In Touch - Issue 60

WELCOME TO YOUR LATEST IN TOUCH NEWSLETTER

The sky is the limit when it comes to making Aberdeen a vibrant, attractive and prosperous city.

Certainly, that’s the case with the thrilling news the world-famous Red Arrows will delight the thousands of people pouring into the Granite City for The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025.

News that the RAF’s elite aerobatic team will be performing their brand new aerobatic show as part of the celebrations sent excitement soaring – as did the reveal that The Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland will hit the high notes as part of the Tall Ships crew parade and also provide a fanfare to open this once-in-a-generation spectacle.

And just to add to the anticipation, the Tall Ships clock counting down the days until the 50-strong fleet arrives now has pride of place in Union Square. Not long now!

Here at Team Aberdeen we are counting down the days to another brilliant event – the return of Shop Aberdeen from Thursday, April 24, to Sunday, April 27.

We were delighted to unveil the 53 city centre retailers who will be offering unique discounts, offers and special events over that special weekend. These include some outstanding – and much-loved – local independent shops alongside High Street names.

Watch this space to discover exactly who will be offering what – and the events they will be staging – all of which will boost bricks and mortar businesses while boosting city centre footfall.

Now, as good things come in three, there was another big news item in the past few days. The Granite City is to get a new open-top, hop-on, hop-of sightseeing bus.

The Aberdeen Adventurer will hit the road for the first time today (Friday, April 18) for a spectacular summer season of delighting tourists and locals alike.

Taking in some of the best-known spots in Aberdeen, along with some hidden gems, this is an ideal way to get a real feel for the myriad attractions and delights of our city.

It is also a massive statement that Aberdeen is a city with so much for visitors – and locals – to see and enjoy.

With an ever-expanding tourism sector, boosted by a record year of cruise ship visits, the 400,000 visits the Tall Ships will bring and return of Offshore Europe, there isn’t a better time to get this latest tourist attraction up and running.

Don’t take my word for it, though. Hop on the Aberdeen Adventurer yourself, get out and rediscover the joy of shopping in person during Shop Aberdeen and get ready to create memories to last a lifetime at The Tall Ships Races.

Together we can drive Aberdeen on to an even better future.

Best wishes,

Adrian Watson,

Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired

155 — *Image Credits - Aberdeen Inspired*

Retailers unveiled for the return of the hugely-popular Shop Aberdeen weekend

More than 50 retailers have signed up to be part of the Shop Aberdeen weekend aimed at boosting bricks and mortar stores in the city centre, Aberdeen Inspired has revealed.

The businesses, ranging from health and beauty to fashion and sports, will have unique offers, special discounts and in-store events during the special event, which will run from Thursday, April 24, to Sunday, April 27.

Aberdeen Inspired has now released the full list of shops who will be part of April’s Shop Aberdeen.

You can read about it here.

Red Arrows set excitement soaring sky high for Tall Ships Races Aberdeen

Excitement around the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen arriving in the Granite City is set to soar sky high as the Red Arrows announce they will be part of the spectacular event.

The world-famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will stage a thrilling aerial display of precision teamwork, close-formations with aircraft just a few feet apart, and dynamic flying, while more than 50 beautiful Tall Ships are berthed at the Port of Aberdeen.

To add to the military spectacle of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen, from July 19 to 22, The Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland will provide the fanfare at the event’s opening ceremony and join the Crew Parade through the heart of the city.

Read more about it here.

TS Business Call Out — *Image Credits - Tall Ships Aberdeen*

Ahoy city businesses... tell us what you’re planning for the arrival of the Tall Ships

Can you offer customers something special during The Tall Ships Races? This could be a themed menu or special cocktail, a unique product, deal or discount, an exciting event or extra entertainment at your venue – completely up to the individual business. We would love to hear what you have planned!

This is your chance for an extra boost of publicity - showcase your business and help welcome visitors to the city for the event!

We will list appropriate promotions on our website and may feature you on our official or partner social media channels. Final deadline for submission is 1st May 2025 but we encourage businesses to let us know as soon as possible so we can consider featuring you in the build up to the event.

Please submit your offers using our online form here.

159 — *Image Credits - Aberdeen Adventurer*

All aboard the Aberdeen Adventurer – the Granite City’s new open-top sightseeing bus

Aberdeen Inspired is delighted to be on board with the new-open top tour bus that will take tourists to the many highlights of the Granite City.

The Aberdeen Adventurer, supported by Aberdeen Inspired in partnership with McGill’s Xplore, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, and VisitAberdeenshire will start from today (April 18).

Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “As the city gears up for a tremendous year for visitors – the arrival of the Tall Ships, the record-breaking number of cruise ship visits, and Offshore Europe – the timing couldn’t be better to get what is bound to be a popular attraction on the road.”

You can find out more here.

VisitAberdeenshire serves up help for local restaurants to make the most from the tourism season

With a busy tourism season already underway, VisitAberdeenshire is setting out to support north-east restaurants and help them make the most of the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to arrive in the region.

It looks set to be a bumper year for tourism, with the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 expected to attract 400,000 visits in July, and already record-breaking cruise ship season, plus Offshore Europe arriving later in the year.

You can discover how VisitAberdeenshire can support restaurants in the region by joining an online meeting on Thursday 15 May at 9.30 am.

Please join using this link.

If you have any questions – or difficulties getting online – contact laura.wilson@visitabdn.com

Vital to report all incidents of city centre anti-social behaviour to police

Aberdeen Inspired is urging everyone to report all incidents of anti-social or non-emergency criminal behaviour in the city centre via 101 or Police Scotland’s online reporting form.

Concerns over such behaviour – which many of our levy payers fear is on the increase in some areas – was raised at a recent city centre safety committee meeting.

The advice from Police Scotland was to make them aware of such incidents by dialling 101. If that line has a lengthy waiting time, incidents can be speedily reported online.

By reporting and logging such behaviour, more reliable statistics can be gathered to create an accurate picture of the scale and location of such behaviour to help the relevant authorities address the issue.

The online reporting form can be found here.

Aberdeen Letters Spectra — *Image Credits - Aberdeen Inspired*

Businesses asked to share their views on Spectra 2025

Spectra 2025 is over but the warm glow from the success ofScotland’s Festival of Light, which attracted 100,00 visits to the heart of the Granite City, still lingers on.

Aberdeen City Council, who staged the event in February with support from Aberdeen Inspired, are gathering feedback from businesses about their thoughts and experiences around Spectra and its impact on them.

With the survey closing this Sunday, April 20, this is you last chance to have your say and share your views which will help inform future events and festivals in Aberdeen.

You can find the survey here .

Nuart Revisited is a work of art – check it out now

We have been celebrating the legacy of Nuart Aberdeen with videos and photos on our social channels about these majestic works, plus revisiting interviews with artists as they created their stunning murals last year.

You can enjoy the whole series below:

Looking for something to do this Sunday? Nuart Tours are back – book your tickets here.