Glasgow bar and restaurant tycoon Stefan King has emerged as the developer behind “ambitious” plans to take over Greyfriars church next to Marischall College.
Mr King’s company G1 Group pledged to stick with its plans to invest in the Grade A listed Gothic church despite the oil and gas downturn.
Plans for the church have not yet been disclosed, although Aberdeen City Council’s masterplan indicates it could be used for a bar, a hotel or an office.
A scheme to turn the disused place of worship into the headquarters of an oil and gas company were abandoned in 2013, after the project hit planning delays.
G1 also owns the Illicit Still, the pub and restaurant across the road from the 115-year old church, which it acquired from Garreth Wood, son of oil industry billionaire Sir Ian Wood.
G1 Group is also owner of Aberdeen’s Palm Court Hotel.
The Greyfriars, which was built in 1903, has lain unused since 2004 when the Church of Scotland decided to merge
its congregations with that of Queen Street Church.
In a statement, G1 said: “Despite the continuing challenges for the oil sector, G1 has invested in Aberdeen acquiring the iconic Illicit Still, and is also embarking on an ambitious redevelopment of Greyfriars Church, adjacent to Marischal College.”