A LEGENDARY music institution has been saved from "imminent closure" after kind-hearted Glaswegians rallied around the city centre venue.
McChuills announced via social media last month that it faced closing its doors for good due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
We exclusively told how the High Street venue had been rejected from lifeline cash - which led bosses to exhaust all avenues of funding.
After attempting to reinvent around restrictions, the institution reopened as a cafe for just one week before they had to close again due to tier four.
A fundraiser was set up in a desperate attempt to "fight for survival".
In just two days of launching the online fundraiser, donations to save the venue surpassed £15,000.
Owner Nicky Stewart said: "The donations have saved our venue. We exhausted all avenues of funding while trying to save jobs and it got to a point where we weren’t even breaking even.
“We spent the very last of our resources at the time repurposing as a café to stay alive. Within one week, legislation changed and we had to close again.
“The crowdfunder was the last attempt to stay alive and without it, we wouldn’t be here. We would have closed permanently."
In just over three weeks, donations have exceeded £30,000 from fans of the establishment across the globe.
Now, with cash donations topping the initial target, bosses of the establishment plan to donate the exceeding funds to Homeless Project Scotland who are currently feeding hundreds of people a night from under Central Station.
Nicky added: "We were so overwhelmed to see donations surpass the target. We’ve still got one week left to go. It wasn’t ever about making money, it was about saving the pub.
“We wanted to give back to our community somehow. When we reopened as a café we actually had somebody who was going through unfortunate circumstances come into us for some help.
“Now that the target surpassed the funds, we have that cash to help out and give back to the community. People really need the help right now.
“Last time we checked, there was over 100 people going to get food from Homeless Project Scotland under Glasgow Central Station. We just want the exceeding funds to go to people who need it.
“The thing is, the people of Glasgow and across the globe have helped us survive through this. The right thing for us to do now is help other people.”
The crowdfunder ends this evening at10:30pm, where bosses will be ending it with a final live-streamed DJ set from the pub.
Details on the stream and how to donate can be found HERE.
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