A delegation of high-level business leaders and stakeholders including Alisdair Gunn, director of Glasgow City Innovation District and Marc Crothall, CEO of The Scottish Tourism Alliance, visited hybrid hospitality pioneer The Social Hub Glasgow, marking three months since the landmark mixed-use development opened as part of the transformation of Merchant City’s Candleriggs Square.
Combining student and extended stay living with a stylish hotel, co-working, meeting & events spaces and eat and drink facilities open to all, The Social Hub Glasgow has “surpassed all expectations” with strong take up from diverse blended audiences. These include students to travellers, local businesses and the wider community, brought together through a comprehensive purpose-driven community experience programme. According to The Social Hub’s founder and CEO Charlie MacGregor, who is an Edinburgh native, “The magic is all in the mix, which brings significant value to the local economy.”
Charlie MacGregor gave a tour of the building and Q&A, joined by leaders from organisations including Scottish Cities Alliance, CBRE, University of Strathclyde, University of Edinburgh, Buccleuch Property, Cruden Homes, Codebase and 7N Architects.
The event coincided with in a 12-hour Movement Challenge at The Social Hub Glasgow for World Refugee Day. A bike was located in the lobby of the hub for everyone to pick their distance to raise awareness and funds for Movement on the Ground (MOTG), a non-profit organisation co-founded by Charlie, marking a 12-hour continuous day of movement by The Social Hub’s community members.
Charlie added: “It’s been great fun showing off TSH Glasgow, after such an amazing collaboration with the City of Glasgow and our local partners we can now see and feel what a great community we have here. I’m pleased to say we have been welcomed with open arms by the neighbourhood. The first three months have been great, and the team have done a fantastic job of operating and handling the high demand for all our spaces. It was an honour to bring together this group of leading figures to network and see first-hand what The Social Hub is all about.”
“It was also an opportunity to highlight the important work of Movement on the Ground, a cause which is close to my heart, supporting forcibly displaced people in war, natural disasters and conflicts to be self-sustainable. Social value underpins everything we do at The Social Hub.”
Alisdair Gunn – Director of Glasgow City Innovation District, commented: “The arrival of The Social Hub to the Glasgow City Innovation District marks a transformative moment for the City. It has become a beacon of community spirit and creative innovation within the District and is destined to become a cornerstone of Glasgow’s social landscape.”
