Key Points
- A planning application has been put forward to Glasgow City Council for the creation of a café out of a commercial unit on Pollokshaws Road.
- The application has been proposed by Sam Amdjadi, who owns the successful Shawlands speciality café and design-led store, Godshot studio.
- The new café is set to be located on 1281 Pollokshaws Road, close to where the road meets Eastwood Avenue in a unit that is presently being used as an office and storage area.
- The core of the business will revolve around the supply of speciality coffee, matcha and cold pastries instead of full food service.
- Hours of operation will be between 8am-5pm on all days of the week.
- The proposed design will keep the existing facade of green porcelain and black mosaic tiles along with customer seating, a serving area and a toilet facility.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) September 9, 2026 —
What Are the Details of the Proposed New Café on Pollokshaws Road?
A commercial unit located on Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow’s Southside is currently undergoing assessment by council planners following a new planning application. As reported by Local Democracy Reporter Drew Sandelands of Glasgow Live, Sam Amdjadi, the owner of the existing Shawlands venue Godshot studio, has submitted plans to Glasgow City Council to transform an underused office and storage space into a brand-new café.
The proposed site is situated on the ground floor at 1281 Pollokshaws Road, near the junction connecting Pollokshaws Road and Eastwood Avenue. According to the planning documents lodged with the local authority, the initiative represents a second venture for Sam Amdjadi, aiming to build upon the success of the original Godshot studio located elsewhere on Pollokshaws Road.
As detailed in the planning submission, Sam Amdjadi operates the “established speciality café and design-led retail venue ‘Godshot’ within Glasgow’s Southside.” The application further notes, as reported by Drew Sandelands of Glasgow Live, that
“the proposal represents a second venue building upon an existing locally recognised business centred around speciality coffee, artisanal production, design culture and carefully curated retail.”
What Will the Menu and Operating Style Involve?
Unlike high-volume restaurants or extensive dining establishments, the proposed venue is designed to function as a low-intensity hospitality space. Planning documents outline that the incoming business will focus strictly on “coffee, matcha and a limited range of cold pastries.”
Furthermore, the operational model emphasizes customer experience and speciality coffee preparation over large-scale food service. The intended operating hours span across the week, with plans indicating the café will open from 8 am until 5 pm, Monday to Sunday.
Layout modifications for the ground-floor space at 1281 Pollokshaws Road include the installation of customer seating, a dedicated serving counter, and an accessible toilet facility, while retaining a portion of the original office and storage areas. Externally, the architectural plans specify that the building’s distinctive green porcelain and black mosaic tiled façade will be preserved, accompanied by minor decorative refurbishment works.
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How Will the Development Impact the Local Area?
Proponents of the development argue that the transformation of the vacant or underused commercial property will yield positive community benefits for Glasgow’s Southside. Planning statements emphasize that the scheme will breathe new life into the commercial unit, enhance the visual appeal of the street frontage, and contribute to the overall economic vitality of this particular section of Pollokshaws Road.
Additionally, the regular daytime trading hours are expected to increase passive surveillance, thereby fostering a more active and welcoming street environment. Because of its specialized, design-conscious nature, the enterprise is anticipated to integrate smoothly with the existing mixture of independent businesses and community-focused ventures operating within the neighborhood.
Background of the Particular Development
The proposal for a second venue by the team behind Godshot studio marks a continuation of independent retail and café culture expansion within Glasgow’s Southside, particularly along the Pollokshaws Road corridor. Over recent years, Shawlands and its surrounding neighborhoods have experienced a significant transformation, evolving into a hotspot for artisanal coffee shops, specialized bakeries, and design-led creative spaces. Godshot studio itself established a unique footprint by merging speciality coffee with curated international design objects and fine patisserie. Building upon this established local brand equity, the latest planning application reflects a broader trend among successful independent operators in Glasgow looking to scale their concepts locally through targeted, low-intensity neighborhood venues rather than large-scale commercial expansions.
The approval and subsequent opening of this new café on Pollokshaws Road can positively affect local residents, independent business owners, and commuters navigating Glasgow’s Southside. For local residents and regular patrons, the venue will provide an additional third-space environment centered on quality coffee, matcha, and quiet daytime social interaction, expanding local hospitality options without introducing the noise or congestion associated with high-volume dining establishments. For neighboring independent businesses, the arrival of another design-conscious, reputable local operator is likely to increase pedestrian footfall along this stretch of Pollokshaws Road, reinforcing the Southside’s reputation as a thriving hub for independent commerce and community-driven enterprise. However, planning authorities will ultimately weigh these local economic and social benefits against standard urban planning metrics regarding commercial change of use before issuing a final determination.
