QUESTIONS have been raised about whether funding will be made available to rebuild a historic Glasgow entertainment venue amid news that it could be demolished.

Plans have been submitted to raze the block holding the O2 ABC to the ground, eight months after it was extensively damaged by the Glasgow School of Art fire.

A building warrant application has been submitted to Glasgow City Council to grant its owners permission to “demolish the substantially fire-damaged building in its entirety”.

Included in the plans will be City Cutz barbers, California restaurant and Campus Bar, which employed around 100 members of staff before the fire.

IN PICTURES: Looking back on the history of Glasgow's O2 ABC

Manager Gavin McGriesh said he was “shocked” and “upset” by the news.

He added: “My only view is that the Mackintosh is 99 per cent damaged and it’s been deemed important enough to save. I hope they do the same with this building – it’s older than the Art School.”

Despite work to stabilise and rebuild the Art School being well under way, the O2 ABC, built in 1875, remained untouched until last month.

As previously reported by the Evening Times, Glasgow City Council were forced to board up the property due to what they described as a lack of communication from its owners.

Council bosses said they had not been given any indication as to what future plans were for the venue.

Prior to the fire, the block running from 304 to 332 Sauchiehall Street was listed for sale online for £4.5million.

Mr McGriesh said he was “upset” to hear that his business could be demolished.

He said: “I heard it through the council, not through the landlord. It came as a bit of a shock.

READ MORE: Glasgow reacts to news of possible demolition of O2 ABC

“The landlord is in a tricky position because, for the first 10 weeks, all the focus was on the Art School and probably still is. Whatever they do to that building could affect the school.

“It’s been a long process and we are no further on, so the news came as a bit of shock, it’s disappointing because we want to be back up and running as soon as possible.

“I would like to know on what grounds they want to demolish it. If they want to put up the exact building then I have no objection, but if they want to demolish it and build flats then that will be a problem.”

The demolition plans will now go before Glasgow City Council and will be open to public comment.

Council regulations state that if six or more objections are submitted in relation to the application, it will automatically go before the Planning Committee.

As the news of the possible demolition broke, calls were made for the facade of the building to be retained.

Throughout its 143-year history, the Sauchiehall Street venue has hosted a theatre, circus, dancehall and cinema.

Built in 1875 as the Diorama, it went on to become the Panorama in 1878 and Hubner’s Ice Skating Palace in 1885.

READ MORE: Plans to demolish O2 ABC after Glasgow School of Art fire

In May 1896, it hosted Glasgow’s first public film showing.

Hengler’s Circus, complete with a large circus ring and a water tank, operated in the building from 1904 to 1927, before it was rebuilt as the Waldorf Palais dance hall.

The top storey windows of the building, now destroyed by the fire, date back to the 1920s.

The building was converted to a The Regal cinema in 1929, with the mezzanine level built for dancing becoming the stalls floor of the cinema.

It was during this time that the memorable venue entrance was constructed.

Roddy Woomble, of Idlewild, has played the venue 10 times.  

He said: “I thought it was just about the perfect venue – great location, good size – not too big, not to small. It sounded great as an audience member and also as a performer. Good sightlines, nice backstage. I grew to like it more and more until it became (alongside the Barrowland) my favourite venue in Scotland.”

Stewart Brock, lead singer Prides, who headlined the venue in 2015, said: “The ABC was undoubtedly one of my favourite venues in Glasgow, and the setting of one of my favourite shows of our career. It was electric. It was chaos. It was brilliant.

“I’ve seen more bands grace that stage than I can remember, as well as countless nights dancing, flirting, drinking, DJing, and the rest. The atmosphere was always incredible. It will be a sad day to see it go, for sure.”

Roger Billcliffe, Mackintosh expert, said: “Please, please keep a GSA presence off Sauchiehall Street.  It really will be the final nail in the commercial life of the street.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council and AMG, who operate the venue, declined to comment on the plans.

Historic Environment Scotland said: “We have not yet been consulted by Glasgow City Council. Listed building consent is required for the demolition of listed buildings. This is granted by planning authorities, who are required to consult Historic Environment Scotland where demolition of a listed building is proposed.”