An Aberdeenshire village’s only watering hole could reopen later this summer – just in time for its annual fair.
Residents of Torphins have thrown their weight behind plans to transform the B-listed Learney Arms into a bar and brasserie, holiday let accommodation and a family home.
Locals attended Learney Hall for a meeting organised by the Torphins Community Council this week to share their views on the proposals.
Property developer Alexander Shepherd has lodged proposals to reinstate part of the ground floor of the Learney as a bar and brasserie – which would be leased to an operator providing planning permission is granted.
The remainder of the former hotel would be made into a house for his family and a flat to let to tourists and visitors.
A beer garden could also be created.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Shepherd said the operator looking to take on the Learney has plans of getting the bar up and running in time for Torphins Gala in August.
The pub and hotel closed last year, with more than 100 locals banding together to object to initial proposals by Mr
Shepherd to convert it solely into a family home.
But this time, a show of hands at the meeting indicated locals were more supportive of these plans.
However, several raised concerns around car parking in the square, with others questioning why the would-be operator had not attended the meeting.
Mr Shepherd told them: “At the end of the day you have got to give someone great credit for wanting to take it on and for investing a substantial amount of money in it.
“I don’t see parking as being an issue.”
One Torphins man said: “It sounds great, it is just what the village needs, it is an eyesore as it is at the moment.”
Another added: “It feels like something is coming back to the village.”
However, resident Gael Irvine said: “I personally wouldn’t go to an upmarket brasserie in the village. I thought the whole reason the plans were turned down last time was because we wanted to keep the hotel and pub.”
Chairman of the community council, John Lucas, said: “We were delighted to see so many people turning out to the meeting for their input, which is extremely helpful in Torphins Community Council’s submission to Aberdeenshire Council.”
