New Deeside pub owner keeping it in the family

Acouple who invested a sevenfigure-sum into the newly reopened The Albyn in Aberdeen have purchased a second venue in the area after teaming up with a family friend.

Husband and wife Simon and Christie Cruickshank took over the Bieldside Inn this week with business partner Morgan Munter.

Simon and Morgan, who have been best friends since they were children, have invested a significant amount into the premises on North Deeside Road in Bieldside which was owned by Simon’s father, also named Simon, from 1989 to 2003.

The family has gone full circle in purchasing the venue from local businessman Stuart Clarkson, who runs hospitality group PB Devco.

Mr Clarkson purchased the venue in 2011 from Signature Pubs, owned by Garreth Wood, for just under £1.5 million. The Wood family purchased it in 2003 from Simon’s father who also owns The Ploughman in Peterculter.

Bringing the Bieldside Inn into his portfolio of businesses has been a dream of Simon’s for years.

He said: “We’ve been trying to do this before we even purchased The Albyn. My dad owned it for 14 years and I was brought up in the Bieldside Inn, so it is nice to have it back in the family.”

Simon opened The Albyn in Aberdeen at the end of November 2021 with his wife Christie and says if it wasn’t for the venue being a success, his dream of acquiring the Bieldside Inn may not have happened.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the success of The Albyn. It has been on our radar for a long time and it has always been the one venue we’ve had in mind. It has always been the Bieldside Inn.”

While customers will be able to see changes to the venue very soon, Simon says it is business as usual.

The plan is to renovate and redecorate it in stages so it won’t have to shut. Working with the designers who helped transform The Albyn, customers can expect to see the interior be themed around bringing the outside in.

“We’ll bring a lot of what we did there (The Albyn) to the venue. We have new menus coming and there will be a lot of change, but we’re keeping it very traditional and keeping the transition as smooth as possible,” said Simon.

“In the restaurant area, there’s lots of light that gets in, so we’ll definitely create that garden room feel we have at The Albyn. Nothing is finalised but we have lots of plans.”

As for the food, the 60-seater restaurant will see a full menu overhaul. It will be focused on Scottish gastro pub food and will see bistro-style dishes introduced.

He added: “I think that’s what we need to really bring it back. Local and fresh quality pub food, but with a twist again.”

There are also plans to add a private dining room and also to adapt the space so it is better equipped at hosting events.

Simon and Morgan will retain all staff from The Bieldside, of which there are around 20, and this will bring the collective team between the two venues to 70 to 75 individuals.

To be able to operate at the level Simon hopes to, a further 10 people will need to be employed at the Bieldside venue. He also says it will be easier to move staff across the venues when needed.

Looking to expand The Albyn with a new terrace, which Simon has invested £150,000 into, staff numbers will rise to more than 100 when it and the downstairs area of the citycentre restaurant and bar opens in the future.

He hopes the terrace will be open this summer.

My dad owned it for 14 years, so it is nice to have it back in the family

Photograph by Wullie Marr. TRADITION: Simon Cruickshank has taken over the Bieldside Inn in Cults.