A ‘DESTINATION’ pasta restaurant is being proposed for the ground floor of Glasgow City Centre’s iconic Rennie Mackintosh Herald building.

The eatery will trade under the name Sugo and be owned by the same company behind the nationally-acclaimed Paesano pizza outlets in the city. If approved, it would have 220 seats plus a bar area.

The premises in Mitchell Street, at Mitchell Lane, were designed by renowned architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and constructed in the 1890s as a newspaper office. The Lighthouse architecture and design centre is part of the building.

A statement submitted to Glasgow planning department by Bennett Developments and Consulting explains: “The new venture will specialise in pastas and will offer the same high quality fare for which they are famous, in a tasteful modern interior setting for which they are equally well known.

“The restaurant concept will have open plan preparation and cooking areas where customers can view their meals being cooked. The pasta will be an artisan product freshly made on the premises every day, and the customers will be able to see the production process as they dine.”

The main entrance will be via the ornate corner door which leads into an octagonal space which forms the base of the main tower. The restaurant will extend along the length of the Mitchell Street elevation.

The statement continues: “The use of this corner building in an area of the city centre which does not enjoy a heavy footfall or bustle will see this part of Mitchell Street transformed. Since the Lighthouse first opened in 1999, its presence has helped to promote the area, in particular Mitchell Lane, but the lack of a quality occupier of this corner property has always diluted the advances which have been made.

“This development will address this omission by delivering a dynamic and innovative eating experience and build on the works of Mackintosh to produce a quality destination eatery in this quality building. The footfall and pedestrian activity will animate the area, and in the darker evenings, the splay of light through the fine Mackintosh windows will illuminate the street and lane and in the process bring a sense of safety and wellbeing to this normally dark area of town.

“This development will provide the missing link between Gordon Street. Mitchell Street, Mitchell Lane and Buchanan Street, the fulcrum around which this pedestrian movement can flourish.”

Applications by Enoteca Scotland Ltd have been made for change of use and listed building alterations and are pending consideration by city planners.