A former Union Street nightclub is to be brought back to life as a pub games venue.
Espionage is the latest Aberdeen bar to embrace the “competitive socialisation” trend.
The city licensing board has approved a major change in its operation, allowing customers to play an array of activities on the premises.
Visitors will be able to expect to play darts, shuffleboard, pool, skee ball and arcade games at the former Espionage.
Espionage spied for ‘major’ change
It closed before the pandemic, adding to the numerous empty properties along the Granite Mile.
Around 20 jobs are expected to be created through the reopening, under new management.
Solicitor Stephen McGowan said the major change to the former nightclub was aimed at bringing the building back into use.
He told board members: “We are changing the licence to allow a new business to come in and operate the premises as, what they call these days, a competitive socialisation venue.
“Members will know that the premises have been closed for a while.
“It is good to see an application like this come forward to get the premises back open again under new management and a new direction.”
When could Espionage reopen in Aberdeen?
Aberdeen’s Espionage could reopen for trading early next year, it is hoped.
Competitive socialisation – or pub games for the layman – has enjoyed a boom in Aberdeen, and nationwide – in recent years.
Since the coronavirus lockdown, venues such as the Beach Bar and Hatchet Harry’s offer a variety of activities for punters.
Before Aberdeen City Council’s £50 million new market plans were unveiled for the former BHS in Union Street, it was planned to offer similar.
Since then, the former department store has been bulldozed to make way for the new food and drinks venue.
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