Savills says 2018 was the year of restaurants for Glasgow

The company dubbed 2018 the ‘year of the independent leisure operator’ in the city with 13 local restaurants opening throughout the year, compared to the arrival of only four national operators.

Highlights include: Stack & Still, the UK’s largest urban pancake restaurant, unveiling new premises on West George Street; La Vita Spuntini opening on Gordon Street; and So L.A, a Californian-inspired restaurant and bar, on Mitchell Street.

The four national restaurant/bar operators to launch in the city in 2018 include Vapiano, Absurd Bird, Revolution and KFC.

Who will be the driving force of Glasgow’s casual dining scene in 2019 remains to be seen and Savills points to a number of scheduled openings already underway.

These include The Ivy opening on Buchanan Street, Benihana on West Nile Street, Project Pizza launching on Union Street and Catch on St Vincent Street.

John Menzies, director of the retail team at Savills in Scotland, said: “Glasgow’s casual dining scene has changed dramatically over the last five years and today if you walk around the city you can find a mix of options catering for every appetite.

"Some streets in the city centre - such as St Vincent Street and Miller Street - are unrecognisable to how they looked a few years ago, such has been the influx of new restaurant brands.

"Restaurant rents in Glasgow grew sharply between 2014–2017 as operators competed for the best sites.

"However, in 2018 we saw rents fall by approximately 10 per cent to a prime level of £35-£40 per sq ft.

"This is reflective of the turbulent year 2018 was for the restaurant market nationally, with slowing expansion and receiverships of Carluccios, Jamie`s Italian, Handmade Burger Co and Prezzo pointing to ongoing pressure on margins in the sector.

"The arrival of a number of local operators launching in the city despite these wider headwinds is good news for Glasgow and a sign of the strength of the city’s leisure market."