AN ITALIAN restaurant is to move into a vacant restaurant unit in Glasgow Central Station.

Prezzo will take over Unit 16 with a roof terrace above Krispy Kremes and Costa in the station where Bonapartes used to be.

An exact date of opening is not yet known.

Glasgow City Council’s Licensing Board officially granted the company an alcohol licence for the premises on Friday.

Concerns were raised about potential underage drinking so a limit of 10pm for unaccompanied minors was set.

Chloe Postlethwaite, lawyer representing the restaurant chain, said: “A new Prezzo restaurant would be a welcome addition to the station.

“This is especially for people coming through, as I don’t think Glasgow Central Station has an area where people can have a sit-down meal.

“It’d be a great new addition.”

Prezzo only just announced in March it was to close one of its Glasgow stores at the Fort.

However, the city centre train station may be an easier sell than in the Fort at Easterhouse.

It is not known exactly how many jobs it will bring but most Prezzos have around nine to 14 staff, the restaurant said in March.

Councillors also heard how Prezzo wishes to put on the occasional live performance.

Ms Postlethwaite argued for all guests to be served alcohol until 1am

However, councillors raised concerns about potential unaccompanied 17-year-olds being able to drink there until late.

Councillor Matt Kerr, chair of the Licensing Board, said: “Teenagers on date nights is perfectly easonable, of course. The question mark is over whether they would be able to sit there until 1am on their own?”

As a result, the lawyer put in a change to the application to say unaccompanied under-18s would be ejected at 10am.

Ms Postlethwaite added: “There will be measures in place and staff in the restaurant at all times.

“The idea is to allow 16, 17-year- have a meal and sit down and have a nice time.

“If there were any troublemakers, Prezzo would have a policy to deal with that.

“It’s not anything outwith what the usual restaurant expectations are.”

Prezzo was granted a licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 1am.