A popular north-east restaurant is to reopen under new ownership.
Turriff’s Deveron Country House closed down last August after being in local hands since 1990.
The restaurant – which traded as Buckley’s – was refurbished by previous owner Brian Brown in 2007 and had space for upwards of 400 people in its main bar, nightclub and function room.
Andy Macpherson, a consultant who oversees licensing and leisure premises for Aberdeen-based property sellers Ryden, said the mystery buyer was hoping to expand upon Buckley’s previous offerings.
“The owner is looking to do a refurbishment to reopen the restaurant nearly as it was,” he said.
“He has got a longer term project to let some rooms later to form a hotel of sorts. It’s a two stage process.
“It will be good for the property and good for the town-centre particularly because of where the building sits.”
Mr Macpherson added that the new owner did not want to comment on the plans.
Last night, Turriff councillor Sandy Duncan said the return of the once popular business would be a “welcome boost” for the town-centre.
He said: “Buckley’s has been missed since it closed down. There is also a lack of letting bedrooms in Turriff, so on the whole I think it will be a good thing for the town.
“It was popular and it was well-used when it was operating before and it was quite a surprise when it shut down.”
Previous owner Mr Brown signalled his intention to sell-up to spend more time with his wife and family in 2013.
The country house had previously served as Turriff’s town hall and cinema.