The building that housed one of Glasgow’s best-loved pubs has been largely demolished, more than three years after The Admiral Bar closed its doors.
Photographs taken this week show the remains of the Waterloo Street building surrounded by rubble, with demolition machinery working on the site.
For generations of Glaswegians, The Admiral was a familiar part of the city’s nightlife. It was a place for lunchtime drinks, live music, club nights and encounters with some of Scotland’s biggest entertainers.
The pub closed on 11 March 2023 after becoming caught up in plans to redevelop the site. Its operators had fought to keep the business open, but were ultimately forced to leave the building.
Pic: Eddie Coyle
Now, after years of changing proposals and planning disputes, the site is earmarked for a 19-storey student accommodation development.
The Admiral’s history stretches back to 1969, when it opened with a nautical theme inspired by an old sailing ship.
Its original lounge featured brass portholes, wood panelling and deep red seating.
One of its earliest musicians to play there was accordion player Steve Blaney, who performed alongside drummer George Picken.
Blaney later recalled playing Friday and Saturday nights in the lounge, which had been designed as a comfortable place for couples to enjoy music and a drink.
The pub evolved over the following decades, becoming particularly important to Glasgow’s independent music scene.
Its basement venue hosted everything from indie bands and dance music to comedy, charity fundraisers and club nights.
Among its best-known events was Pretty Ugly, the long-running club night organised by broadcaster and promoter Aarti Joshi.
Melting Pot, Strangeways and Madchester were among the other events associated with the venue.
The Admiral also developed a reputation as a place where well-known musicians and entertainers could enjoy a night out without attracting too much attention.
Famous visitors over the years included Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Paolo Nutini, Gerard Butler and members of Franz Ferdinand.
The pub hosted a launch party for Franz Ferdinand’s debut album and became known for its annual David Bowie fundraising nights.
Proposals to redevelop the Waterloo Street buildings emerged in 2015, initially involving the construction of a modern office block.
Planning permission was eventually granted for a 14-storey office development in 2018, with a proposed café and restaurant at street level.
Other plans followed, including a residential scheme that was refused permission in 2022.
The uncertainty culminated in February 2023 when The Admiral’s owners announced they would be closing the following month.
Inside The Admiral
Dave Ross, who had been involved with the business for almost 18 years, said the decision had been deeply upsetting.
“It became apparent to us pretty quickly that the developers didn’t want us there and that’s a difficult situation, we’ve absolutely no scope in getting the lease renewed and there’s a point where we all have to give up fighting.
“It’s just one of these things, I’ve not got any rancour or bitterness. I just wish the City Fathers would have actually honoured their own thoughts on mixed-use projects. I don’t think they think of the implication for the wee guy.”
Its final weeks brought regulars, musicians and former customers back together for a series of farewell gatherings.
The Admiral name did not disappear entirely. The business subsequently reopened as The Admiral Woods at 29 Waterloo Street, taking over the former Woods Bar and Kitchen premises closer to Glasgow Central Station.
Meanwhile, the redevelopment proposals continued to evolve. In May 2024, Varsity Developments submitted detailed plans for a 19-storey building containing 350 student bedrooms.
Designed by architects Cooper Cromar, the scheme includes a cinema, gym, sports hall, virtual reality and gaming facilities, podcast rooms, karaoke spaces and roof terraces.
The proposals also involve the restoration of one of Waterloo Street’s most distinctive historic buildings.
The neighbouring Distillers’ Building at 64 Waterloo Street was designed by architect James Chalmers between 1898 and 1900 for whisky merchants Wright & Greig.
Its elaborate red sandstone frontage is Category B listed and includes decorative architectural features reflecting the prosperity of Glasgow’s whisky industry.
The development will retain the building’s historic frontage and restore lost features, including a prominent corner dome.
The tenement building that housed The Admiral, however, was not individually listed and was approved for demolition.
The student accommodation plans became the subject of an appeal after Glasgow City Council failed to issue a planning decision within the required period.
Council planners raised concerns about the development’s scale and its impact on the surrounding Central Conservation Area.
In June 2025, Scottish Government-appointed planning reporter Rosie Leven allowed the appeal, granting permission for the scheme.
The approval cleared a significant hurdle for the redevelopment, although additional consents and planning conditions also applied.
The demolition work now taking place marks another stage in a process that began more than a decade ago.
Where generations of Glaswegians once gathered for a pint, listened to music and danced into the early hours, the approved plans envisage hundreds of student bedrooms.
The Admiral’s place in Glasgow’s social and music history remains.