
WELCOME TO YOUR LATEST IN TOUCH NEWSLETTER
We’ve been busy here at Aberdeen Inspired serving up a feast of good news to help give the Granite City a boost in these dull, January days.
And what could be tastier than unveiling the line-up for the newest outing of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, arriving to delight discerning diners next month, with special menus at special prices?
It’s not just epicureans who are delighted but also our vital hospitality sector. The Foodie Fortnight brings people into town, has them visit great restaurants and gives so many shops, bars and restaurants a boost when they need it most.
On the subject of giving businesses a boost, we are delighted that our Aberdeen Gift Card scheme has been named as the best of its kind in the UK for the second year in a row.
That’s an accolade everyone at Aberdeen Inspired is proud of – even more so when you factor in the astonishing amount of sales it generates for “bricks and mortar” shops, businesses and attractions.
Aberdeen Gift Card is estimated to have injected some £6.6 million into the local economy since we launched it five years ago. It really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Also brightening up dreich January is the news that Aberdeen Inspired is partnering with Aberdeen City Council for the much-loved Spectra Festival of Light which returns next month.
This collaboration means the iconic Aberdeen letters will temporarily be moving from their familiar Union Terrace Gardens spot to become a centrepiece for Spectra on Broad Street. The letters – complete with a special Spectra design – will be quite the spectacle with the illuminated backdrop of Marischal College behind.
Aberdeen Inspired has stepped into the spotlight itself by becoming one of the founding members of High Streets UK – a new forum that aims to tackle the pressing issues face by High Streets the length and breadth of the country.
The Granite City is in some illustrious company, with other founding members including representatives from Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, Newcastle and Liverpool. Nice to see Union Street standing shoulder to shoulder with Princes Street and Oxford Street in a prestigious group that will have a national voice and some hefty political clout.
That’s what Aberdeen Inspired has delivered in the past few weeks – but can I ask you to help deliver another major coup for the Granite City, please?
Hera’s masterwork for Nuart Aberdeen on the side of Union Point at the harbour is in the running to be named the greatest UK mural of 2024. Please take the time to cast your vote and bring that brilliant title home to Aberdeen.
Best wishes,
Adrian Watson,
Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired
STORIES

Image Credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Come and get it... Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks unveils a banquet of tasty treats
Come and get it... Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks has unveiled the line-up of eateries getting ready to serve up a feast of delights with delicious dining deals from as little as a fiver.
With nearly 60 restaurants, bars and cafes taking part and cuisines ranging from Asian to Scottish, Mexican to French, there is something to suit all tastes when the foodie fortnight returns from Monday, February 24, to Sunday, March 9.
Organisers Aberdeen Inspired said event’s recipe for success includes fun events – like a “Sundae School” with Mackie’s 19.2 Ice CreamParlour, a chance to dunk your own donut at Dough & Co and even an invitation to go zen with a mix of yoga and food packages at Second Home Studio.
Read all about it here.

Image Credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Gift Card is UK’s must successful two years in a row
The “trailblazing” Aberdeen Gift Card has been named the most successful in the UK for a second year running after racking up almost £830,000 in sales in 2024 - boosting more than 300 “bricks and mortar” shops, businesses and attractions.
The milestone figure means the gift card has now generated almost £4 million in sales since it was launched five years – all of that going back into the local economy.
As people spend an average of 65% more than the face value of their card, that spending figure is closer to £6.6 million.
You can read more about this great success story here

Image Credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen letters to trip the light fantastic as Aberdeen Inspired become Spectra partners
The Hollywood-style sign, brought to the city by Aberdeen Inspired, will be temporarily flitting from its familiar spot in Union Terrace Gardens to take up residence on outside Marischal College on Broad Street for the duration of Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light from February 6 to 9.
The letters will feature a special design for the occasion and provide a perfect picture-ready illuminated backdrop for visitors to enjoy. This addition also sees Aberdeen Inspired join as a festival partner, collaborating with Aberdeen City Council to deliver a fantastic experience for visitors at the festival.
Read more about it here.

Image Credits - Tall Ships Races Aberdeen
Aberdeen as city set to host largest fleet in this year’s Tall Ships Races
Some 44 magnificent vessels are now confirmed for The TallShips Races Aberdeen 2025 – meaning the Granite City is set to host the largest fleet of this year’s world-class event.
Organisers are now on track for their target of welcoming 50Tall Ships to Port of Aberdeen, transforming the harbour in the heart of the city into a “forest of masts” to delight the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to flock to the event.
You can read more about it here.

Aberdeen Inspired among founding members of national forum aimed at helping UK High Streets thrive
Aberdeen Inspired, the city’s Business Improvement District, is among the founding members of a new nationwide group aimed at tackling the most pressing issues facing UK high streets to help them flourish and thrive.
High Streets UK is a pro-growth, nationwide partnership of representatives from flagship high streets across the country with the Granite City joining representatives of the likes of Oxford Street in London and Princess Street in Edinburgh.
Read more here.

Image Credits - Clarke Joss Photography
Vote for Hera’s iconic Nuart Aberdeen work to be named UK’s greatest mural
A spectacular artwork created by world-acclaimed artist Hera for Nuart Aberdeen is in the running to be named the greatest UK mural of 2024 – and Aberdeen Inspired is urging people to vote for the city’s masterpiece.
The work on the side of the towering Union Point at Aberdeen Harbour - depicting a girl holding a unicorn - is included as one of nine UK murals in the Artist Choice category of the Street Art Cities Best of 2024 Awards
It would be fantastic coup for the city were Hera to win this prestigious title so cast your vote now... you can read more about it here.

Image Credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen’s Curated In The Quad Christmas market raises £32,000 for Charlie House
Aberdeen’s Curated In The Quad festive market has given Charlie House the gift of giving – raising more than £32,000 for the vital north-east charity.
The hugely popular event – which wrapped up after a six-weekend run on December 22 – is organised by Aberdeen Inspired and Charlie House to raise funds for the worthy cause while showcasing the finest local producers and creatives in the north-east.
Bosses at both Charlie House and Aberdeen Inspired said they were delighted this year’s market raised more than £32,000 in funding for the charity – up from £24,500 raised last year.
Read all about it here.

Image Credits - Aberdeen City Council
Share your feedback on Aberdeen Taxis
Aberdeen City Council has commission LVSA to conduct a Taxi Unmet Demand and Private Hire Demand Study, and your input is essential.
Your feedback will help shape the future of licensed vehicle services in Aberdeen, with a summary of responses presented at a 2025 Licensing Committee meeting.
The survey will now remain open until February 2, giving you more time to share your views.
Take part in the survey here.

Image Credits - Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen Inspired welcomes news that more than 6,000 people used the festive night bus service
Aberdeen Inspired has welcome the news that more than 6,000 people used the services of free weekend night buses to key destinations across the city and Aberdeenshire over the festive season and Hogmanay.
The weekend services, which operated from Saturday, 16 November, 2024 to Sunday, 5 January 2025, and were paid for by Aberdeen City Council, saw week-on-week growth on the lead up to Christmas due to increased footfall in the city centre and increased awareness of the service.
You can read more about it here.

Slainte to the Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust Burns Supper
The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust is organising a Burns Supper to raise funds for BreakthroughT1D, a diabetes charity (formerly known as JDRF).
It will be held in The Town & County Hall, Aberdeen Town House, on Saturday, February 1, at 7pm and feature a programme of top-class entertainment to accompany the traditional Burns night menu.
In addition to singing, the one and only Mr Robert Lovie will act as compere for the evening, which will also feature entertainment from seasoned performers Eileen and Craig Pike, Garry Watson, Pipe Major Julie Brinklow and the University of Aberdeen Chapel Choir, as well as Burns recitals from Gordon Hay and Alex Alnasser. There will also be a raffle and charity auction.
Tickers priced at £60 per person (plus booking fee) are available from the council’s ticketing website. For details click here.
Aberdeen businesses owner launches crowdfunder for Aberdeen bus gate legal battle
City centre shop owner Norman Esslemont has launched a crowdfunder to try and raise £35,000 for a legal challenge to Aberdeen city centre’s bus gates.
You can read the P&J’s report here.