McGinty’s Group set to serve up £500k bar and restaurant in Aberdeen

The McGinty’s Group has lodged plans with Aberdeen City Council to transform the former Esslemont and Macintosh (E&Ms) department store on Aberdeen’s Union Street into a £500k bar and restaurant on the ground and first floors, with a pizzeria planned for the first floor.

The listed building which previously housed Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Italian restaurant after the closure of E&Ms in 2007, has been vacant since Jamie Oliver closed the Italian in 2017.

The group already operates six pubs, restaurants and hotels in the city including McGinty’s Meal An’ Ale, The Stag, No.10 Bar & Restaurant, The Ferryhill House Hotel, The Fourmile and The Silver Darling,

The group expects to create around 70 jobs for the city which will increase the group’s workforce to 230.

Allan Henderson, Director of The McGinty’s Group, said, “E&Ms is an Aberdeen institution and a landmark building that was calling out for some local love. As a group, we have a passion for regenerating iconic venues and transforming them into thriving outlets so this project fits perfectly with our company objectives and enhances our growing portfolio.

“Following the significant investment the Aberdeen City Council have made firstly with the redevelopment of Broad Street and latterly the building of Marischal Square, we have been impressed with the transformation of this part of the city centre and The McGinty’s Group are keen to bring a high quality local offering to the area.”

Alan Aitken, Operations Director of The McGinty’s Group, added, “As an independent business, we are very excited to develop one of the city ’s most recognised buildings. The people of Aberdeen have fond memories of this site and we are looking forward to reviving it with a high quality and stylish transformation that we hope will help to continue the regeneration of this area of Union Street, encourage footfall and create employment opportunities in the heart of the city centre.”