Owners of Glasgow wedding venue ‘deeply disappointed’ after planning bid rejected

The owners of a Glasgow wedding and events venue have said they are “deeply disappointed” after councillors rejected a retrospective planning application for the second time.

Nikki Fairfull and Afton Ferguson, co-owners of The Haberdashery, based at 545 Sauchiehall Street, have warned that the decision could force the business to close, even though it has operated as an events space since opening in 2022.

The venue already had planning permission to operate as a restaurant from 12pm until 11pm, seven days a week, but had also been hosting functions and events without consent for that additional use.

At a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, councillors were split over whether the retrospective application should be approved, with four voting in favour and four against.

Chairman Councillor Ken Andrew then cast the deciding vote, resulting in the application being refused.

During the committee hearing, objecting residents described the impact of noise from the venue, with one resident saying loud music, thumping and noise from patrons could be heard throughout their flat.

Following the decision, the owners disputed the concerns raised by residents living above the venue.

They told STV News: “Objecting residents from two flats came forward to give their account, but it was not stated that they had in fact rejected the multiple attempts we, as owners, had made to engage with them to find a solution.

“They also rejected the opportunity to allow any noise testing from their flat to determine if there was any audible noise from within their property and confirmed themselves that they had not allowed Environmental Health officers into their property.

“It is also important to note that the complaining residents in the flat above moved in in 2024 – two years after we had started operating.

“Despite there being a planning issue, we have been a fully licensed premises since opening, which places the agent of change principle on them.”

The owners have also raised concerns about the council’s handling of their applications and said they were disappointed with the latest decision.

They said the move leaves the future of The Haberdashery uncertain, and warned that the venue could become “another boarded-up building” on Sauchiehall Street.

They said: “Ultimately, we are deeply disappointed in the decision-making process that the council uses.

“There is no desire to understand the businesses that they are deciding the fate of, and they make no effort to hold their planning officers responsible for the information that they bring forward about these businesses.

“Since becoming a business on Sauchiehall Street, all we have heard are positive things from the council about regeneration and promises to support the businesses that are already in the area, while supporting new ones.

“Glasgow City Council has once again proved that all it can do is over-promise for our city and under-deliver.”