GLASGOW'S Hard Rock Cafe is officially open.

The glittering new Buchanan Street restaurant joins 138 other cafes around the world - and is only the second in Scotland.

Builders have been working for months to transform the former Athenaeum Theatre on Buchanan Street into the latest rock n' roll venue.

And today at noon the venue finally opened to the public.

Marc Carey, European Marketing Director for Hard Rock Cafe, said: "We are thrilled to have opened our doors in Glasgow this morning.

"The new cafe looks fantastic with some superb international and local artist memorabilia. We can't wait to welcome Glaswegians and visitors to this great city over the coming days and into the future."

Hard Rock Cafes are known for displaying items belonging to some of the world's biggest stars.

The Glasgow venture is no exception, with Sir Elton's shoes and AC/DC guitarist Angus Young's velvet schoolboy outfit lining the walls.

It also features a snakeskin jacket belonging to Keith Richards, which was worn by the Rolling Stone during the 1978 Some Girls tour.

A silk suit worn by Rod Stewart will be on show, as well as E-Street band saxophonist Clarence Clemons' bagpipes and kilt.

Scottish stars are well represented with music fans able to catch a glimpse of items belonging to Amy Macdonald, Alex Harvey, KT Tunstall, the Bay City Rollers and Primal Scream.

The cafe has indoor and outdoor dining areas with a Rock Wall Solo, an interactive touch wall with technology that allows fans to explore the world's greatest rock 'n' roll collection and virtually tour the company's venues around the world.

It will also have a music stage for live weekly events and a merchandise filled Rock Shop.

The cafe has already caused a stir in the city, well before its opening date.

In the first 24 hours of a recruitment drive to find 80 "passionate, rock 'n' roll characters," more than 4000 people applied.

And bosses had to shut the application process down when 5560 would-be staff members applied to the chain.