Despite the nightclub Platform, formerly known as The Arches, planning to officially close its doors, fans are campaigning to stop it from being taken over by a bowling corporation. 

Bowling and entertainment chain Lane7 is preparing to take over the venue beneath Central Station from the previous owners after all 2025 events in Platform have concluded.  

A spokesperson for Platform said: “We’re handing over a much-loved space to the perfect new owners.

“The Lane7 Group is an organisation with soul – we know they’ll have some very cool plans to make sure the venue remains a long-term fixture in the Glaswegian hospitality and night-time scene.” 

However, the owner of the account Arches Not Bowling on Instagram has been campaigning since early November to preserve the iconic Glasgow institution. The Strathclyde Telegraph spoke to the individual, who preferred to stay anonymous.

“I’m just one individual […], but like thousands of others, The Arches shaped a huge part of my life,” they said.

“I spent nearly 30 years walking through those doors for theatre, club nights, gigs, sports events, and art shows.

“The energy was like nothing else.”

The campaign for Arches Not Bowling began promoting in early November this year and has caught traction with a rapidly growing petition, currently standing at over 2,100 signatures.  

“Stop removing music culture for stupid ideas like a bowling alley that no one wants.

“Find somewhere else,” one supporter of the petition said. 

“The Arches was my place to go in my youth.

“It should be enjoyed by generations to come,” another said.

Fear has been spreading among music fans throughout Glasgow, with The Arches being an iconic music institution of the city known for hosting lively festivals such as Celtic Connections and globally known artists such as Daft Punk. The venue was even ranked 13th in DJ Magazine’s famed Top 100 Clubs in the world ranking in 2008.

The individual behind Arches Not Bowling said: “Glasgow was the first city in the UK to be awarded UNESCO City of Music status, and The Arches played a huge role in shaping the culture that earned that recognition.

“With proper investment, vision and funding, The Arches could have been protected and supported as a flagship cultural venue […] It’s hard to understand why more wasn’t done to preserve something so important,” they added.

Arches Not Bowling says that the campaign has already garnered support from artists and attention beyond Glasgow.

“That tells you everything you need to know,” they said.

“The people still care. The culture still matters.”

Regarding what they want from this campaign, they said: “A pause on the redevelopment, a serious conversation about cultural preservation, a chance for artists, promoters, the council, and the community to explore alternative futures for the building, and most importantly, that Glasgow deserves better than losing its cultural giants to corporate leisure.”

It is uncertain what will come of the campaign. The Arches remains widely recognised as a landmark of rave and club culture in Scotland.

The petition can be found here.