A NEW nightclub has opened its doors in Glasgow's Merchant City - in the basement of a massive leisure complex.

Last night's grand opening of Byblos is one of the final pieces in the jigsaw for Merchant Square, already home to a range of restaurants and bars.

Byblos, which has its own cinema-styled entrance on Albion Street, involves legendary Glasgow club promoter Darren Laurie, whose dad Fraser runs Glasgow institution Babbity Bowster, and Kevin Maguire, of Merchant City Properties.

Planning permission was eventually granted in 2004 after concern from residents over noise issues, but it was only last year the club began to take shape.

It occupies around three-quarters of the basement of the courtyard-style complex and has a capacity for around 900 clubbers.

The remaining section has been earmarked for a cafe which includes a glass walkway from the ground floor.

Club boss Darren, who has been involved in a number of city venues including Cube and the Corinthian, said: "It really is the final piece in the jigsaw.

"The area needed a destination such as ours to keep people here.

"We have three different rooms with a mixture of house, commercial and a more exclusive area as well."

Bosses were quick to allay local residents' noise fears.

Darren added: "We have installed the best sound system in Scotland and the club itself has been designed in such a way noise will not be an issue for the surrounding area."

Jim Thomson, who runs Merchant Square, is delighted to see the nightclub open.

He said: "The opening of the club marks one of the final hurdles for us."