Langside Hall: Can an A-listed community gem be brought back to life?

Once the star attraction, Langside Hall now finds itself relegated to background scenery.

By Jacob Nicol

📷 Langside Hall by Robert Perry

If a Broadway musical is ever set in Shawlands, the new civic square at the junction of Pollokshaws Road and Langside Avenue would be the perfect backdrop for the show's opening number. The overture would feature giggling schoolchildren, cheerful stall-keepers and a dishevelled shirtless man chasing another dishevelled shirtless man. And silently watching over the theatrics would be Langside Hall, a historic site that has seen generations of players make their entrances and exits.

Sadly, the audience would never get a glimpse inside this A-listed building. The doors have been locked and bolted tight for many years now. Once the star attraction, Langside Hall now finds itself relegated to background scenery. The building is in a bad way and its current condition has many locals worried. But before we assess the damage, let's briefly rewind the clock and relive the venue's glory days.