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Union Street’s oldest empty unit to be revived as huge games bar after almost 20 years vacant

The former Budz Bar is in line for a long-awaited makeover.

The former Budz Bar could be brought back to life as a new Aberdeen destination.
The former Budz Bar could be brought back to life as a new Aberdeen destination. Image: Tinto Architecture

Union Street’s longest-running empty unit could finally be brought back to life.

The former Budz Bar has been vacant for almost 17 years, with last orders called at the nightspot in 2007.

It recently passed 6,000 days since it was last in use.

Alpha Bravo Investments, run by Allan Smith and Bruce Porter, is behind the scheme to give the 419 Union Street address a new lease of life.

Exterior of the former Budz Bar in Aberdeen.
The former Budz Bar was known for selling inexpensive shots. Image: DC Thomson

How will Budz Bar be turned into new Aberdeen destination?

Building papers submitted to the council detail the project.

They reveal that the upgrades will being the bar back to life in some style…

Digital rendering of venue after Budz Bar is renovated into new Aberdeen games pub Glitch.
Here is how the entrance would look. Image: Tinto architecture
Digital rendering showing new Aberdeen venue at night.
The former Budz Bar would look like this when illuminated in the evening, if brought back to life as a new Aberdeen destination. Image: Tinto Architecture
View of the rear of Budz Bar after renovation, from Justice Mill Lane.
This shows the back of the old pub under the planned changes for the Aberdeen venue. Image: Tinto Architecture

The plans take in the ground floor facing the Granite Mile, basement level accessed by Justice Mill Lane and upper levels.

Under the scheme, the old Budz Bar would be resurrected with cocktail bars, a pizzeria and “entertainment venues” on the upper floors.

According to design images, the firm would name the new venue “Glitch” if the proposal is approved.

The rear of the building, from Justice Mill Lane, at night.
The rear of the building, from Justice Mill Lane, if snazzy lighting plans are rubber-stamped. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

It would certainly be eye-catching, with plans to wrap the building in LED screens with changing light patterns.


Do you have any memories of Budz Bar? Let us know in our comments section below


Exterior of the former Budz Bar in a state of disrepair in 2015.
The former bar has fallen further into disrepair since we took this picture in 2015. Image: Heather Fowlie/DC Thomson

Our city centre tracker recently revealed that, of the many empty units along Aberdeen’s Union Street, Budz Bar has been unoccupied the longest.

These new plans would follow other successful ventures in the area, with Scotland’s biggest ballpit opening up nearby at Three Mad Hatters last year.

You can see the plans for the external signage at the former Budz Bar here.

Read more on the plans here: 

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