A family-run Aberdeen hotel will not be reopening after closing for lockdown, prompting owners to throw all efforts behind plans for homes at the site.
Mike and Sharon Edwards announced “with a heavy heart” that The Mariner Hotel in Great Western Road will remain shut, blaming the pandemic’s “detrimental impact”.
The hoteliers last night confirmed plans already lodged with the council for more than a dozen homes on the site were the “plan A”, having originally been mooted as a fallback option.
The Edwards family announced on Sunday night the hotel they have run for decades would welcome no more guests through its doors.
They said: “The lockdown has been a challenging time for many hospitality businesses in Aberdeen – and we are no exception.
“We have had a wonderful journey over the past 30 years – bringing Atlantis up to the Malacca Hotel, and making it a home from home for ourselves, our amazing staff and our locals and regulars.
“We have enjoyed being part of a lovely West End community. It has been a privilege to be part of it.
“While it is indeed the end of an era we are heading out to start a new adventure- joining the great team out at The Cults Hotel.”
It is understood a number of workers, including two chefs from the popular Atlantis restaurant at The Mariner, will also take up work at The Cults Hotel – which Mr Edwards co-owns – as it reopens today.
Proposals for 10 flats lodged with Aberdeen City Council also detail another four homes being built in the car park.
Concerns over how “viable” the hotel would be in the future were cited by architects Halliday Fraser Munro as they brought forward the plans.
A total of eight public objections have been raised with local authority planners, raising fears the proposed 2.5-storey houses would not be in keeping with the Great Western Road Conservation area, as well as concerns over parking and congestion in nearby Gray Street.
Last night Mr Edwards said: “The homes were a plan B for us down the line but unfortunately they have become plan A.
“We are going through the planning process and will see how that progresses.
“We would hope and imagine the residential development would reduce traffic in the area compared to when we were operating as a hotel, with all the deliveries, guests and residents and everything else.”
