Glasgow businesses gear up to welcome the world for Cycling World Championships

Published: 28 July 2023

A number of very popular Glasgow venues have announced a series of hospitality offerings and fun activities for all the family that are set to take place across the duration of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships this August.

The Cycling World Championships, which will be the single biggest cycling event in history, will take place between Thursday 3 and Sunday 13 August. Glasgow is set to host eight of the 13 championships at five of its world-class venues, alongside a number of important operational and event management hubs.

During the 11 days of competition, spectators and championships family will be able to enjoy a number of special offers and events at 16 venues around the city, all of which are part of The Scotsman Group.

The Corinthian Club will house a static bike to raise funds for Maggie's, the national charity partner of the event, where anyone can have a go at competing to win prizes, with giveaways taking place throughout the event.

Venues such as The Social, The Corinthian Club, Committee Room 9, Grosvenor Café and Òran Mórare getting behind the action by offering discounted food and drinks, family activities and late-night entertainment, showcasing the city's infamous hospitality to the thousands of visitors expected to arrive in Scotland.

Kids can eat free at all participating venues, while spectators get 20% off all food. Social, The Corinthian Club, Committee Room 9, Grosvenor Café, Òran Mór and The Gardener will have special breakfast menus and £1 coffee on offer, with some venues also hosting live bands during the event.

Highlights and action from the championships will be shown at The Corinthian Club, Grosvenor Café, Committee Room 9 and Òran Mór, with a £15 burger and beer deal available from The Corinthian Club, Grosvenor Café and Committee Room 9 to enjoy alongside the sporting action.

Arta will have face painting for kids during both weekends of the event, as well as samba dancers, while Polo, Delmonicas and SpeakEasy will host live drag nights during the Championships.

The city is planning for tens of thousands of people along the road race routes and up to 15,000 people across the duration of the day are expected to visit the official fan zone in George Square. Venues will also be buzzing with activity as competition takes place across the city every day of the Championships.

As a result, Glasgow will be busier than usual in the lead up to and during the event, with business, residents and commuters being reminded to plan ahead and familiarise themselves with the ways in which their usual journeys around the city may be impacted.

The busiest days across Glasgow are expected to be on road race days, which will be Saturday 5 August, Sunday 6 August, Tuesday 8 August, Saturday 12 August and Sunday 13 August. Businesses, residents and visitors are being encouraged to use public transport including rail and subway networks and active travel routes on these days.

Glasgow Life Chair, Bailie Annette Christie, said: "It's wonderful to see so many venues across Glasgow embracing the arrival of the UCI Cycling World Championships in the city and taking the opportunity to welcome the many visitors to Glasgow, as well as the locals who will also be able to enjoy the events, with some special offers and entertainment for all the family.

"The Cycling Worlds are a fantastic opportunity for Glasgow to shine, and while an event of this scale will have an impact on travel and transport around Glasgow city centre and the west end on the days before and during competitions, there is lots of information available for businesses and city residents to help prepare and plan for the temporary changes that will take place to allow Glasgow to host and embrace this incredible event."

Amyleigh Barrowman, Regional Sales Manager at The Scotsman Group said: "Scotsman Hospitality started right here in Glasgow, just a two minute walk away from the heart of the action at George Square. In the 30 odd years since, we have been working hard to create restaurants, bars, cinemas and light night spots that enhance the city's reputation as one of the best hospitality experiences in the UK. We are therefore thrilled to welcome visitors for the Cycling World Championships and to give them a good old fashioned warm welcome.

Social, known for its al fresco dining and drinking. We will have something for everyone, from brunch, coffee and cake in the morning, to destination dining in the evening.

"Our operational teams have been hard at work preparing for this event, ensuring that necessary road closures and temporary restrictions do not hamper our ability to offer our guests an excellent experience with us. To all the competitors, organisers, sponsors, staff and visitors - we can't wait to welcome you."

The UCI Cycling World Championships' road race events will have an impact on travel and transport around Glasgow's city centre and the west end, in particular, on the days before and during competition, with closures and restrictions needed to build the cycling road race courses and facilitate the safe delivery of the event for participants, spectators and businesses.

As a result, parking restrictions on the routes will come into force on Monday 31 July, and stay in place until Sunday 13 August.

Road closures will come into effect from 0001 hours, Friday 4 August until 2359 hours, Tuesday 8 August and then again on 0001 hours, Saturday 12 August until 2359 hours, Sunday 13 August. All route and road closure maps are available on the Get Ready Glasgow Website and more than 45,000 letters have been distributed to businesses and residents on or near to the affected routes to inform them of the events and impacts.

For businesses located in the city centre, an access and egress plan has been developed to allow them to service their premises during the period of the road closures. This access will allow for businesses to receive deliveries and complete waste collection. Some roads will be open from 2000 hrs to 0600 hrs to allow for this entry. 

Get Ready Glasgow is the campaign for all the communication and engagement work being carried out to keep the city open for business and moving in the lead up to and during event time.

For all the latest information of closures and restrictions in Glasgow related to the event in August, visit www.getreadyglasgow.com.

Enquiries can also be directed to the Get Ready Glasgow team at getreadyglasgow@gov.uk or on 0141 276 2014.