A major fire that tore through a historic Glasgow hotel on Saturday evening has been scaled back, with firefighters remaining at the scene on Sunday morning to check for remaining hotspots. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no injuries were reported after the blaze broke out at the Revolver Hotel on Virginia Street around 6:18 pm.
Emergency crews deployed seven fire engines and two high-reach appliances after the fire started on the fourth floor of the four-storey building. Drone footage captured dramatic scenes as firefighters battled flames and thick smoke billowing from the rooftop. By Sunday morning, two fire engines remained at the site while Glassford Street, closed during the incident, reopened shortly after 7 am.
Evacuations and disruptions
The House of Gods hotel in an adjoining building was evacuated as a precaution, along with nearby Trades Hall and Spires Serviced Suites. Homeless Project Scotland confirmed their soup kitchen in the area was also evacuated. The charity posted on social media: «Everyone is safe. Emergency services attended. For safety reasons, the soup kitchen is now closed until further notice while the situation is assessed.» Their night shelter reopened just before midnight.
Glasgow City Council issued a warning during the incident: «Due to a building fire, Glassford Street has been closed to all traffic between Ingram Street and Trongate. Road users are advised to avoid this area.» A pedestrian footpath below the affected buildings remained closed on Sunday.
Hotel statement
The Revolver Hotel released a statement late on Saturday confirming the incident was managed effectively. «An incident on the rooftop of Revolver Glasgow earlier today was promptly and effectively managed by the fire brigade,» the hotel said. «We extend our sincere appreciation to the fire brigade for their swift response and professionalism, as well as to our staff for their calm and exemplary handling of the situation. No one was harmed or injured, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to complete all necessary assessments and ensure the continued safety of our guests and the businesses operating within the building.»
Investigation status
Police are not treating the fire as suspicious "at this stage", though the cause remains under investigation. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed receiving a 999 call around 6:18 pm, with 11 appliances attending the scene. The fire was described as "well-developed" when crews arrived.
Historic building
The affected building, originally the Scottish Legal Life Building designed by architect Alexander Skirving, dates from 1889 and is one of Glasgow's earliest red sandstone commercial buildings. Glasgow Labour MP Paul Sweeney posted on X: «Awful to see a fire break out in the roof of the Revolver Hotel and Polo Lounge. I hope no-one is hurt and the fire can be contained. The old Scottish Legal Life Building by Alexander Skirving dates from 1889 and is one of Glasgow's earliest red sandstone commercial buildings.» He later praised firefighters for their «heroic work» in containing the blaze.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
