An iconic Aberdeen building will this month complete its transformation into two “stylish” and “sophisticated” restaurants.
The Esslemont Bar & Restaurant and Mac’s Pizzeria will welcome their first diners on Friday, August 23.
A six-figure sum has been spent on rejuvenating the former Esslemont & Macintosh building on the city’s Union Street.
The ground floor was most recently home to Jamie’s Italian, but its doors closed two years ago as the chain floundered.
Now the increasingly successful McGinty’s Group is ready to showcase the fruits of its labours.
It challenged award-winning architects Nicoll Russell Studios to concert not only the ground floor but the upper floor, modernising them while taking inspiration from the building’s past as one of Aberdeen’s most prominent department stores.
The Esslemont Bar & Restaurant, with seating for up to 100 people, will be based on the ground floor, with the 120-seater Mac’s Pizzeria on the first floor.
They are the latest additions to the McGinty’s Group’s growing portfolio of venues, which includes McGinty’s Meal An’ Ale, The Stag, No.10 Bar & Restaurant, The Ferryhill House Hotel, The Fourmile, The Silver Darling and The Grill.
Group director Allan Henderson said: “We are delighted to reveal the opening date of The Esslemont and Mac’s Pizzeria.
“This project has been our biggest to date and it has been amazing to see the building transformed in our vision.
“With two concepts in the one building, we are aiming to appeal to a wide audience while creating something new and exciting for the city.
“We cannot wait to get the doors open and reveal the full transformation.”
Operations director Alan Aitken added: “Over the last few months we have been working hard with our local contractors to bring this iconic building back to life.
“It is fantastic to now reach the final stages and announce the opening date.
“With only a few weeks to go, we are officially now taking reservations from August 23 onwards on our websites.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone for some good times.”