Venue Guide: The Old Fruitmarket

Wander through the Candleriggs area of Merchant City, and you’ll stumble upon The Old Fruitmarket. . .

…an absolute gem tucked in beside Glasgow’s City Halls. This unique venue began life in the 12th century as, you guessed it, a wholesale fruit market. In the 1970s it transformed into a hub for jazz and folk music, and in 2006 it was carefully renovated to give the building a new lease of life – ultimately creating one of Glasgow’s most atmospheric performance venues. Needless to say, it’s one of our local favourites.

Need to know. . .

• You’ll find The Old Fruitmarket on 87-101 Albion St, Glasgow G1 1NQ and can enter through the City Halls main entrance.
• The Old Fruitmarket has a flexible capacity; the space can host 1,525 people standing, 450 cabaret style (plus 300 standing), or 600 theatre style (plus 300 standing).
• Right in the heart of Merchant City, you’ll find plenty of stylish bars and restaurants in the vicinity – plus bars are available for use throughout the venue.
• There’s on-street metered parking and a multi-storey Q-Park just up the road (37 Albion Street).
• Queen Street and Central Station are your nearest train stations (just a 10-minute walk to the venue) and St Enoch is your nearest subway (also 10 minutes).
• And if you want to get a feel for the space, the Glasgow City Halls website offers a virtual tour – so you can have a nosy around from the comfort of your own home. Always a plus.

Nice to know. . .

Outside the shared entrance to City Halls and The Old Fruitmarket, the pavement is inscribed with thought-provoking quotes about music, creativity, and Glasgow – like this moving refrain by Edwin Morgan:

“Ghostly workers sleep below

They hear no rain or heel and toe

Think of them where the forges glow

In the Glasgow of long ago”

We recommend. . .

The Old Fruitmarket combines the vibrancy of Glasgow’s art scene with the commercial and industrial heritage of the city. Many of its period features are still intact – including the lofty vaulted roof, the cast iron columns, the dramatic balcony, and many of the original ironmongery and greengrocers’ signs can still be seen high up among the cast iron beams in the ceiling.

Its unrivalled character makes The Old Fruitmarket a unique setting for a wide range of events – anything from concerts and comedy nights, to fashion shows and awards dinners. And if you need a little inspo, here’s one we did earlier…

We recently had the pleasure of producing the 2019 Royal Television Society Awards, an event which celebrates excellence and innovation in Scotland’s vibrant television and production community. With impactful mood lighting, bespoke set & staging with a branded lectern, eye-catching projection & LED screens, and plush audience seating throughout – The Old Fruitmarket offered an intimate but bustling atmosphere, perfect for the evening’s festivities.

Planning an event at The Old Fruitmarket and need some guidance? Our Event Managers are all over it.