The reopening of George Square is nearing, business owners have had their say on what it means to them

Business owners around George Square say 18 months of construction has hit trade hard, and claim they have struggled to get Glasgow City Council to engage on rates relief while the landmark has been out of action.

With hoardings coming down at the Queen Street end and the revamp now running two months behind schedule, it was originally planned to reopen in August 2026, hospitality owners have also criticised the council's communication. One restaurant director said he was given four days' notice before work began outside his door.

Mario Arcari is the director of La Vita George Square. His restaurant sits at the corner of George Square and relies on consistent foot traffic from Queen Street station heading towards Argyle Street and beyond.

But, with the works right on his doorstep, he said it has had a major impact on business.

He said: “It's been pretty poor trade wise for a while, probably over a year now, but in particular, the last couple of months, just because our side of the square started more recently. So it's definitely gotten worse since then, but in general it has affected pretty badly.”

Gillian Kirkland, right, is the owner of Piper Whisky Bar. She said the bar has felt the brunt of the closures. | Contributed

placeholder image — Gillian Kirkland, right, is the owner of Piper Whisky Bar. She said the bar has felt the brunt of the closures. | Contributed

It is a feeling matched by Gillian Kirkland, owner of the Piper Whisky Bar. The multi-award-winning bar has also felt the brunt of the closures.

Ms Kirkland said: “The closure has really affected customer footfall, from those who just get off at Queen Street station and visit the Piper to those who get dropped off at the door. The work has resulted in pedestrians having to walk a long way round, some just won’t do it.”

Ms Kirkland said that the extensive works have made it difficult for taxi drivers to navigate and that it has kept some customers away from George Square entirely. “With peepholes to see any progress it seems and feels like it's been going on forever,” she added.

There are further concerns about the impact so far and La Vita is one of many businesses affected by the closure to both the square and roads outside that have approached Glasgow City Council for rates relief.

Mr Arcari said: “I've actually been trying to speak to the council about getting some kind of rate relief, because we pay extortionate rates for the privilege of being on George Square but we've also not had that landmark there for so long. We don't mind paying the money for having the landmark. The problem is you take the landmark away and there needs to be some sort of reimbursement for it, but that's not been very forthcoming.”

La Vita occupies a prime spot near George Square | Google Maps

At the Piper, rates have doubled in 2026 and Ms Kirkland said that she has also struggled to get engagement from the council.

“Like all the other hospitality venues who have been treated unfairly we can appeal but in the meantime the higher rates have to be paid. Without usual customer numbers and sales but the same outrageous costs to run a unit this is very difficult,” she said.

There are also fears the works will not finish on time.

Mr Arcari said: “We've been notified that the work outside our bit will be finished by the end of October, but to be honest it doesn't look like it's going to be finished within a month. I don't know what the overall plans are for the reopening. But with the Christmas lights moving down to Glasgow Green and the market moving again, it's not looking like it's going to be a Christmas opening.”

Glasgow City Council said the square will fully reopen in late October. The Square itself had originally been due for completion in August, with an official opening planned for early September, before the council said complexities during construction had pushed the date back.

But both business owners believe the work has been needed, and there is positivity about the impact it could bring to the area.

Mr Arcari said: “It'll be good for the area. I think it's needed a bit of a refresh, to be honest with you. I don't know if it needed a £20 million refresh, but it did need a bit of freshening up. I think it will be good. I hope it does attract people to the square and makes it a prominent landmark again. But it's just more communication when that may happen.”

Ms Kirkland called the reopening 'exciting' but said she wished it could have come sooner.

She said: “I am encouraged by the other side of the square opening, let’s hope there’s no more delays with the rest of it. The full project has run behind schedule. This makes it difficult to plan ahead. I hope the square becomes a destination for those who are in the city.

“I hope that customers will start to visit the area again, sit and enjoy the square and come over and enjoy some great hospitality in the surrounding hospitality venues. When the square has reopened it will be a fantastic place to enjoy the transformation. Hopefully there will be events all year round to encourage those to use the square more.”