The Glasgow Wrap 🗞️ Wednesday 18 June 2025
Glen Powell spotted filming, O2 ABC plans approved - heritage groups hit back, tourist tax to be considered this week, World Refugee Day march road closures, First Bus service axed + Wee Ghost Beauty
🌤️ Good Morning Glasgow! The Met Office forecasts sunny intervals with a high of 18C. Here’s Wednesday’s Wrap…
⭐ Glen Powell was snapped during filming on Newton Street yesterday as JJ Abrams’ new fantasy film Ghostwriter is reportedly being shot across Glasgow. - Ava Whyte, Glasgow Times.
↳ Jenna Ortega has also been spotted filming in the city, confirming her role in the new blockbuster. - Exclusive by Craig Williams, The Herald.
👉 You can now join the ranks receiving all the paid perks of The Wrap for just £1.67/month (annual) or £3.50 monthly. 🫨
🧑🎓 The plans to build the controversial student accommodation on the former O2 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street have been approved by the council. - Drew Sandelands, Local Democracy Reporter.
↳ The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, Glasgow City Heritage Trust, and the Glasgow School of Art have slammed the decision, and are calling on the Scottish Government to reverse the approval. - Exclusive by Donald Erskine, Glasgow Times.
🏨 Councillors are to decide on the hotel tourist tax this week, which will be introduced in January 2027 with tourists paying an average of £4.83 per night if approved. - Sarah Hilley, Local Democracy Reporter.
🪧 Thousands are expected to march the city streets for World Refugee Day this weekend. See the full list of roads affected in Amy Myles’ Glasgow Times article.
🚏 First Bus has confirmed it will no longer operate service 65 that travels between the city centre and Halfway in Cambuslang from Sunday, July 13. - Fahad Tariq, Glasgow Live.
👻 The ‘first Korean skincare store’ to open in Scotland, Wee Ghost Beauty, will open its doors on West Regent Street on June 28. - Nicole Mitchell, Glasgow Times.
🪙 Glasgow has the third lowest council tax collection rate in Scotland, as figures show a 0.4% drop compared to the previous year from 93.8% to 93.4% for 2024/25. - Stewart Paterson, Glasgow Times.
🏛️ The council could grant £150,000 to the preferred developer for the proposed renovation of the Egyptian Halls on Union Street, as the local authority considers a compulsory purchase order. - Drew Sandelands, Local Democracy Reporter.
🚦 TRNSMT is fast approaching, and almost 60 streets in the city will face heavy disruption. See all the roads affected in Fionnuala Boyle’s Daily Record article.
⚖️ A cop who sexually assaulted two female colleagues while on duty has resigned from his position, and put under supervision and the sex offenders register for 12 months. - Connor Gordon, Glasgow Times.
🏢 Plans have been approved to develop the site of a dilapidated office building at 138 Hydepark Street into a 25-storey student accommodation. - Donald Erskine, Glasgow Times.
💬 The council is hosting a stage one consultation on the North Laurieston Masterplan at the Savings Bank at 57 Bridge Street on Tuesday, June 24. - Posted on X.
🚌 Scottish Citylink has announced extra capacity with 4,000 extra seats added on its route between Glasgow and Aberdeen with enhanced frequency and bigger vehicles. - Kieran Webster, Glasgow Live.
🏆 Glaswegians can now nominate people for the High Street Hero for Glasgow award in the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards, which have just launched. - Beth Oliver, Glasgow Times.
🌱 Plans have been submitted to build a four-storey block of 30 flats at the former Queen Mary Street Nursery site in Bridgeton. - Kieran Webster, Glasgow Live.
👟 Streetwear brand Bee Inspired is set to open a new store on Buchanan Street at the former Laser Clinics UK site. - Ben Waddell, Glasgow Times.
⛈️ STV weather presenter Sean Batty officially opened the new care home Kelvinside Manor in the West End. - Beth Oliver, Glasgow Times.
🕺 The Glasgow Culture Wrap: 17 - 24 June 2025: Sadia Sikandar at GoMA, fair work for arts sector plea, The Revelator Open Exhibition, Imagine Glasgow open call, Barrowlands Park music fest, Glasgow Jazz Festival, Fringe for a Fiver & more...
📌 The Glasgow Wrap Community Noticeboard
↳ Submit your news, events, shoutouts etc to be featured. This newsletter is designed to get the word out about what’s happening around Glasgow, so let us know what you’ve got on.
📈 The most-viewed links from the last newsletter:
🐈 Kiki the cat in running for Cats Protection National Cat Awards 2025
🎥 City transformed for JJ Abrams new film Ghostwriter with Samuel L. Jackson
📺 Hillhead pensioner accused of stalking BBC Scotland news presenter
🗞 Thanks for reading daily edition number 269. You’re one of 3,960+ people who subscribe to The Wrap, proving that local news is not dead! Help us keep The Wrap alive by upgrading today - it’s only £3.50/month (£20/year) 🤯. The Wrap is on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.