Glasgow

The building that now houses Caffè Nero on St Enoch Square is in fact the original 1896 booking office and main entrance to the Glasgow Subway, one of the most distinctive pieces of transport architecture in the city.

It was designed by James Miller, and its turrets, gables and ornate detailing made it the showpiece of the system.

During the major Subway rebuild of the late 1970s, the entire underground station was replaced, but the surface building was Category A listed, so it couldn’t be demolished. Engineers jacked it up and suspended it in mid‑air while the new station box was excavated beneath it.

After the rebuild, the old entrance no longer led directly to the platforms. Instead, it became from 1980 until 2008, the SPT Travel Information Centre

In December 2009, the building was converted into a Caffè Nero, which is how most people encounter it today. Despite the change of use, it remains a Category A listed landmark and one of the most recognisable survivors of Victorian Glasgow transport architecture.