Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has set a date for the launch of its new north-east superpub.
The long-awaited Fraserburgh branch, which is expected to significantly boost the town centre economy, will open its doors on Tuesday, August 12.
The £2million development will create more than 50 jobs.
The old Saltoun Arms is being renovated to make way for the highly anticipated pub and restaurant. Scaffolding and sheeting went up at the property in April.
A spokesman for the award-winning chain, which already has venues in Peterhead and Aberdeen, confirmed that the new establishment, to be named the Saltoun Inn, should be ready in time for next month’s launch.
“We’re opening on August 12, that’s a fact,” he said.
Wetherspoons, which has more than 800 establishments across Britain, bought the derelict hotel in November 2012 after months of prolonged negotiations.
Planning permission for the conversion was secured in 2013 and local licensing board chiefs have also given their backing to the plan. A second stage of the development could involve building guest bedrooms on the second and third floors of the building.
The Broch project is part of the company’s £35million investment plan, which involves creating 30 new pubs throughout the UK.
The hotel, which was built in 1801, was shut for 18 months before being bought by local businessmen in 2005, but it stopped trading a year later.
Unsuccessful attempts have been made to sell the property at auction, at prices ranging from £260,000 to £300,000.
There was outcry from residents when plans were revealed to turn the prominent venue into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO). The scheme was rejected by councillors, but was backed following an appeal to the Scottish Government.
JD Wetherspoon confirmed that backing for the housing plan had no impact on the pub development.