Vape Shop Opening Next to Mackintosh Tearooms Sparks Fire Safety Fears in Glasgow
A new vape and mobile phone repair store is scheduled to open adjacent to the Mackintosh Tearooms in Glasgow, a building recognized as category A-listed since 1903. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society has appealed to both the Scottish government and Glasgow city council to halt the establishment due to potential fire hazards, citing a recent vape shop fire that led to the destruction of the B-listed Union Corner building six months ago, as well as a 2018 incident at the Glasgow School of Art. Matthew Williams from the Society referred to the tearooms as an architectural treasure. Meanwhile, Glasgow city council emphasized that the shop has had permission to operate for a long time, noting the absence of a licensing framework for vape shops in Scotland. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney criticized the government's slow response to planning reforms.
Key facts
- A vape and mobile phone repair shop is preparing to open next to the Mackintosh Tearooms in Glasgow
- The Mackintosh Tearooms is the last surviving tearoom designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and a 1903 category A-listed building
- The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society called on Glasgow city council and the Scottish government to halt the opening
- A vape shop fire six months ago destroyed the B-listed Union Corner building
- The Scottish fire and rescue service confirmed the Union Corner fire started in a vape shop
- Glasgow city council said the premises had long been granted permission to operate as a shop and there is no licensing framework for vape shops in Scotland
- Labour MSP Paul Sweeney in March called for a ban on vape shops operating in historic buildings
- Street artist Ashley Rawson visited the shop with his 'unexploded vape' sculpture labelled 'burnt heritage flavour'
Entities
Artists
- Ashley Rawson
- Charles Rennie Mackintosh
- Matthew Williams
- Sarah Thomas
- Paul Sweeney
- Billy Joel
Institutions
- Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society
- Glasgow city council
- Scottish government
- Scottish fire and rescue service
- Glasgow School of Art
- Centre for Contemporary Arts
- ABC music venue
- Labour
- Holyrood
- The Guardian
Locations
- Glasgow
- Scotland
- United Kingdom
- Sauchiehall Street