Welcome to your latest In Touch newsletter
Summer is almost over and autumn is waiting in the wings... so what better time for Aberdeen to have not one, but three special weeks celebrating fine food, wonderful whiskies and marvellous music?
Team Aberdeen Inspired is gearing up now for the return of the next Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks – a Foodie Fortnight that will see more than 60 restaurants, bars and cafes offering special tasty menus at delicious prices.
Kicking off on September 1, this is the ideal way to ease from summer into autumn by enjoying your favourite restaurants, discovering new ones and giving your excellent hospitality sector a much-needed boost.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen Inspired is delighted to raise a glass to Aberdeen Whisky Week which is now underway and running until August 31. With more than 24 venues taking part with exclusive nips and super prices, it’s a tribute to our national drink that will delight whisky afficionados and maybe introduce the joys of malt to the “dram curious”.
And rounding out the trio of treat weeks is Aberdeen Music Week – supported by Aberdeen Inspired – that will showcase the diverse range of talent in the Granite City, while helping to build a base to support our upcoming talent. It runs from Wednesday to Saturday and is bound to hit the high notes.
There is one golden thread that weaves through all three of these fantastic events – the drive to celebrate the best our city has to offer while attracting people into the heart of Aberdeen, giving them something to enjoy, a chance to find other attractions, and all while supporting local on their days and nights out.
That is vital, because people are the driving force in the regeneration of Aberdeen. The more they come in, the more they see and do and the more time – and money – they spend, the more vibrant and more successful our city centre will become.
Special weeks like these – and all the other festivals and events throughout the year – also help people get into the habit of seeing Aberdeen as a fantastic place to visit and enjoy all year round, not just when the big set piece celebrations are happening.
So come out and enjoy Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, Aberdeen Whisky Week and Aberdeen Music Week and discover – or rediscover – how great our city is.
Finally, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Allan Henderson, who is stepping down as chairman of Aberdeen Inspired after nine years of sterling service, for everything he has done to champion our work.
And I also give the warmest of welcomes to our new chair, Jeanette Forbes who brings a wealth of experience, vision and passion to the role. I look forward to working with her and know she will be a fantastic ambassador for Aberdeen.
Best wishes,
Adrian Watson,
Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired
STORIES
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Change of chair for Aberdeen Inspired
There has been a changing of the guard at the top of Aberdeen Inspired as long-serving chairman Allan Henderson steps down from the post and entrepreneur and businesswoman Dr Jeanette Forbes, OBE, takes on the role.
The handover happened at a recent board meeting of the city centre Business Improvement District (BID), which aims to attract, sustain and boost investment in Aberdeen’s city centre for the benefit of its levy payers and all those who live, work, shop and visit there.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Find out who’s on the menu for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks
Aberdeen Inspired has unveiled who is on the menu for the next outing of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks with more than 60 eateries ready to offer up mouthwatering delights during the Foodie Fortnight.
The line-up for the hugely-popular event, running from Monday, September 1, to Sunday, September 14, is online from today, and includes a mix of returning favourites and new venues making their Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks debut.
They take in cuisines from across the world – such as the finest Scottish fayre, the exotic, spicy flavours of Asia and the sun-drenched tastes of the Mediterranean – with lunch and dinner menus at special prices, from £10 to £30.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Seats at the Secret Suppers tables are going fast so grab them while you can
Pssst... did you know there are still a few seats left for the superb Secret Suppers during Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks?
The unique themed social dining experience - A Secret journey to the Mediterranean on Friday, September 12, has already sold out. But a handful of Secret Supper places are up for grabs at both the opening and closing nights of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks.
A few seats at the table are still available for The Pearl on Sunday, August 31, and for A Symphony of Spice on Sunday, September 14 - so grab them while you can.
Just in case you didn’t know, the Secret Suppers are truly a secret with both the menus and location kept under wraps until the day of the supper. The one thing for certain is that it will an unforgettable unique dining experience that seasoned eaters will relish.
To find out more – and book a place before they are all gone – visit here
Image credits - Kris Romanski / Sail Training International
‘All hands on deck’ to bring the Tall Ships back within five years says Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Inspired is ready to pull out all the stops to bring The Tall Ships Races back to the Granite City within the next five years, said chief executive Adrian Watson.
“As far as I am concerned, it is now all hands on deck to see the Tall Ships back in Aberdeen within five years, bringing so much excitement, joy – and a boost for the local economy – in their wake,” said Adrian.
His comments came after it was revealed an official bid is already being prepared to have the spectacular event return as soon as 2029 or 2030 after the outstanding success of their visit last month, with Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdeen City Council, and Port of Aberdeen as host partners.
Image credits - Aberdeen Music Week
Global music events such as SXSW inspires the first Aberdeen Music Week
A new Aberdeen Music Week is hitting the high notes – as organisers say they have been inspired by global gatherings such as SXSW in Texas and the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg.
The event, presented by the city-based art and music organisation Raven Afrikulture, is a celebration of music, culture and creative innovation in the Granite City, including performances from more than 50 artists, masterclasses, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
Aberdeen Music Week (AMW), supported by Aberdeen Inspired, will run to Saturday, August 23, at venues ranging from Aberdeen Art Gallery to Unit 51 on Carnegie’s Brae.
Image credits - Aberdeen Whisky Week
Aberdeen Inspired welcomes ‘dram fine’ Whisky Week in the Granite City
Aberdeen Inspired says slainte to the return of Whisky Week in the Granite City, which kicked off yesterday (Thursday, August 21).
Running for 10 days, until August 31, the city-wide festival will see 24 venues pouring exclusive drams, running special menus and offering whisky lovers - and the whisky-curious - the chance to explore Aberdeen through its best whiskies.
This is the second year of Aberdeen Whisky Week, organised by Gregor Sey and Charlie Bain of Cocktail Events UK, and its return was warmly welcomed by Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired.
Image credits - Aberdeen Performing Arts
From the Fringe to the Granite City: Top comedians set to appear at Aberdeen Comedy Festival
Some of the UK’s funniest rising stars and established comedy names are swapping the cobbles of the Scotland’s capital for the silver streets of the Granite City, as Aberdeen Comedy Festival gears up to welcome acts hot off the Edinburgh Fringe this autumn.
The festival, which has been revived by Aberdeen Performing Arts and supported by Aberdeen Inspired for 2025, will take place in venues across Aberdeen from Monday 22 September to Sunday 5 October.
The largest comedy showcase in the north-east, Aberdeen Comedy Festival will draw in comedy fans from across the country as it welcomes an all-star line-up for a fortnight of funny from the Fringe.
Read more about Aberdeen Comedy Festival.
Image credits - Scotland’s Towns Partnership
Special video for Scotland Loves Local Gift Card Week puts Aberdeen in focus
Aberdeen Inspired was delighted to welcome Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Executive Officer and a film crew from Scotland's Towns Partnership earlier this month to record a promotional video to support Scotland Loves Local Gift Card Week, which starts tomorrow (Saturday, August 23).
In the spotlight were three of the Business Improvement District’s campaigns to boost bricks and mortal local firms – Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks, Aberdeen Gift Card and Shop Aberdeen.
The video was shot at a range of local businesses, including Annie Mo’s and Singh Street, with local business leaders, including Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired.
We can’t wait to see the finished product.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Relive the magic of the Tall Ships – and hopes for their return – with a stunning highlights video
The magic of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen has been captured on a special highlights video – online from today - so people can relive the unforgettable atmosphere of the spectacular event.
All the key moments are in the spotlight, from the arrival of the magnificent vessels and the hundreds of thousands of people flocking to see them at the Port of Aberdeen, through to the rousing Quayside Concerts - with top bands like Kaiser Chiefs and Deacon Blue - and the carnival atmosphere of the crew parade.
The video has gone online just days after it was revealed Aberdeen City Council, Port of Aberdeen, and Aberdeen Inspired – host partners behind last month’s event - are in talks with Sail Training International on options for bringing the Tall Ships back.