We’ve all heard it before. Scaberdeen. City of grey. ‘The Aberdream’ retorted sarcastically. To put it frankly, Aberdeen doesn’t get a good reputation as far as Scottish cities go. The central belt’s allure of bigger, shiner and better-funded attractions pull attention far more naturally than the ‘Deen. It can often seem that the creative industry and opportunities within it are sparsely afforded, whilst nightlife falters and pubs close their doors permanently each week. The University of Aberdeen is publicly facing mass scrutiny alongside catastrophic financial troubles, with staff strikes lined up to commence this March. Even the Aberdeen dating scene is anecdotally hailed as dire. It can often feel like a hopeless situation here, especially when one is far more used to the bustle of a bigger city. But why bring all of this up?
This January, I sat down with my friend, also from Edinburgh, to create a list of ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ for 2026. Our first on the ‘Outs’ list? “Hating on Aberdeen”. We had decided enough was enough, and that fun is where you make it. To be clear, it wasn’t always us disparaging the good city of the North. Although tempted by the occasional moan, we tend to speak rather positively about our uni town most of the time. The majority of the Aberdeen complainants were other people, prone to grimacing and expressing pity at the mention of our move back at the start of each semester. We elected to put a stop to this, and sing the town’s praises, as well as appreciate all the city had to offer this next semester.
Aberdeen has some incredible creative events and opportunities coming up. North City Signal, set up newly by Glen Gauld, has created a platform to champion Aberdeen artists – whether musicians, poets, painters, or others. His initiative intends to be a rung on the ladder for Aberdeen-based talent, providing a foot-up that has otherwise been missing from the local scene. His work can be found @northcitysignal on Instagram.
Connected to The Gaudie via a Crowhouse Projects (@crow_house_projects, another great initiative to have on your radar) networking event is Kin, launching at the end of March. Described as a “brand new charity championing emerging creatives”, Kin’s start will be kicked off in the Triplekirk’s upstairs on March 26th, with Jimmy Turrell, to bring Aberdeen’s artistic community together in one room. Tickets are halfway gone, but the night looks to be a promising event, full of “bold ideas, real talk and serious inspiration.”
Though the party scene may admittedly not be up to the same standard of frequency as say Edinburgh or Glasgow, Aberdeen still has quality nightlife to offer students and partygoers alike. Venues may not experience the footfall they used to, but Krakatoa, Tunnels and D2 at Drummonds still host incredible talent and events, wracking up heavy crowds respectively. Some highlights to me are of course Wednesday night’s iconic Krakatoa Karaoke, Danza Catartica parties hosted by @_cornetta___ often at D2 or Tunnels, or nights with Unit 51.
I’ve often written on Aberdeen’s thriving pub culture and consider myself a major patron of this community – particularly when they are independent. Becoming a regular at pubs is an art I find to be one of life’s greatest joys – and luckily, my recommendation list keeps growing.
Coming in top in town will always be the Craftsman Company for me. The staff particularly stand out, as well as their impressive selection of pints on draft. The Old Workshop’s open mic nights are always a hit, and a great opportunity to meet other creatively minded people in the city. I was recently pleasantly surprised by Ye Olde Frigate Bar, tucked away in the Netherkirkgate, and highly recommend to anyone looking for a cosy spot. And of course, it wouldn’t be an article of mine without mentioning the St Machar Bar. Excellent staff, excellent booze, and a thriving community of locals, students, staff. It’s always exciting to see the bar packed throughout the week, whether for darts, quizzes, or just regular drinking. Although not one I visit regularly, I’ve heard excellent buzz about The Howff’s pub quiz on a Sunday night, and will be visiting soon in the name of journalistic integrity.
Castlegate has been an area I’ve enjoyed exploring recently. I never thought too much of it, and have foolishly looked past what seems to be one of Aberdeen’s most creative, jam-packed areas, full of hidden treasures. There are cafes, galleries, antique stores, and independent pubs stacked up and down the square, and I aim to familiarise myself with them all more. Unfortunately, the area is currently under renovation that was meant to start in August, but has only begun this last month. The £20 million refurbishment is expected to take 6 months, with large parts of the square officially closed until then. The council is looking to create a more ‘cafe culture’ based civic square, which is definitely work I can get behind.
Aberdeen is constantly surprising me, and I’m delighted to get to discover more about its local colour as time goes by. The negative reputation so often placed on this city is simply one of ignorance, rather than education or experience. Of course, there is a distinct difference between central belt cities and ourselves. However, I feel that this difference is actually what sets Aberdeen apart, allowing for a close, tight night community of creatives and businesses to thrive.
