A council-owned construction firm has been ordered to stop hosting corporate hospitality events at an all-male sporting club.

City Building, one of the spin-off companies created by former Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell, said it had dropped the boxing nights at the city's St Andrew's Sporting Club for business reasons.

However, the move comes after months of intense questioning on the issue from SNP councillor Graeme Hendry, who is highly critical of public money going to exclusive gentlemen's clubs.

City Building confirmed it had spent £1200 to book tables at St Andrew's bouts to entertain staff and associates, including on three occasions last year.

However, it said that the events - to which it could not routinely invite female employees or business partners - had previously been seen as an opportunity to network.

A spokesman said: "City Building continually reviews all strands of our marketing strategy and has decided that due to the reducing benefits of attending the St Andrew's Sporting Club we will not be attending these events in the foreseeable future."

The arm's-length external organisation or "Aleo" is wholly owned by the council and run by a board of councillors, chaired by Labour's Paul Carey. Its chief executive, Graham Paterson, in correspondence with Mr Hendry said that board had approved its hospitality at St Andrew's.

City Building has previously boasted of its ability to attract women into traditional male construction roles.

Mr Hendry said: "The decision to allow use of this club for hospitality is baffling when it only allows male members.

"This is clearly not appropriate for a company which has a highly-skilled, diverse and inclusive workforce. Mr Carey should tell us if he knew it didn't allow female members and how this fits with the company's image.

"I am pleased that my ­questioning has led to them ­stopping the use of this kind of hospitality and I hope they will ensure any last remnants of the old boys' club mentality that ­Glasgow Labour developed has gone."

St Andrew's has been a Glasgow institution since it hosted the classic all-Scottish British lightweight title bout between Jim Watt and Ken Buchanan in 1973. Traditionally based at Glasgow's Albany Hotel, since its demolition the club now runs a dozen events a year at the Radisson.

Owner Tommy Gilmour admitted his club was "pukka old school" but accused Mr Hendry of "political mumbo-jumbo". He said: "It's a diabolical liberty to use a legitimate business that pays its taxes and has raised half a million pounds for charity to attack your political opponents.

"We have had events when women were allowed in, but they would barely have filled a table out of 400 people.

"There are women who like to come and get dressed up but I am not sure the boxing itself does much for them."