Fire fears as vape shop prepares to open next to Glasgow’s Mackintosh Tearooms

In the heart of Glasgow city centre, the Mackintosh Tearooms, the last surviving tearoom designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, faces new threats as a vape and mobile phone repair shop prepares to open next door. This comes just six months after a fire in a nearby vape shop destroyed the B-listed Union Corner and nearly a decade after the devastating fires at the Glasgow School of Art.

Residents and local campaigners are expressing their outrage over the decision to allow the vape shop to open in such proximity to the historic tearooms. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the fire at Union Corner originated in a vape shop, prompting an audit that revealed numerous fire safety issues across similar establishments.

Matthew Williams, director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, emphasized the importance of the tearooms, stating:

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"The Mackintosh Tearooms are an architecture and design gem, an important part of Glasgow’s story and a real boost for tourism in the city. The increased risk of fire posed by a vape shop next door is completely unacceptable."

The society has urged Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to halt the opening of the shop, which is located within the Sauchiehall Street culture and heritage district. This area is part of a 10-year regeneration plan aimed at preserving its historical significance.