A £40,000 coffee shop is to open in the refurbished Hillhead Subway station - and it could net Glasgow's transport agency more than £410,000.

Tinderbox will transform part of the entrance to the Byres Road station and the shop will open next spring, creating four full-time and six part-time jobs.

The 15-year lease could generate an annual rent of £27,500, a total of £412,500,for SPT based on Tinderbox's projected turnover.

Money raised through the deal will be reinvested in the Subway network.

Eric Stewart, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's assistant chief executive, said: "We are delighted by this deal.

"It is fitting our newly modernised station features a business whose operation is complementary with the new look and feel of the revamped station.

"We hope to develop more of these opportunities across the network, which will improve the travel experience for passengers."

Tinderbox director Carlo Ventisei said: "The site is unique and this presents a very exciting opportunity for us. That is why we are committing £40,000 to the fit-out of the space.

"Hillhead station is an ideal location. Our team are really looking forward to moving in."

Work on the interior of the outlet is due to begin next month and it is hoped it will be open for business by early spring.

Hillhead was the first station to benefit from a massive upgrade of the Subway, which will result in all 15 stations being given a new lease of life.

Work on the Subway station at Partick Interchange is due to finish next summer.

SPT has now awarded contracts worth more than £3.4million for work at Ibrox and Kelvinhall stations.

Designs for St Enoch, Govan and Buchanan Street stations are also at an advanced stage.

A report to SPT said: "The works at Ibrox and Kelvinhall will take the same high quality approach as Hillhead and Partick to ensure a clean, efficient, more modern and passenger friendly environment is created at both stations.

"This will enhance the experience for passengers and, where feasible, incorporate public art.

"Ibrox will additionally develop under- utilised space for potential retail facilities."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk