Welcome to your latest In Touch newsletter
When The Tall Ships Races was at its height on that glorious weekend in July, we all knew it was going to be good for the Granite City – and now we know exactly how good.
Even the most optimistic of us – myself included – have been staggered by the figures showing the event pulled in almost half a million visits to Aberdeen and injected an astonishing £32.2 million into the local economy.
Local hotels saw bumper occupancy rates and businesses saw a boost in footfall and turnover.
Almost as valuable was the feelgood factor created by the carnival-atmosphere of the Tall Ships with 95% of visitors rating their time there as good or excellent – and more than 90% saying it had boosted their pride in the city.
We even earned a new title as “The Friendly City” thanks to zero arrests being made during the festival weekend.
No matter what metric you use, The Tall Ships Races was a fantastic success that lifted Aberdeen out of the doldrums.
That was exactly what Aberdeen Inspired hoped for when we first sat down with Sail Training International almost four years ago and suggested they bring the Tall Ships back to Aberdeen after an absence of a generation.
Our vision of boosting businesses, lifting the city and staging an event that would be remembered for years to come was shared and embraced by Aberdeen City Council, the Port of Aberdeen who came on board with Aberdeen Inspired to make the dream a reality.
Others joined this crusade to see Aberdeen stage a world-class event – the organisations who became sponsors, the businesses who embraced the armada of opportunities, the volunteers who stepped forward to make it happen, the visitors who flocked into the city.
The success of The Tall Ships Races was a result of unfailing teamwork, unflagging hard graft and unflinching belief in Aberdeen.
And there is the true legacy the Tall Ships have left in their wake – a re-energised Aberdeen that knows what it can do when everyone from the movers and shakers to ordinary folk pull together for the good – and pride - of the city they love.
Team Aberdeen is a concept people have often talked of over the years. Now they have seen the reality in action and witnessed what we can achieve.
So let’s savour the success of The Tall Ships ... and seek ways to keep its passion, ethos and drive alive for the good of Aberdeen.
Best wishes,
Adrian Watson,
Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired
STORIES
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Inspired hails ‘phenomenal success’ as The Tall Ships Races generates £32.2 million for city economy
The impact of The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen in generating £32.2 million for the local economy while attracting 496,000 visits has been hailed as a phenomenal boost for the Granite City by Aberdeen Inspired.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, one of the host port partners for the event along with Aberdeen City Council and Port of Aberdeen, said the success of the event – revealed in a report by council officers - had surpassed all expectations.
Adrian said: “The economic impact of bringing the Tall Ships to Aberdeen is beyond even what we at Aberdeen Inspired had hoped for when we first floated the idea of bringing this fantastic event back to the Granite City after 27 years.”
Image credits - Codona's
Curated In The Square organisers unveil the line-up of north-east creatives and producers joining the sparkling Christmas market
Organisers of Curated In The Square say they have had an overwhelming response from north-east creatives and producers clamouring to be part of Aberdeen’s sparkling Christmas market.
Their comments came as Charlie House today revealed more than 50 unique traders who will be scheduled across the 28 chalets that will transform Marischal Square into a winter wonderland for six weekends in the run up to Christmas.
Curated In The Square will be a mix of food, drink, arts, crafts, clothing, homeware and jewellery showcasing the cream of the north-east traders, said the charity, which stages the market with Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdeen City Council and Codona’s.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Help us shape the future of Aberdeen city centre
Aberdeen Inspired is in the process of crafting a business plan for 2026 to 2031 and want our levy-payers to have their say.
We would like your thoughts and priorities on how we can create and promote an attractive, safe and welcoming city centre.
We also want to hear your views on how we are helping your business, plus any other priorities you think Aberdeen Inspired can help you with.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Thanks to all who attended our BID network meetings
In the past few days Aberdeen Inspired has hosted BID network meetings for the Belmont Quarter, Merchant Quarter and Union Street levy-payers.
These have been ideal forums to discuss and air a range of topics including city centre safety, how to access funds and grants for projects, as well as updates on the progress of the Union Street Central project.
Our thanks to all the businesses who came along, and also to representatives from fellow stakeholders including Aberdeen City Council, Police Scotland, Morrison Construction as well as the city councillors who attended.
We know our levy-payers value these network meetings as a chance to learn what’s happening in the city centre, to air their views and share their ideas.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Still time to nominate your local here with Aberdeen Gift Card
The UK’s most successful local gift card is giving back to the community with a festive campaign that celebrates local heroes.
Backed by the Aberdeen Gift Card, the BIG Christmas Giveback is a national competition that recognises the people and organisations making a positive impact on local communities.
The person or organisation with the most nominations in the competition will win a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Aberdeen Gift Card, with one person who nominated them winning a £500 gift card. Entries close on November 28.
Image credits - Port of Aberdeen
Record-breaking year for cruise ship visitors welcomed as major economic boost by Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Inspired has welcomed another record-breaking cruise season at the Port of Aberdeen – with 43,000 guests welcomed, an increase of 79% on last year.
The growth was driven by a record 65 cruise calls, up more than 50% year on year, alongside a trend of larger vessels berthing at the port’s new £420 million Aberdeen South Harbour. The 2025 cruise season was brought to a close on Saturday 20 September with the arrival of Viking Vela at South Harbour.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, welcomed the bumper year for cruise visitors as a major boost for the city and the region.
Image credits - Scotland's Towns Partnership
Inspiring Aberdeen: City business leader receives top national award
A prominent businessman whose passion for Aberdeen has played a critical part in reenergising the city has been recognised for his inspirational leadership.
Allan Henderson, Managing Director of The McGinty’s Group, has been named as Place Leader of the Year in the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards. He recently stepped down as chair of Aberdeen Inspired after dedicating just shy of a decade to the key city centre role.
Judges named him as the winner after hearing of his “unwavering commitment”, not only to his own substantial business interests, but to the city and wider region.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Inspired welcomes Sobr – Scotland’s first alcohol-free bar that has put the Granite City in the global spotlight
Scotland’s first alcohol-free bar has opened its doors in the Granite City after garnering attention from across the world – and praise from Aberdeen Inspired as a welcome addition to the city centre.
SOBR on Thistle Street opened on October 23 and will offer a curated selection of alcohol-free cocktails, wines, beers, ciders and spirits. Kate Kenyon, the entrepreneur behind the visionary enterprise, hopes it will change people’s minds about the idea of sobriety and sober drinks.
Kate also hopes it will bring more people into the city centre to enjoy a night out after a flurry of media and online attention put SOBR firmly in the spotlight at home and abroad.
Image credits - Aberdeen Performing Arts
Review: Scottish Opera’s La Boheme is simply sublime from start to finish
It is an opera that has inspired classic musicals, think Moulin Rouge and Rent, but if you want the best, seek out the original – La Boheme.
And this Scottish Opera production of Puccini’s tale of love and loss among struggling artists in Paris is simply sublime from start to finish, delighting the audience at HIs Majesty's Theatre last night.
While it is a revamp of a reboot – a revival of the acclaimed 2107 version by Barbe & Doucet which transported the action to the French capital of the 1920s – it is as fresh and powerful as the day the opera premiered in 1896.
The time shift is a clever device, opening with a contemporary setting in a bustling flea market that gradually melts away to the Jazz Age, as the opening bars of Puccini’s soaring score are played on a gramophone before the glorious Orchestra of the Scottish Opera roars into life.