A popular city centre bar has announced it is closing down - blaming the “utterly ridiculous” bus gates and LEZ turning the city centre into a “no-go zone”.
CASC, a stone’s thrown from Union Street on Stirling Street, took to social media to announce the news - and didn’t shy away from a few parting shots in the process.
Likening the city to a scene from the dystopian Back to the Future 2, CASC slammed the "absolute state" of the Green/Aberdeen Market site.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, CASC said: "We figure many of you had guessed by now, but the sad day has finally come - we have to say goodbye...
"Since COVID it has been rough. Even after lockdowns ended, town failed to return to normal. So, on top of recovery loans it meant we had to take on further debt to see us through to what we thought would have been normality in 2022.
"Unfortunately, the unforeseen energy/ cost of living crisis continued the downturn, yet we remained hopeful the city would eventually recover and that we could survive long enough to see normality again.
"Then came the final nail(s) in the coffin with the utterly ridiculous LEZs/bus gates, and the seemingly never-ending construction around the city turning the centre into a no-go zone for many.
"Add to that our surrounding hotels are now homeless shelters; plus, the absolute state of the Green/ Aberdeen Market site and it's no wonder we felt like Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise in Back to the Future's alternate and hellish: Hill Valley.
"With the council refusing to help local businesses with rates relief, or anything else for that matter, and the continued rising costs we just couldn't see a way forward.
"It has been an huge honour to be part of the Aberdeen bar scene for so long and to have had such a huge impact on the UK cigar industry.
"We saw CASC as an Aberdeen staple, a brand that would stand the test of time and grow throughout the UK, which for all intents and purposes it was. Our regulars speak highly of us - our brand, our service and our ethos; tourists often say they wished they had a CASC in their city; we are known throughout the country, and beyond for that matter, and our reviews speak for themselves.
"Our business was sound, but unfortunately there is only so much we can do against such overwhelming odds...
"We wish to thank all our staff for their continued support over the years; we seriously couldn't have done it without you. We feel like we have let you down, so for this we are sorry.
"And finally, you CASCers. We've had a total blast serving you over the years, so thank you for supporting us."
CASC added that both its bar and shop were ready for a new tenant to take them on and asked anyone interested to enquire via info@cascnation.com