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Seafood Bothy owner puts Stonehaven coastguard hut on the market following lobster controversy

Selling for £115,000, the shed is one of the only properties of its kind on the local market. 

The coastguard bothy in Cowie is up for sale for £115,000.
The coastguard bothy in Cowie is up for sale for £115,000. Image: Aberdein Considine

The owners of the Seafood Bothy has put a Stonehaven coastguard bothy on the market after plans to expand the business were blocked.

Selling for £115,000, the shed is one of the only properties of its kind on the local market.

In recent years, it has been used for basic food preparation and storage by Seafood Bothy, a food van on Stonehaven’s pier.

Side view of coastguard bothy in Cowie near Stonehaven with fence and blue coloured entrance.
The property is up for sale for £115,000. Image: Aberdein Considine

However, after plans to expand the business failed to get planning permission, the owners have decided to sell the property.

‘No point in pursuing seafood hut plans’

In February 2022, Seafood Bothy owners, Maria and Wes Lewis, were given the go-ahead to turn the old coastguard post into a base for food storage and preparation.

The hut, which is in the Cowie area, was used to prepare food such as a pasta, quiche and salad and for storage.

They also purchased a fisherman’s shack in Stonehaven which they planned to transform into a seafood hut complete with a lobster tank.

Despite a lot of public support, the plans were rejected on safety grounds.

Maria Lewis, owner at Seafood Bothy, in front of the eatery van.
Maria Lewis, owner of Seafood Bothy, offers weekly seafood specials out of a renovated horse trailer at Old Pier, Stonehaven.

The decision drew a lot of attention after a councillor suggested children could run into the road after being spooked by live lobsters. 

Mrs Lewis said: “There was a bit of an uproar about it because it was a little bit ridiculous.

“I’m not pursuing [the business idea] any further because there is absolutely no point. It will not get past.

“So they turned that planning down, I resubmitted planning just for a new shed to go up to use as storage to assist me in my business on the pier and that got passed.”

‘Fantastic business opportunity’

With the fisherman’s hut being much nearer to their food van, Mrs Lewis said it made sense to base the food preparation there instead.

She added: “It’s in the same harbour now as the bothy, whereas the coastguard bothy at Cowie is a drive away for people if we run out of products and we need to replace them.

“We’ve basically found a better more suitable building in the harbour that is more convenient to use as a storage.

“So there won’t be any lobster viewing area now. It will just be storage that helps me run by day-to-day business.”

Views of the beach and grass area from the rear of the coastguard bothy.
The bothy has stunning views of the coastline. Image: Aberdein Considine.

Mrs Lewis said the coastguard bothy in Cowie has planning permission to be used for business use. 

While it can’t be used as an eatery, the business owner suggested it could be used as a commercial kitchen, distillery or dog parlor.

With beautiful views, parking space and a lot of history, the building has a lot of potential.

“It’s got that sort of beautiful look about it,” she added. “It’s got 280 degree views at the rear. I mean it’s a stunning, stunning building and it could be a fantastic for anyone to use it as a base.

“It’s probably the only detached building on the whole seafront that’s available for sale and it comes with a lot of history.”

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