Dozens of jobs lost as hotel ‘hit hard’ by pandemic

Sixty-eight staff were employed at the Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel, Blairs.

Jack Thomson

17th Nov 2020

Dozens of jobs have been lost after an iconic four-star hotel entered liquidation.

Sixty-eight staff were employed at the Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel, Blairs.

It has been confirmed they will lose their jobs, with the impact of the pandemic proving to be the “final straw” for the business.

The 19th century Scottish baronial style mansion, set in 18 acres of parkland, had 120 rooms, restaurants, bars and a spa.

It was considered a popular venue for meetings, conferences and weddings.

The hotel, located just outside the city on South Deeside Road, Blairs, suffered from the downturn in the local economy.

The collapse of the oil price had an effect, while coronavirus restrictions added to cash flow pressures and the business could not recover.

Ken Pattullo, of Begbies Traynor, the business adviser currently working with hotel directors, said: “Unfortunately, the hospitality sector has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic with the forced closure last spring having devastating consequences for the Ardoe House Hotel.

“With Aberdeen currently in level two and coronavirus restrictions continuing, the directors felt the hotel was no longer viable and had no choice but to put the business into liquidation.

“In the face of ongoing uncertainty due to the health measures implemented to help combat the global pandemic, there was no way of saving the business and the jobs it supported; it is sad to see the closure of such a popular hotel.”