A Glasgow Southside pub and restaurant is fighting to have gazebos for customers outside after the council turned down planning permission.

The Stag & Thistle in Pollokshaws Road wants to erect three new gazebos and railings for three years after having had shelter up outside the eatery.

But they have been banned from having the structures with the council saying they are “unauthorised.” The venue has been offering refreshments to customers outside for 14 years it is understood.

Operator Paul Gillies has lodged an appeal with the council over the refusal of permission, which will be dealt with at a meeting next week.

An appeal statement lodged on behalf of Mr Gillies said: “This application seeks to enhance the visual amenity at this location.”

The statement added that “pavement cafe culture is currently a Scottish Government funded initiative being undertaken by Glasgow City Council.”

The local authority gave a number of reasons for refusal including that the external seating area would be an “over-dominant and incongruous addition” and that the proposal was not considered to be in accordance with the development plan.

It also voiced concerns about the narrowing of the width of the unobstructed footpath.

It claimed the “proposed development is a disproportionate and inharmonious addition, which would add visual clutter to this section of the Strathbungo Conservation Area and would dominate the application site and the locale to the detriment of visual amenity and the character of the street.”

Refuting the council’s reasons, the applicant’s statement claimed the local development plan is “five and 10 years out of date.”

It said: “The requirement to modify our lives to respond to the, ongoing Covid variants, an understanding of the principle that placemaking is about places for people and the Scottish Government funding to encourage pavement cafe culture all recognise the contribution that this can make to the well being of the community.”

It added how the the proposed re-alignment of the boundary of the seating area would improves pedestrian circulation.

The council’s planning local review committee will consider the appeal next week.