Confirmed: New £1m food hall from founder of Jimmy Chung’s to open at Aberdeen beach

By Ben Hendry

June 3 2022, 5:25 pm

An artists impression of how the new Aberdeen beach food hall will look. Image supplied by MAC Architects

The man behind Jimmy Chung’s has been given permission to launch a new food hall at Aberdeen beach.

Last month, we revealed Chung Wong’s £1 million proposal to transform a vacant unit overlooking the sea into space for various vendors.

The Esplanade venue would have a huge food court upstairs boasting seven “pods” serving different types of cuisine.

Along with space for 160 diners, the seaside destination would have its own bar.

This concept image shows how the venue could look. Supplied by MAC Architects.

Why has council approved the plan?

Aberdeen City Council planning chiefs have now paved the way for the project to take off.

Case officer, Alex Ferguson, said the request to extend the first floor as part of the plans would “enhance the ability of the restaurant unit to provide a variety of different food offerings”.

He said the proposal “would contribute towards, and enhance, the range and quality of the existing uses of the wider beach area”.

The rooftop terrace will be converted into a seating area under the scheme.

Have any changes been imposed?

The plans Chung discussed with us last month involved a chip shop on the ground floor of the building.

He thinks it’s “a crime” that Aberdeen’s seafront doesn’t already have a traditional chipper.

However, the council has advised that another application will need to be lodged for it, with the scheme being subject to a separate decision.

👀The man behind Jimmy Chung's is opening a new restaurant at Aberdeen beach…https://t.co/UDHkaLYIpl

— Evening Express (@EveningExpress) May 2, 2022

Share your views on the plans in our new comments section below

How will Aberdeen beach food hall work?

Some small businesses have already been signed up to operate from the Aberdeen beach food hall.

It will be one of a few food markets in Aberdeen when it opens.

Resident X will soon be unveiled in Marischal Square, bringing six independent venues under one roof.

And diners can choose from a range of street food options at The Ivy Lodge on Shiprow.

The planned Aberdeen beach food hall will be spread across the first floor space above Cartoos and The Turkish Kitchen and Barking Mad.

How the empty first floor unit looks just now.

This concept image shows how the different traders would operate side by side. Supplied by MAC Architects.

Under the blueprints, rows of food pods would be formed around the perimeter with an extension created to fit them all in.

Aware of the dangers of launching a new business in the current economic climate, Chung told us: “It is always a risk, but you have to live by your decisions.”

You can read our interview with Chung here, discussing the rise and fall of his Chinese food empire – and his new plans: