Locals breathe new life into Udny Arms

Anorth-east family has invested a sixfigure sum in the purchase and renovation of a local institution as they look to bring it back to life after it closed six years ago.

Lorna Younge and her parents, Douglas and Agnes Kinloch, are already a year into renovating the Udny Arms Hotel, in Newburgh north of Aberdeen.

It will also be home to a new coffee shop, Trellis, from next month.

Former cheese restaurant and toasted sandwhich shop owner Mechelle Clark, whose Aberdeen-based Melt business shut last year, has taken the reins in the kitchen to help get the coffee shop ready for opening.

The Younge and Kinloch family will transform the 12-bedroom hotel, restaurant and pub over the next year, with a view to reopening next summer.

Trellis is expected to launch on Saturday May 22. It will offer 48 covers inside, with a dozen available on the sun terrace outside.

It will be initially be open Wednesday to Sunday, with the ultimate aim of operating seven days a week, and will initially employ 12 staff.

The family has lived near the hotel for years and Mrs Younge said she was delighted to be able to “bring back” such an important part of the community.

She added: “I grew up in the village and moved away when I was a bit older.

“When I had my family we moved back and we’ve always lived next door to the hotel. I was there in its heyday, when it was really busy, and my brother also used to work there.

“It closed six years ago. I was in the pub on closing night and it was really sad.

“It is the centre of the village and was a popular place for people to meet.

“The hotel had a separate area – the garden suite – where functions used to be held. We’re turning it into Trellis, a local coffee shop, and we hope to have the hotel, the public bar and the restaurant all operating by next summer.”

After connecting on social media, Mrs Younge was eager to get Ms Clark involved in the project due to her creative spark and passion for local produce.

Ms Clark launched toastie shop Melt, on Holburn Street, Aberdeen, in 2016 and opened her cheese restaurant on Belmont Street in 2019.

She will be the kitchen manager at Trellis, heading up a team which includes Mrs Younge’s daughter, Amy, who is an avid baker.

Mrs Younge said: “I admire the creativity Mechelle has and she makes incredible food. She and I had the same thoughts and ideas for the venue and I knew she’d be the perfect fit. She knows how to make good food and is passionate about local produce, so having her on board is just fantastic.”

Ms Clark added: “The space is absolutely gorgeous and the views are incredible, and that really goes hand-in-hand in what I’m going to be bringing with regards to seasonal, quality food and doing something a little different.

“If I can make it a comfortable space which is welcoming, people know they will get great quality, freshly-cooked food.

“At the weekend I want to make it a bit of a destination – the best place to go for breakfast, lunch and fine cakes.

“I want to give Trellis the same name Melt had and really put it on the map.

“I’m really lucky that Lorna and her family have been so supportive of my creativity and ideas.

“We’re catering to simpler tastes but it allows me to really flex my muscles with creating new things, and getting the best out of everything.”

REVIVAL: Mechelle Clark, left, and Lorna Younge outside a hotel which was once well-known throughout the north-east.