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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Drew Sandelands

Dennistoun pub The Duke in fresh bid for beer garden as bosses make survival plea

A pub firm is urging the council to approve fresh plans for a beer garden in Dennistoun.

The Duke Bar has submitted a revised proposal for the outdoor area after an application was rejected in March.

Bosses say that traditional pubs must evolve in order to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

A provisional beer garden is currently open at the site under a temporary licence, and the application claims there have been no issues or complaints.

The original application was rejected by council officers, who believed “unacceptable activity levels” could have a “detrimental impact” on neighbours living nearby.

They also said the size and scale of the proposed beer garden was “disproportionate”.

Under the new plans, the number of people able to use the outdoor area at the Duke Street pub has been reduced to 42.

Mark Brooke, director of managed operations at Hawthorn Leisure Ltd, which runs the pub, said: “Pubs are an important part of Glasgow’s social fabric, and, as a community pub company, it is essential we offer a safe environment for people to socialise with friends and family.

“The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on Scotland, and pubs have been adversely affected by limits on the number of customers due to physical distancing and restricted hours. To survive, pubs must evolve.

“Offering improved outdoor space at The Duke for customers and local community to socialise with friends and family safely is part of this evolution.”

Council officers had also said the previous application did not show how seating would be cleared and stored when not in use. A storage area has now been identified.

Licensing lawyer Stephen McGowan, of TLT solicitors, has made a submission to the council on the application.

He said the garden’s capacity of 42 would be within the pub’s licensed capacity of 120, so not an increase in the number of guests allowed at one time.

Licensing conditions would also require the area to be cleared by 10pm.

Mr McGowan said: “On the basis of the various restrictions and conditions which would have to be accepted as part of the licence process, and on the basis of assurances concerning management of space, there are good prospects that the Licensing Board would look favourably on an application to license this space.”

In March, a second application from Hawthorn for a beer garden at La Cala in Dennistoun was also rejected.

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