Aberdeen pub bosses back Uber plans over 'severe lack of taxis'

A “severe lack of taxis” in Aberdeen forced a bride and groom on a rain-soaked mile-long walk to their reception, a wedding venue has claimed.

PB Devco, which runs 11 hospitality businesses in the city, has come out as one of 485 supporters for Uber’s bid to operate in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen City Council has published all responses – including the 26 objections – to a public consultation on the plans.

The taxi trade has warned approval for Uber would be a “huge stab in the back” to drivers doing a “brilliant job” in the city.

PB Devco: Speak now or forever hold your peace

Meanwhile, the operators of Union Kirk, a wedding venue at 333 Union Street, have backed the incomers.

Union Kirk is the upstairs of Soul on Union Street, Aberdeen. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

In a letter to the council, PB Devco bosses wrote: “The lack of taxi provision across Aberdeen causes issues for all (our) venues.

“There is a severe lack of taxis at all times throughout the day but, in particular, the venues that remain open past the last bus times.

“It seems impossible to get a taxi or even a rough estimate of how long it will be for them to attend a venue.”

It’s like rain on their wedding day

The family-firm, owned by the Clarksons, had examples “in more extreme terms” to convey the real-life impact on their business.

The David Welch Winter Gardens is a popular Aberdeen venue for weddings and photographs. Image: Alastair Gossip/DC Thomson

They told: “We recently arranged a taxi for 3pm for a bride and groom to get from their wedding ceremony at Duthie Park’s Winter Gardens to their wedding reception at Union Kirk.

“But it failed to show up as no taxis were available, resulting in the newlyweds walking between the venues in the rain.”

Are you the sodden newlyweds we speak of? Congratulations! If you want to get in touch: alastair.gossip@pressandjournal.co.uk

Taxi issues ‘humiliating’ for Aberdeen with ‘appalled’ tourists missing Uber

PB Devco does a lot of business during the biennial Offshore Europe conference, when people from all over the world descend on Aberdeen.

And staff at the family firm’s 10 venues were left red-faced at the transportation complaints of visitors during last year’s expo.

Management added: “As a worldwide conference, it is humiliating that we can’t even transport people around our city.”

Pub bosses having to cart staff home to night-time safety due to Aberdeen taxi uncertainty

The exasperated pub bosses also complain they are having to drive their staff to and from work to “fill the taxi gap and ensure that they attend work and also get home safely”.

Taxi queues on Union Street and Back Wynd on a February Saturday night this year. Image: Lauren Taylor/DC Thomson

“It just adds another hurdle to the hospitality industry,” PB Devco chiefs claim.

“The lack of taxis makes abiding by our duty of care completely unmanageable.”

They say the shortage of taxis is causing conflict between customers.

Should Uber be allowed into Aberdeen as a taxi firm? And are there any other changes you think would make it easier to get around the city? Please let us know in the comment section below.

Aberdeen regeneration efforts ‘futile’ without public faith being restored in taxi trade

Pub chain PB Devco also said a lack of public faith in the Aberdeen transportation system – taxis and buses – risked lessening the impact of “exciting” multi-million-pound regeneration work in the city centre and at the beach.

German tourists visit Old Aberdeen for the day as part of their cruise ship holiday. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

They said viable solutions to get people moving were even more necessary, given Aberdeen’s booming cruise tourism trade.

“The introduction of Uber may not be the perfect solution but it is a forward-thinking
approach to trying to start to tackle an ongoing challenge,” they added.

“Current public opinion on taxis is that they are impossible to get a taxi regardless of the time of the day.

“By no means will Uber be the magic that fixes Aberdeen but it can certainly be a step within the greater picture of encouraging and increasing footfall around our city.”