have since reopened in the former home of The Woods close to Central Station.

The Admiral pub on Glasgow's Waterloo St. — The Admiral pub on Glasgow’s Waterloo St. STV News

The developers plans include provisions for a sports hall, greenhouse room, gym, cinema room, karaoke, e-games and VR rooms, podcast and sensory rooms, plus a number of roof terraces.

Glasgow City Council planners denied permission for a high-rise flats development at the site in 2022 but consent was given in 2018 for a 14-storey office block.

Varsity Developments plan for student flats on Waterloo Street Varsity Developments

The application states: “The proposal to retain the front part of the Distiller’s Building, noted for its high heritage significance, while demolishing the rear part reflects a balanced approach to heritage conservation and urban development, aiming to safeguard the building’s cultural legacy while fostering sustainable growth and revitalisation in the surrounding area.”

The plans are due to go before Glasgow City Council planners.