Molly Malone's air conditioning plan to boost 'customer comfort' as Aberdeen bar gets revamp

Press and Journal

28-04-2025

Molly Malone's in Aberdeen could soon undergo a revamp, while proposals to turn Portsoy's closed Boyne Hotel into flats have been approved.
These and more feature in this week's Planning Ahead, our regular round-up of the latest proposals being pondered across the north-east.
Every week we bring readers a selection of the most interesting applications submitted to our councils to form changes big and small in our communities.
We start with a Deeside wedding venue's plans to create extra room for celebrations…
With wedding season getting under way, various scenic settings across the north-east are about to spring into life as they become elegant backdrops to special ceremonies.
Ballogie House, near Aboyne, is at the heart of an estate which lists its 'key operations' as farming, cropping, forestry and field sports.
But the historic manor is now becoming a popular wedding venue.
As a countryside retreat, it provides rooms for up to 14 guests – and was recently spruced up to entice more guests.
And as more requests for charity events and weddings roll in, owners are seeking permission to erect a marquee in the grounds.
Papers sent to the council add: 'Ballogie House has built up a reputation for holding wedding functions.
'If temporary planning permission were to be granted the applicant would be in a position to continue to offering larger events for the general public.'
They explain that erecting a marquee would allow them to 'quickly activate this business expansion' and 'support local employment and tourism'.
Crumbling old farm buildings between Banff and Whitehills are being transformed into new housing.
The Mill of Boyndie site, just off the A98 road at Inverboyndie, dates back to 1809.
Boyndie-based Ken Barbour is turning the old farm, including its B-listed farmhouse, into six homes.
Architects have described the plans as a 'stunning rural development'.
Most of the outbuildings surrounding the B-listed farmhouse are now to be torn down, 'due to lack of foundation and their unstable nature'.
One steading was demolished last March following 'concerns about the structural integrity of the roof and walls following a recent storm'.
The same engineers who scrutinised the dilapidated steadings, ruling them irredeemable, also examined the farmhouse due to be renovated under the proposals.
There are hopes to 'restore it to its former Georgian grandeur'.
But while the building experts stopped short of recommending it be demolished too, they noted that it would be expensive to 'bring it up to modern standard'.
Plots within the development are already on the market.
Over in Peterhead, the Lunar fish filleting factory has put in plans for an expansion.
A new plant room and box store will be created in a yard area under the proposals.
Lunar carries out regular deliveries to Belgium, France, Holland and Germany from the spot just off the town's Invernettie roundabout.
Meanwhile, plans to transform a former Aberdeen gym into a motorcycle workshop have been approved.
Jopps Motorcycles, a repair shop in the city centre, has been given the go-ahead to relocate from its current premises on Jopp's Lane to a larger unit around the corner.
The new location on Loch Street previously housed CrossFit Emergence, a gym that closed more than a year ago.
The two-wheeler-daft owner Lee Addison has worked out of their Jopp's Lane home for 10 years, after taking over from his dad.
The move, which has now been approved by council planners, will see the former gym turned into an MOT and brake testing centre, as well as a garage for servicing motorcycles and mopeds.
Scores of bikers wrote to the local authority supporting the move, expressing their love for 'one of the most dedicated garages' around.
Last week, Planning Ahead detailed a spiralling spat in Aberdeen's west end that all began when one resident wanted to create a driveway to power their electric car.
But this week, over in Westhill, it's a fast food giant rather than a west end resident wanting to install EV kit.
The McDonald's at Arnhall Business Park is looking to build two plug-in ports next to the entrance of the restaurant.
These 160kW chargers can take a car from 10% to 80% battery in around 25 minutes – enough time to enjoy a Big Mac meal inside the American burger bar.
Portsoy's Boyne Hotel has faced an uncertain future for some time now.
The inn dates back to the 1700s, but it has become a prominent empty building in the picturesque seaside community in recent years.
Plans to bring it back to life had been approved in 2021 – but the proposal to turn it into three townhouses fell by the wayside.
At the time, building boffins had said the historic venue needed to be converted to prevent it from falling into ruin.
Owner Catherine Johnson went back to drawing board – amending her plans to be for just two homes instead.
And it's these plans which have now finally been approved by the council.
Blueprints show both a three-bed and five-bed home stretching over three floors, along with new slate-coloured solar panels on the roof to help them blend in.
Bosses at Molly Malone's are keen to do up the Aberdeen pub – saying it needs air conditioning installed to help customers feel more 'comfortable' among a host of planned improvements.
The C-listed 224 Union Street address dates back almost 200 years, when it was the office for architect John Rust (who famously designed the city's bathing station at the beach).
But it will be remembered by some as The Other Record Shop – or Egyptian-themed bar The Nile.
But as well as an interesting past, having such an old building can come with its issues too.
Pub chain Greene King own the Molly Malone's in Aberdeen city centre.
They want to alter the bar as the existing servery is 'of a relatively poor
quality'.
This new version would 'be of a high quality panelled timber front, with hardwood top'.
Architects add: 'It is also better situated to be the focal point of the customer area, which is important for sustaining the business moving forward.'
A 'general refurbishment and redecoration' is also planned to 'help breathe new life into the building', while respecting its existing historic charm.
And new signs will be added outside too.
Architects explain that the current layout presents an 'inherent issue' with ventilation and 'air comfort for visitors'.
They now hope to address this with air conditioning to be installed, with four units strategically placed over different parts of the pub.
Condensers would be 'discreetly' located to the rear of the building and enclosed in a timber casing.
The new plans for Molly Malone's come amid a boom in the popularity of Irish pubs – and just months after a new rival opened up in Aberdeen city centre.
The former Cafe D'ag was given a makeover as O'Malleys.
A rush on the black stuff left scores of pubs across the UK running dry towards the end of last year.
Guinness's owner Diageo even had to limit how much pubs could buy because of 'exceptional consumer demand' in Britain.
It's become more and more popular with youngsters and women.
And with experts reckoning the stout will keep going from strength to strength, it seems Molly Malone's wants to become the go-to destination for anyone looking to 'split the G' in Aberdeen.
Ballogie House marquee
Mill of Boyndie steadings to become homes
Peterhead fish factory extension
Loch Street motorcycle plans
Electric charging at Westhill McDonald's
Boyne Hotel plans APPROVED
Aberdeen Molly Malone's improvements planned