The Roundhouse & Rotunda

Glasgow is set to welcome a world-class new entertainment hub and events venue as Forrest Hotels unveil plans to transform the decaying North Rotunda.

The owners of the multi-award-winning Radisson Red hotel bought the building in June 2023 and plan to invest £15million to transform the old building over three levels into ‘The Roundhouse’ on the ground floor and ‘The Rotunda’, on the upper floors, while carefully restoring and enhancing the historic features of the original structure.

Forrest have taken inspiration from Nashville’s world-famous live music circuit to design a stunning new ground floor space, designed with live performance in mind – with two upper floors created for hosting weddings, conferences and events.

The versatile new venue with state-of-the-art bespoke sound and lighting systems will feature a new extension and external stairwell, allowing the building to meet modern building regulations and standards.

The stunning design preserves and showcases the original features, like the cast iron and glass cupola and original round open-plan floors.

The new incarnation will be made up of two distinct venues – The Roundhouse on the ground floor and The Rotunda on the two floors above.

Glasgow’s newest live music and entertainment venue will be created on the ground floor of the building. A new ground floor extension will accommodate The Roundhouse with a stunning bar set against the backdrop of the SEC, Hydro, Armadillo and Finnieston Crane.

The Rotunda first floor will be a lounge and pre-event space with an outside terrace, retaining the existing floor to ceiling windows and offering amazing views. The second floor is the heart of the venue, a large open space showcasing the full 360-degree windows and original cast iron cupola, with an almost eight-metre high roof at the centre. Capacity can be up to 500 for larger events or around 200 to 300 for seated, table-service events like conferences and weddings.

Our proposals will create 60 much needed new jobs for the city, with The Roundhouse and Rotunda intended to launch early in 2026 subject to planning consents and statutory approvals.

Middlefield Road, Falkirk

Forrest Developments in a joint venture with Dawn Developments have purchased the 18 acre former Forth Valley College site in Falkirk. Phase 1 demolition and site clearance works were completed in May 2021. The Phase 2 works removing the final building will commence in spring 2023 opening up the entire site for strategic redevelopment.

Tulloch Street, Dingwall

Proposed 20,000 sq ft retail unit for Home Bargains with associated external works and pedestrian linkage path from the town centre to the river walkway. Detailed planning consent was issued in February 2022 with construction works due to commence in September 2022.

Forres Road, Nairn – Phase 2B – McDonalds

Phase 2B extension of the existing retail park at Balmakeith comprising the development of a 4,000 sq ft McDonalds unit and additional car parking. Detailed Planning Permission was issued in March 2019 with construction works completing in December 2019.

West Park Retail Phase 1A, Blairgowrie

Phase 1A development works consisting of a 25,000 sq ft shell retail unit for Home Bargains, A93 road improvement works, infrastructure works to facilitate the adjacent LIDL supermarket, Starbucks Drive Thru and provision of serviced plots for future development phases.

Forres Road, Nairn – Phase 2A Home Bargains

Phase 2A extension of the existing retail park at Balmakeith comprising the development of a 20,000 sq ft Homebargains unit and additional car parking. Detailed Planning Permission was issued in March 2019 with construction works completing in Spring 2020.

Finnieston Quay, Glasgow

8th December 2015

Glasgow City Council planning permission granted, CLICK HERE for more details.

8th September 2015

RELATED ARTICLE: The Radisson Red

16th June 2015

Forrest Hotels will shortly be submitting a detailed planning application to Glasgow City Council for a 176 bed 4 star hotel with parking facilities, bar, restaurant, Sky Bar, gym and event spaces. The ADF Architects designed development will complement the surrounding architecture and provide additional facilities adjacent to the SSE Hydro arena and SECC complex. Should planning  permission be granted, works are likely to commence on site early in 2016 with the hotel scheduled to open by September 2017. Forrest Hotels will be entering a management agreement with an international hotel operator. The chosen hotel brand will be the first newly constructed hotel of its type in Europe when completed.

RELATED ARTICLE: Public Event held for New Finnieston Quay Hotel Development

16th December 2013

Forrest have purchased a 1.4 acre site adjacent to the River Clyde and SECC complex in the centre of Glasgow (area shaded above in red).

Demolition and site clearance works have already been completed and plans are being prepared for an iconic development comprising a mixed-use scheme incorporating a hotel with adjacent office, leisure and retail uses.

Sainsbury’s Westfield Road, Edinburgh

Forrest Developments purchased this city centre site, which extends to approximately 6.5 acres, in the Spring of 2004. Following a lengthy planning application process, during which time the exsiting bonded warehouses on the site were demolished, detailed planning consent was granted for a 107,000 sq. ft. retail development in 2006. In March 2007 work commenced on site and the supermarket opened for trade on 6th December 2007.

It was Sainsbury’s original intention to take an 80,000 sq. ft. store, however during construction operations they decided to lease the whole development, making it their largest store in Scotland at the time.

Seafield Road, Edinburgh

Forrest acquired this property in October 2005 to add to the investment portfolio based on the potential scope for medium term redevelopment. The property benefited from an open use planning consent, in an excellent location within Leith. This acquisition continued the expansion of Forrest’s investment activities.

The unit provides approximately 20,000 sq ft of floorspace on one level with 87 parking spaces.

After securing planning consent for refurbishment of the unit and external areas, Forrest sold the property in June 2012 to an owner operator.

Castle Retail Park, Stirling

Forrest Developments purchased this city centre site, which extends to approximately 6.5 acres, in the Spring of 2004. Following a lengthy planning application process, during which time the exsiting bonded warehouses on the site were demolished, detailed planning consent was granted for a 107,000 sq. ft. retail development in 2006. In March 2007 work commenced on site and the supermarket opened for trade on 6th December 2007.

It was Sainsbury’s original intention to take an 80,000 sq. ft. store, however during construction operations they decided to lease the whole development, making it their largest store in Scotland at the time.