The venue that was once the Arches is set to re-open in October with organisers saying that club nights titled, ‘The New World’ which will include nine shows, would run from 21 October including sets from well-known DJ’s. The new series of club nights is a collaboration between Watchtower and Platform – who took over The Arches as a bar, restaurant 3 years ago.
Tom Ketley, founder of events organiser Watchtower, told BBC Scotland the project was designed to give Glasgow back “one of its sleeping giants”.
He said, “The launch of a new large-scale event series in the city centre will bring job opportunities, boost the local economy, and most importantly provide a music space for the next generation to enjoy.
“The venue’s history is renowned, and it holds a special place in people’s hearts, so we know that today’s news will mean so much to so many.”
Platform said on social media, “Well Glasgow, now the news is out we’re thrilled to officially share that we will be the home for the city’s newest independent dance music series, New World Glasgow.
“We’re so excited to finally be bringing events of this nature back to our iconic arches, and can’t wait to host our new residents from New World and Watchtower Group for their 9 date series with some of the scenes freshest and current DJ acts”.
The Arches, so named because of its position ‘under the Arches’ at Glasgow’s Central station first opened its doors in 1991 with an exhibition called Glasgow’s Glasgow” as part of the city’s Year of Culture celebrations before being taken over by Andy Arnold to launch The Arches Theatre Company.
At 84,000 square feet the exhibition space needed funding support and so Arnold decided to hold nightclub events and these nights went on to fund one of Scotland’s leading cultural venues.
It was loved by many, with well-known names from Liz Lochead to Franz Ferdinand signing the petition to keep it open after the Glasgow’s licensing board set a midnight closing time following police complaints about drug abuse and disorder leading to it falling into administration in 2015.
It re-opened as a café and bakery in 2018 and then as Platform in 2020 as a 350-capacity restaurant, bar and events space.
Picture credit: Watchtower