FAQ
Here are some common questions about the work of the Glasgow City Centre Team.
Business and investment
“I’m a business and would like to use the space on the pavement”
Cafe culture has been growing massively in the city centre in the last few years. It adds a great vibe to the city centre.
If you want to use the pavement outside your premises to boost your business and bring more life to the city centre, don’t forget that you’ll need a few permissions first:
- Roads – check out the Street Cafe Annual Agreement
- Licencing – if you are a public house you will have to discuss your application with the Licensing Section
- Planning – you may need to apply for planning permission
“I’m an investor and want to see what Glasgow has to offer.”
As the biggest city in Scotland and the powerhouse of the nation, Glasgow is full of opportunities. Invest Glasgow is the best place to understand what we have to offer.
Other more specialised online sources of information:
- Glasgow Chamber of Commerce champions the city’s business sector.
- Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s main economic development agency, is based in Glasgow.
- Business Gateway provide advice and support to people wanting to start or grow a business in Glasgow.
- City Property Glasgow is a good place to start if you’re interested in property.
- If you’re into data, Glasgow’s stats dashboard shows you at a glance just what the city has to offer.
Resident
“I live in the city centre and want to make my neighbourhood cleaner, safer and greener.”
Living in the city centre means you’re right at the heart of everything. Most of that’s good, but sometimes there’ll be things that you’ll want to improve.
If you want to help make your local community, your Community Council is a good place to start. They are the voice of the local community, and would love to hear from you. Most of the city centre is covered by one of four Community Councils: Anderston, Garnethill, Merchant City and Townhead. They’re a good way of getting to know the local community and helping to get community initiatives off the ground.
If you have specific problems that you want to resolve, try these links:
- Crime or antisocial behaviour: Community Safety Glasgowor Police Scotland
- Litter, graffiti, dumping, flyposting, dog fouling: Glasgow City Council Public Healthor Clean Glasgow
- Noise issues: Community Safety Glasgowfor noise from domestic property, Glasgow City Council for noise from commercial property
- Roads and lighting faults: Glasgow City Council
- Water mains leakage or bursts: Scottish Water
“How do I get home after a late night out?”
Traveline Scotland has full details of all late night buses. If you’re looking for a taxi, try Glasgow Taxis.
On Friday and Saturday nights between 11pm and 4am, the city centre has three NiteZones with Homesafe Marshals to manage safe environments for getting taxis. You can find the NiteZones at:
- Gordon Street– opposite Glasgow Central
- Sauchiehall Street– outside The Garage nightclub
- Albion Street– opposite Merchant Square
Artist or Community Group
“I’m an artist or a community group. I want to do an event or installation in an empty space.”
If you’d like to use a park or a public area, please obtain permission from Glasgow City Council.
If you want to busk on the street, please abide by the Glasgow City Council’s street performers’ guide to good practice and code of good practice.
If it’s an empty building that you’re interested in using, you’ll need to find out who the owner is and then contact them. A good place to start is the Scottish Assessors Association: if you ‘search for rateable value’ by street or postcode, you can see the occupier of any non-domestic building.
Visitor
“I’m a visitor and I want to explore the city centre.”
You’re in good company. Glasgow welcomed 2.7 million tourists in 2014, who between them spent £687 million. There’s lots to explore – enjoy yourself!
People Make Glasgow is the official guide to the city. It’s full of information about what’s on, where to go, and things to do.
“How do I get home after a late night out?”
Traveline Scotland has full details of all late night buses. If you’re looking for a taxi, try Glasgow Taxis.
On Friday and Saturday nights between 11pm and 4am, the city centre has three NiteZones with Homesafe Marshals to manage safe environments for getting taxis. You can find the NiteZones at:
- Gordon Street– opposite Glasgow Central
- Sauchiehall Street– outside The Garage nightclub
- Albion Street– opposite Merchant Square
"Where is the nearest public toilet in the city centre?"
There are a number of public toilets in Glasgow. A list of the current sites together with opening times can be found at the flowing link:
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18229
There is also a location map available at:
https://glasgowgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fe3a2ebe039442cdb319682135320110
Still need help? Get in touch
For any other questions or to suggest a topic that we could cover here, please write to us at [email protected] or call us on
0141 287 6540