Glasgow footfall bounces back after fire but business fears persist

Glasgow city centre is proving "remarkably resilient" after the recent fire in Union Street, according to new statistics.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said the number of people in the city centre every day - including workers and shoppers - was back at normal levels and slightly up on last year.

So-called "footfall" - a measure of the number of people entering a shop or shopping area in a given time - fell badly after the fire on 8 March, when train services and local bus routes were badly disrupted.

A significant part of Gordon Street and parts of Union Street and Renfield Street remains closed off while work on the ruins continues.

The fire destroyed a prominent Victorian building and forced the closure of neighbouring Central Station, the busiest railway hub in Scotland.

Businesses directly affected by the fire - including those whose premises were destroyed and those unable to open because of road closures - are entitled to compensation of up to £25,000 from an emergency fund.

Business leaders have been watching the situation across the city centre in case customers stayed away from shops, restaurants and other attractions because of the disruption.

On Monday 9 March - the day after the fire - the footfall in the city centre was just 79,000, a drop of 60% on the same day last year. This is likely to have been the result of the complete closure of Central Station after the fire.

But by Wednesday 25 March, when train services at Central Station returned to normal and the bulk of the station fully reopened, the footfall was 193,000 - just 6,000 down on the same day last year.

The recovery gathered pace heading into the following weekend.

On Friday 27 March, 214,000 people were in the city, compared to 202,000 on the same day in 2025. Saturday's figures also showed a year-on-year rise.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said it was "reassuring" to see those numbers.

"As a vital economic asset, Glasgow city centre plays a critical role not only for the city but for Scotland as a whole, and the urgency with which the recovery has been addressed is hugely welcome," he said.

"The city has demonstrated remarkable resilience and the increase in footfall following the fire is a testament to the strength, determination and confidence of both our businesses and the people who continue to visit, work and support the city."

A cordon remains in force around the main entrance to Central Station, much of Gordon Street and the adjoining parts of Renfield Street and Union Street.

Anecdotally, some businesses close to the cordon have told BBC Scotland they are worried about losing passing trade while the widespread closures remain.

Paul Waterson - honorary president of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), the trade body for the hospitality industry - said many pubs and restaurants near the cordon were still finding trade difficult.

"Although footfall may be back, translating that into profits can be difficult. I don't hear any optimism from publicans and restaurateurs in the area," he said.

He also warned that some hospitality businesses were "dead" after 22:00.

Although train services are now running normally, he told the BBC some customers were affected by the disruption to bus routes and difficulties getting a taxi.

Ewan Macdonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said there was "no doubt" retailers across Glasgow city centre had lost trade in the aftermath of the fire.

The consortium's figures for March - which are being finalised and due to be published later this week- will give a clearer indication of the impact on the city's main retail streets.

The figures are expected to show that overall business in Glasgow city centre was flat last month compared to March 2025, but retailers in Edinburgh saw a rise in trade over the same period.

Macdonald-Russell said: "We know the fire in Glasgow city centre absolutely hit trade. We believe things are now getting back to normal but it will take businesses a little time to recover."

The cordon means some businesses in undamaged buildings still cannot reopen, including two supermarkets and a travel agent.

It also means pedestrians need to use other routes - such as nearby lanes or Argyle Street - to walk from Central Station to the main shopping area on Buchanan Street.

The cordon was relaxed slightly a week and a half ago to allow businesses at its edge including a nightclub and a Chinese restaurant to open again.

Glasgow City Council still cannot say when the cordon may be eased further.

Work on the site of the fire is now mostly focused on clearing rubble. The council may be able to give an update on any changes to the cordon in the next few days.

The local authority says £1.25m has now been allocated to small busineeses affected by the fire from the special emergency fund.