A former Aberdeen restaurant is set to be reborn as a 1920s-themed “prohibition era” drinking spot – despite objections from the police and NHS.
The Filling Station shut its doors in August, 2016 after the owner, Restaurant Group, announced plans to close 33 under-performing restaurants.
But now, it will reopen as ‘Vovem’ and is offering “significant entertainment” at the new venue, following approval from the council’s licensing board yesterday.
As part of the new plan, a basement area will be turned into a bar, known as ‘21 crimes’, while the upstairs will remain a restaurant.
The establishment will run from 11am to 1am on Monday to Wednesday, to 2am on Thursday and Sunday and 3am on Friday and Saturday.
It will be managed by local firm PB Dev Co which now has nine premises in the city.
But the police and NHS objected to the application based on the number of hours it would be open.
A letter from Dr Tara Shivaji, a public health consultant at NHS Grampian, to the board said “granting of the application would be inconsistent” with protecting public health.
The letter read: “I have a concern that these premises will attract customers from surrounding bars at closing time, for example after 1am who wish to extend their drinking time until 3am.
“Scotland has the highest rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions of the four UK home nations.
“Although alcohol-related hospital stays appear to be a decreasing trend, there is evidence of an increasing trend in alcoholic liver disease stays.”
A letter from Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Designate Iain Livingstone QPM wrote that children should not be admitted after 1am.
However, councillors ultimately backed the proposal yesterday – with the provision that a security guard is put on the door after 1am.
Conservative Alan Donnelly was one of those in favour.
He said: “These speakeasy-style places have proved popular in Edinburgh and Glasgow and further afield in America.
“This will be a significant investment in Union Street which has been hit hard in recent years.
“It is an innovative idea and I was happy to back it.”
Paul Clarkson of PB Dev Co said he was “delighted with the news” and that he hoped it would be open by the autumn.