Residents are toasting victory after their campaign to save the last remaining pub in the village won the backing of planners.
The Kintore Arms has been shut since last year with plans to turn it into a takeaway widely opposed by the community.
Owners Cater Corporation came back with a proposal to retain the pub and transform part of the building into a restaurant, with the bid now approved by council officials.
Brian Johnstone, chairman of the Kintore Community Council, said he was “delighted” with the result.
However, he said it was important that the new enterprise was “family friendly” given the demand in the area.
He said: “We are pleased that it has been approved. We are delighted.
“We would however comment that the sustainability of a stand-alone public bar versus an integrated bar and restaurant is something the owner should seriously consider.”
Mr Johnstone said the community council favoured a cafe bar-style business at the premises.
He said: “He (the owner) is planning on splitting into two – a bar and a restaurant. Our feeling is we don’t think a small bar on its own is sustainable. We are recommend a kind of cafe-bar.
“What we said to the council is that we were happy with the proposals and recommend it get approved but have concerns for the sustainability of a bar and restaurant.
“We want a sustainable solution. You see a lot of people in places like the Cocket Hat on Anderson Drive in the city, that is what we want in Kintore. We have no possibility of getting anything like that in Kintore for a couple of years.
Two dining areas will be created at the Kintore Arms, one for more formal meals and the other a more casual space.
The rooms on the first and second floors of the premises will be kept as hotel rooms.
A call has been made for an Aberdeenshire village’s only pub to become more family-friendly after plans to reopen it were approved by the council.
The Kintore Arms Inn has been shut since last year and plans to turn the building into a takeaway were rejected by Aberdeenshire Council in February.
Now plans by owners Cater Corporation Ltd
Robert Gray, head of planning and building standards for the council, said: “The proposed development accords with the development plan and there are no material considerations which indicate that permission should be refused.”