Last week, Revolucion de Cuba nightclub and Smoke and Soul restaurant shut their doors to Aberdonians.
They are the latest in a long list of businesses to cease trading in Aberdeen recently – including Decathlon, Vue Cinemas and the iconic Blue Lamp pub.
Rev de Cuba’s parent company, The Revel Collective, fell into administration but The Press & Journal reports that Revolution, Rev de Cuba’s sister bar of the same owner, will remain open.
Lara, a fourth year student, said Rev de Cuba’s closure was “deeply upsetting,” adding:
“It was the only space where I could get loose and dance properly. It didn’t discriminate when it came to age – everyone came together, young and old.”
Barbeque restaurant The Firepit by Smoke and Soul announced they would not be reopening their city centre venue, reverting to food truck pop ups and catering for events only.
In December, the sudden closure of family-owned The Blue Lamp provoked outcry from jazz, folk and blues musicians who called the pub home. Student societies had also used the iconic candle-lit bar, open since 1949, to host pub quizzes, open mics and philosophy discussions.
Iona Fyfe, folk singer and University rector, reacted: “This is dreadful news. We cannot keep losing our venues.”
A few doors away on Gallowgate street, Brewdog pulled the plug on its original flagship bar back in July.
Further, following the stepping back of its founders James Watt and Martin Dickie, Brewdog decided to discontinue its spirits brands with its Aberdeenshire distillery set to fall silent over the coming months.
Decathlon left their Union Square lease in November, and IKEA is set to take its place this spring in a move from Wellington Circle to the city centre location.
On 5 January, Vue Cinema screened their last film in Aberdeen. This leaves Cineworld as the sole operator of the city’s movie theatres until the opening of Belmont Filmhouse expected in 12 to 15 months.
This month, Dough & Co donut shop on the busy Belmont Street also permanently closed.
Subway has been vacant from their Students’ Union Building location from the beginning of the academic year. A University spokesperson said: “The lease in the Subway outlet is still active and we are liaising with them over their future plans.”
The closures and changes come as hospitality and retail bosses in Britain blame high taxes, increasing staff costs and flimsy demand for difficult business conditions. Locally, many Aberdonians say that bus gates, ultra low emissions zones and Union Street roadworks prevent them from visiting and spending in town.
Lists compiled by Aberdeen Live and The Herald show brands which closed at least one of their Aberdeen locations last year include Poundland, WH Smith, Claire’s, Pizza Hut, Bodycare, Quiz Clothing, Leon, Select Fashion, Homebase, New Look, Starbucks, Hobbycraft, Ladbrokes, and Bank of Scotland.
In an apparent indication of poor business prospects and changes to come, pub giant Stonegate Group have begun advertising their popular student bars Triplekirks and Slains for tenancy to new managers.
The Bobbin, a student favourite pub also owned by Stonegate, has already come into the hands of new manager Varinder Sood – a local business owner and cab driver – who will aim to keep the doors open.
Stonegate’s move to lease much of its Aberdeen pub portfolio comes just one year after it paid six figures for a major refurbish of Slains that “some felt took away some of the historic gothic character” of the former church, according to the venue’s tenancy brochure.
Oliver Kennedy, an Editor-in-Chief of this newspaper, works part-time in Our Union Street – a campaign to promote business on the high street. He shared his perspective on recent closures:
“Cost of living struggles and a decline in students drinking regularly have been particularly damaging for hospitality venues in and around Aberdeen’s city centre. We must however continue to support our high street, particularly our diverse range of independent businesses.
“Recent success stories such as Thistle Tavern and Noodle Library on Union Street suggest a brighter future, and I’m hopeful that a busy summer period will provide a big boost to the city.”
Oliver urged readers to consider their consumers decisions:
“Students can play their part too, by choosing to shop locally and ethically, avoiding large chain brands, fast fashion, and online conglomerates.”
