A slice of American nostalgia is set to hit Aberdeen with the launch of a fun and fresh new restaurant at Bon Accord & St Nicholas. With thanks to Paul Smith, Citrus Mix.
Ed’s Easy Diner is scheduled to open its doors at the beginning of April, with work due to begin on transforming its new home at the heart of the Bon Accord food court.
In a first for Aberdeen, the popular restaurant group will bring its retro concept to a north-east audience.
Launched in London’s vibrant Soho in 1987, Ed’s Easy Diner has expanded to take in various prime sites throughout the capital and can be found in key cities throughout England. With an all-American menu and 1950s themed decor, Ed’s has made a huge impact with diners.
Craig Stevenson (pictured), manager of Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Ed’s Easy Diner and are sure the new restaurant will be a big hit with our visitors. We’ve carried out extensive market research to get a real picture of what the people of the north-east want and what has come back loud and clear is that variety is key.
“At Bon Accord & St Nicholas we’re committed to bringing new and exciting names to Aberdeen and Ed’s Easy Diner is a great example of that. It promises to be something totally different and a really strong addition to what is already an excellent food offering in the Bon Accord mall.”
Ed’s will work closely with UK employment charity Springboard to target local people in Aberdeen, offering worthwhile, long-term employment and careers. The retro restaurant group has become synonymous for hiring staff based on attitude, rather than previous experience; a policy that saw them shortlisted for the 2013 Springboard award for best recruitment initiative.
Kelly Johnstone, director of Springboard Scotland, said:
“Springboard is delighted to be working in partnership with Ed’s Easy Diner. As a charity, Springboard helps and supports unemployed people of any age into a career in the hospitality industry. We are pleased to be working with Ed’s and the local communities in Aberdeen, as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow, to employ people into a great career in hospitality.”
Andrew Guy, CEO of Ed’s Easy Diner, said:
“Bon Accord & St Nicholas is a great new location for our diner. We’ve recently opened in Edinburgh, our first in Scotland, and are very much looking forward to bringing our retro 50s brand to the people of Aberdeen.”
The addition of Ed’s Easy Diner is part of wider plans to expand the leisure choices at Bon Accord & St Nicholas.
Plans have been submitted to Aberdeen City Council for permission to create a new leisure hub within the centres. At the core of the blueprint is a proposed 28,000 sq ft cinema complex and seven new restaurants totalling 30,000 sq ft.
The innovative design includes the creation of a new entrance from Upperkirkgate at Drum’s Lane, leading to an external courtyard and providing access to the upper level of the mall where the new leisure area would be situated. The plans work within the existing footprint of the Bon Accord mall.
Bon Accord & St Nicholas are at the heart of Aberdeen city centre’s retail sector, offering 840,000 sq ft of prime space and home to around 100 stores. Scotland’s largest Next, Aberdeen’s only Topshop and Topman standalone store as well as the City’s largest New Look and River Island are among the key retailers.
The centres, which attract an average of 270,000 visitors a week, are owned by F&C REIT and managed by specialist retail agency Savills. For further on the centres visit www.bonaccordandstnicholas.com .
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