A cafe in Glasgow’s Southside has launched a new bid to offer shisha smoking — after enforcement officers previously stopped the practice.

Plans have been submitted to Glasgow City Council by Sky Lounge, formerly Dubai Knights, to use part of the Nithsdale Street venue as a shisha cafe.

They claim shisha smoking was rolled out earlier this year as the applicant was “unaware that this addition was not covered by the café consent”.

It is understood the service is not currently offered, following visits from council enforcement officers.

However, it is not the first time officers have stepped in to deal with issues at the site, as a shisha bar previously opened without planning permission.

A retrospective bid to run the shisha bar was refused in November 2020 before plans for a cafe, described as a coffee and dessert bar, were approved in December last year.

An application for a late hours licence for a shisha bar was also rejected in early 2020 following reports of anti-social behaviour including drug use, violence and late night noise.

The new application, under consideration by council planners, stated the operators want to “incorporate a facility for shisha smoking” within the cafe.

It accepted planning consent is required for the change but added it is “entirely understandable that the applicant should have erred in this matter as smoking and vaping are permitted within the cafe use”.

The applicant’s agent also claimed it was “wholly inappropriate” and “disproportionate” for a stop notice to be issued when an application for planning permission was being prepared.

Sky Lounge’s application added: “The introduction of this shisha café on this site is particularly significant as the wider area is home to the largest Muslim population in Scotland, and shisha smoking is a popular leisure activity among this group.  “This is significant as a major theme in the national and local agenda is the pursuit of inclusivity and diversity. Shisha cafes are part of the leisure culture of the Muslim community.”

It stated shisha cafes are “in many respects” the “cultural equivalent of public houses with the added advantage that they do not generate the anti-social behaviour associated with drinking”.

Previous plans for a shisha bar were rejected as officials ruled the opening hours would have an “unacceptable impact” on nearby residents and proposed flues, for cooking odours, would be “detrimental to the character and appearance of the local area”.

At the licensing meeting in January 2020, members rejected a proposal to open Dubai Nights until 2am on Friday and Saturday after objections from residents and local councillors.

Speaking at the time, Cllr Jon Molyneux said the venue was “akin to a nightclub” and there had been reports of anti-social behaviour, including potential drug use, drug dealing and violence.

Objectors also complained about late night noise as customers left the premises. The cafe’s manager admitted people had smoked cannabis outside the building. They had been asked to leave, he said.

If permission to offer shisha smoking is granted, it will be provided within the current approved opening hours for the cafe, which closes at 10pm from Sunday to Thursday and 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

“There will be no negative effects on the surrounding area and residential amenity will not be affected,” the application added.