A DRAMATIC West End landmark is slowly but surely being brought back to life.

 

The multi-million pound job of restoring Lansdowne Church began several years ago and could take another decade.

But in April, the opening of a bar and restaurant on the ground floor of the historic building will mark a massive step forward.

The former Church of Scotland property, which is now named Websters, is being run by the Four Acres preservation trust.

Around 30 years ago the trust established Cottiers theatre, bar and restaurant in a former church in Hyndland.

Its aim is now to transform Lansdowne Church, which project director David Robertson describes as one of the most beautiful buildings in Glasgow, into a lively arts and entertainment venue.

So far, the Trust has raised £225,000 in loans and £50,000 in grants but until recently was still £25,000 short of its £300,000 initial financial target.

Before Christmas, it launched a crowdfunding campaign which brought in a further £18,000 leaving it still £7000 short.

However Mr Robertson is confident the bar - and hopefully the bistro - will be able to open to the public in April.

All the profits will go towards funding the massive amount of work which still has to be done to return the building on the banks of the Kelvin to its former glory.

The project includes restoring a stunning stained glass window by Glasgow born Alf Webster after whom the venue is named.

Eight years ago, the Evening Times told hows the priceless 20ft tall work of art had to be carefully dismantled at a cost of £25,000 as it was at risk of collapsing.

It is estimated the cost of restoration will be at least £100,000 and as a result it has been lying in storage ever since.

However Mr Robertson hopes a Lottery application will be successful and that the window, which is made up of thousands of tiny pieces of glass, will be back in its rightful place within the next couple of years.

It was originally installed in 1914 and the Trust would like to see it back in situ before the end of the World War 1 centenary commemorations in 2018.

To ensure disabled and elderly people can get to see it in all its glory, a wheelchair lift will be installed at a cost of £20,000.

The opening of the bar and restaurant will be a welcome addition to the theatre which has already been established in the church.

Mr Robertson said: "The condition of Websters is not nearly as bad as Cottiers was but the building was becoming too much for its congregation to sustain.

"Our idea is to make one of the most beautiful buildings in Glasgow become one of the most lively in the city for arts and entertainment.

"We are fortunate in that Websters stands on Glasgow's famous Great Western Road right above the River Kelvin and next to Kelvinbridge Subway station.

"It is one of the city's best loved landmarks with a slender steeple reputed to be the pointiest in Europe.

"In the long term, we want to restore the building and we want to create a public square at its front entrance with steps down to the river connecting us to the Botanic Gardens and Kelvingrove Museum.

"But right now we just want to get it going and get the life into it by running a theatre space and a meeting place with good food and beverages and a hall upstairs for all sorts of healthy community activity."

At present the upstairs hall is the base for trapeze classes and Tai Chi lessons.

In the process of stripping the church back, Mr Robertson and his team found original decoration which it is hoped will be restored and replicated in other parts of the building.

The wooden floor in the bar will be sanded and varnished and a stone fireplace has been reinstated.

Even the wooden bar gantry has been salvaged from a West End chemist shop which was going to throw it out.

Mr Robertson, who describes 2015 as a crucial year for Websters, said: "We hope to have the bar fully operational by April because we are already 85% of the way there.

"If any building is left empty it is frightening how quickly it can deteriorate so for us the priority was for us to occupy it."

Given it gets the necessary licence, it will operate seven days a week and will be open not only for the theatre audience but for the wider public.

A trust called Fact Three has been set up to oversee the Websters project. Four Acres Charitable Trust (FACT) was set up in 1983 to rescue Downahill Church which is now Cottiers and in 1986, a trading company called FACT TWO was set up which is wholly owed by the charity.

Anyone who wants to donate cash to help with the cost of restoring the building should contact www.webstersglasgow.com