The biggest Thai restaurant in the UK is to open on Buchanan Street in less than a month, following the £2m conversion of a 20,000 sq ft building which dates back to 1911.

The listed Townhouse building, built in 1911, will re-open as the first Scottish branch of Chaophraya, a Thai chain with restaurants in the north and midlands of England.

Its makeover has included fitting a gold leaf ceiling and installing Buddha statues throughout the four-storey eatery.

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The 133 seat main dining area will include an original balcony which has been dubbed the 'Buddha balcony'.

The menu will include a 'Scottish-Thai fusion' section featuring Thai Cullen Skink and Haggis golden parcels.

The red sandstone seven-level building was looking for a new permanent tenant for nearly five years before its overhaul.

It is on the corner of Buchanan Street and Nelson Mandela Place, in the heart of Glasgow’s retail district.

Kevin Sims of property consultant CBRE said: "The Townhouse building is an ideal site for Chaophraya due to its high profile location in the city centre together with the character and layout of the building."

(NE)