Welcome to your latest In Touch newsletter
This Monday will see what I hope will be a milestone meeting for the revival of retail in Aberdeen’s city centre – and I would urge you to be there.
At a business breakfast, to which all our levy payers and city centre partners and stakeholders have been invited, Jonathan De Mello, founder of JDM Retail, will present the key findings from Aberdeen Inspired’s Retail and Property Strategy.
This is the evidence-based review we commissioned, with support from Aberdeen City Council, to assess the city centre market, identify gaps in the retail, leisure and hospitality offer, compare Aberdeen with similar places, and recommend practical next steps to attract brands that add value and diversity.
While there is so much to celebrate and be proud of in our city centre, it is clear there are still many challenges and still much that could and should be done.
I believe the document Jonathan has crafted is a roadmap to retail revival across our city centre, something Aberdeen desperately needs to reach its full potential and cement its place as the regional city of the north-east of Scotland.
This will be the first chance to hear Jonathan lay out what the strategy means in practice for traders and businesses, highlighting the key opportunities, challenges and priorities for Aberdeen.
A panel discussion with Jonathan and other key stakeholders will give those attending a chance to ask questions and find out more about what the future could hold for retail in the heart of the Granite City.
It is my hope this will be start of a joined-up, comprehensive and informed plan of action that will see everyone – traders, businesses, partners and stakeholders – working together to bring fresh life to our city centre as Team Aberdeen.
There is, of course, no magic wand on the table. There is, though, a clear-eyed view of what we need to do and how we need to do it by working together with a shared vision and renewed faith in the future.
So, please, be part of the conversation on Monday and part of the drive to revive and re-energise our Aberdeen.
Best wishes,
Adrian Watson,
Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired
STORIES
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Your chance to take a first look at Aberdeen city centre’s roadmap to retail revival
There is still time to book your place for a business breakfast where Jonathan De Mello, founder of JDM Retail, presents the key findings from Aberdeen Inspired’s Retail and Property Strategy.
This evidence-based review was commissioned by Aberdeen Inspired, with support from Aberdeen City Council, to assess the city centre market, identify gaps in the retail, leisure and hospitality offer, compare Aberdeen with similar places, and recommend practical next steps to attract brands that add value and diversity.
He will share his thoughts at a special business breakfast organised by Aberdeen Inspired on Monday, February 23, from 8am to 10am (registration from 7.30am) at the Douglas Hotel on Market Street.
This is a ticketed event which must be booked in advance, with free admittance for Aberdeen Inspired members and a £15 option for non-levy payers.
Places are going fast, so grab your seat and register to attend!
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Record-breaking line-up for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks makes it the biggest in Scotland
Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks returns on Monday (February 23) with a record number of venues taking part – making it the largest event of its kind in Scotland.
Almost 90 restaurants, bars and cafes will take part in the hugely-popular Foodie Fortnight - which will run from until Sunday, March 8.
And the hugely-popular event has a new ingredient – with a fun bingo card for discerning diners to enjoy along with the finest food the city has to offer.
Aberdeen Inspired hopes the event will bring a huge boost to the Granite City’s hard-pressed hospitality industry while increasing footfall in the city centre.
Find out more about the Foodie Fortnight.
More details about the bingo fun.
Image credits - Nuart Aberdeen
Young artists invited to create their own ‘masterpieces’ for Nuart Aberdeen
School pupils from Aberdeen and across the north-east will be part of this year’s Nuart Aberdeen in a bid to fire their imaginations – and maybe find the next generation of world-class street artists.
Youngsters from nursery level to Sixth Year, will be invited to create their own artwork around “Poetry Is In The Streets”, the theme for this year’s festival, which will run from April 23 to 26.
Their submitted masterpieces will be displayed at prime locations across the city, said Aberdeen Inspired, who deliver Nuart Aberdeen in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and produced by Reed Projects.
This year’s festival – which has been named one of the top six in the world – is leaning even further into the education strand, partnering with the University of Aberdeen for the first time.
Read more about this Nuart Aberdeen innovation.
Image credits - Port of Aberdeen
Aberdeen set for record cruise season as calls rise 12% in 2026
North-east businesses and communities are set to benefit from Aberdeen’s growing reputation as a cruise destination, with 73 ships and up to 57,000 guests in 2026.
While estimates vary about how much cruise guests spend per visit, the scale of activity this year is set to deliver a multi-million pound economic boost for the region.
The season begins with Viking Cruise’s Viking Neptune making its maiden call to Port of Aberdeen on 31 March, with cruise calls continuing through to 25 September with Viking Vela. Viking Cruises will account for more than 20 calls across the season, including the newly built Viking Mira during its debut season.
Read more about this good news for Aberdeen.
Image credits - Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen Inspired welcomes GB Energy’s choice of HQ as boost for city centre
Aberdeen Inspired welcomes GB Energy’s choice of Marischal Square as its HQ as a boost for the city centre and a vote of confidence in Aberdeen.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “That GB Energy has chosen to not only make Aberdeen the home of its new headquarters, but to base itself right in the heart of the Granite City is a welcome and major boost that we all need right now.”
Read Adrian’s comments.