A BID has been made to demolish Glasgow's 'oldest' pub, despite a council report claiming it is structurally sound.

Last orders could be called on the Old College Bar, High Street, which is thought to be the oldest in Glasgow because it has been serving drink since around 1812.

Glasgow-based Bishop Loch (Greyfriars) Limited has submitted a planning application to demolish the bar.

The company also wants to demolish the adjoining buildings at 223, 225 and 227 High Street, as well as numbers 15 and 19-23 George Street.

The properties include F W Holroyd Art Gallery and food outlets China Express, Street Cafe and Hot Peppers.

But today regulars at the famous pub spoke of the "family" atmosphere within its centuries-old walls.

The building which houses the bar was built as far back as 1515, according a plaque above the door which reads: "Glasgow's oldest public house. Ancient staging post and hostelry."

The bar takes its name from the days when Glasgow University was based in the High Street.

Bar regulars Margaret Bilsland, 67, and her husband Kenneth, 68, were celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary yesterday.

But it was a bittersweet day for the couple.

Margaret, who also works as a cleaner at the pub, said: "We come here every day and everyone is very friendly.

"There's never any bother and we all love the landlady, Angela. It would be very sad if it was to be pulled down."

Patrick Whiteside, 86, said: "I've been coming here for more than five years and I'd be heart- broken if it was to be demolished.

"The staff are good and we're all like brothers and sisters in here. We're family."

Joe Stewart, 64, said: "It's the people that make it what it is.

"It would be very sad if they were to pull it down.

"I've heard rumours, as far back as last year, that they are going to pull it down but now it seems like that could happen sooner rather than later."

Sloans and The Scotia Bar also claim to be Glasgow's oldest pub, but it is thought the Old College Bar has traded under the same name since 1812 – the longest of the three venues.

Bishop Loch has asked the council's Planning Committee for permission to demolish the pub, although the application gives no indication what, if anything, would likely be built in its place.

The plot lies at the edge of the Merchant City, next to Strathclyde University's Technology and Innovation Centre which is currently being built.

Bishop Loch's application is supported by a letter from David Irvine, of Odin Consulting Engineers, in which he says that the condition of the Old College Bar is so bad that he advises "the client considers carefully the ongoing use of this premises."

Last year, adjoining buildings in George Street were deemed to be in a dangerous condition and were demolished.

However, Glasgow City Council refuted any suggestion the building housing the bar and its immediate neighbours was in any way dangerous.

A council spokesman said: "The Old College Bar building is structurally sound, it's not a dangerous building.

"The building that was demolished adjacent to this site was a former tenement.

"It was demolished as a dangerous building."

The application will be considered at a future meeting of the Planning Committee.

The landlady at the Old College Bar is 42-year-old Angela Gibson. She said: "I used to run the Lampost Bar in Duke Street, just over the road. But that was demolished in September 2011 and I took over in here the following month.

"All of my regulars from the Lampost came here with me and they are my family.

"I would be very upset if the same thing was to happen to this pub.

"It's not like other, modern bars where there is no atmosphere and no sense of community.

"If this is demolished I couldn't take on another bar, I'd just go back to my old job in retail.

"We were told that when they took down the other buildings at the back, it made this building dangerous. But if the council say that's not the case, then maybe that's good news."

stef.lach@ heraldandtimes.co.uk