Aberdeen's iconic Esslemont restaurant is set to close as the city centre grapples with declining footfall - but owner McGinty's Group has confirmed staff will be relocated.
The Union Street reastaurent opened in 2019 on the ground floor of the historic Esslemont and MacIntosh building close to Broad Street, but will now close its doors on February 22.
The Press and Journal reports owner Allan Henderson said: “While recovering from the consequences of Covid closures and recently, lower footfall in the area, we have made the business decision to close the restaurant for the time being.
“Whilst we are disappointed to close the restaurant, we are delighted that we can move our hard-working staff to a new-look restaurant at The Ferryhill.”
Meanwhile, the P&J also reports that Victoria Mutch, owner of Style Your Shape on Schoolhill, hit out at bus gates and the LEZ as she announced she was moving her business to the old Debenhams unit in the Trinity Centre.
The business woman, who was a prominent backer of the Common Sense Compromise campaign led by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and the P&J.
She told the newspaper: “It’s been no secret that things have been tough the last 18 months since the introduction of traffic measures, bus gates and subsequently LEZ.
“I’ve been in regular contact with councillors indicating the impact their decisions are having on businesses in the city centre and sadly I couldn’t justify keeping the business in Schoolhill.
“I’ve made the decision to move to a higher footfall area to keep the doors open.”