16/4/2008King of clubs' multi-screen cinema plan
NIGHTCLUB tycoon Stefan King wants to launch a multi-screen cinema in Glasgow's South Side.
The businessman's G1 group is in talks over returning a building in Shawlands to its former use as a picture house.
The site contains The Cell nightclub, which is no longer in operation.
It once housed The Elephant Cinema, which closed in 1960.
G1, which owns a string of pubs and restaurants in the city confirmed it had already been granted a licence from Glasgow's licensing board for four cinema screens, each seating around 100 people.
But a spokesman stressed discussions and plans were still at an early stage.
It says a cinema is "just one of the options" for the site in Kilmarnock Road.
The firm already runs the successful Grosvenor Cinema in Ashton Lane in the West End.
A G1 spokesman said: "It's very early days. It's one of a number of options we are looking at for the site.
"Obviously we have experience running a cinema and The Grosvenor has been a fantastic success."
The White Elephant cinema, later named The Elephant, opened in 1927 and was designed by H Barnes. It also housed a ballroom before it closed in 1960.
Pollok councillor David Meikle was sitting on the licensing board when the entertainment licence was granted.
He said: "I think it would be great for the South Side and for the residents of Shawlands.
"I think they would try to create the atmosphere of The Grosvenor, where people can go in with a drink."
A city council spokeswoman said an application for four cinema screens was approved in January by the licensing board but so far no planning application had been made.
The South Side was once home to numerous cinemas including The Casino, Cathcart Picture House, The Embassy, Shawlands Picturehouse and the Palladium.
Mr King transformed the former Waverley Cinema in Moss Side Road into the Tusk bar and Waverley Tea Rooms five years ago.
The businessman's G1 group is in talks over returning a building in Shawlands to its former use as a picture house.
The site contains The Cell nightclub, which is no longer in operation.
It once housed The Elephant Cinema, which closed in 1960.
G1, which owns a string of pubs and restaurants in the city confirmed it had already been granted a licence from Glasgow's licensing board for four cinema screens, each seating around 100 people.
But a spokesman stressed discussions and plans were still at an early stage.
It says a cinema is "just one of the options" for the site in Kilmarnock Road.
The firm already runs the successful Grosvenor Cinema in Ashton Lane in the West End.
A G1 spokesman said: "It's very early days. It's one of a number of options we are looking at for the site.
"Obviously we have experience running a cinema and The Grosvenor has been a fantastic success."
The White Elephant cinema, later named The Elephant, opened in 1927 and was designed by H Barnes. It also housed a ballroom before it closed in 1960.
Pollok councillor David Meikle was sitting on the licensing board when the entertainment licence was granted.
He said: "I think it would be great for the South Side and for the residents of Shawlands.
"I think they would try to create the atmosphere of The Grosvenor, where people can go in with a drink."
A city council spokeswoman said an application for four cinema screens was approved in January by the licensing board but so far no planning application had been made.
The South Side was once home to numerous cinemas including The Casino, Cathcart Picture House, The Embassy, Shawlands Picturehouse and the Palladium.
Mr King transformed the former Waverley Cinema in Moss Side Road into the Tusk bar and Waverley Tea Rooms five years ago.
I think this is a good idea as I have young teenage children myself and I'm not keen on them going into town on a saturday evening to go to the cinema. I think that its on a prime site (better than Muirend) and there's isn't enough for children @ an inbetween age to do!! Fingers crossed that it goes through.