PUB chain JD Wetherspoon is to spend nearly £3 million transforming a historic South Side building. 

The national giant is to open a new outlet in the A-listed former Tusk and Waverley Tearooms in Shawlands. 

Formerly owned by G1 Group, the two Shawlands favourites closed in 2017 with G1 owner Stefan King saying Glasgow City Council's strict licensing laws were to blame for their demise. The Moss Side Road building has sat empty since. 

Glasgow Times: Tusk Nightclub in Shawlands Picture: Kirsty AndersonTusk Nightclub in Shawlands Picture: Kirsty Anderson

The new pub will replace an existing Spoons in the Shawlands Arcade, which is being redeveloped.

Confirmation comes on the day the chain has announced plans to open 18 new venues across the UK, while upgrading hundreds of existing outlets. 

Chairman and founder Tim Martin said: “Our immediate  investment will provide work for architects, contractors and builders as well as result in 2,000 new jobs for staff in our pubs. We are geared up to start on the first projects within a few months.

“We are also committed to our long-term investment and job creation programme over the next decade. However, the investment is conditional on the UK opening back up again on a long-term basis, with no further lockdowns or the constant changing of rules.”

The opening date for the new Glasgow pub will be announced in due course.