Slains Aberdeen

Slains is a one-of-a-kind pub in the heart of Aberdeen, offering a standout opportunity to take on a city centre pub tenancy in one of the city’s busiest nightlife hubs.

Slains is a one-of-a-kind pub in the heart of Aberdeen, offering a standout opportunity to take on a city centre pub tenancy in one of the city’s busiest nightlife hubs. Located on Belmont Street – home to a thriving mix of pubs, clubs, and student bars – the venue enjoys strong footfall, high visibility, and a vibrant atmosphere that ensures consistent trade from students, locals, and sports fans alike. What makes Slains truly distinctive is its setting. The venue occupies the former West St Nicholas Kirk, a historic church dating back to the 1830s, making it not just a bar but also a site of cultural and architectural interest. Its quirky interior and atmospheric design have helped cement its reputation as one of Aberdeen’s most memorable pubs, popular with those looking for a venue with character and personality. The site underwent a significant refurbishment last year, modernising the ground floor, refreshing the interiors, and upgrading the outdoor area. This investment ensures that the pub is in excellent condition and well-positioned for a new operator to hit the ground running. With its prime location, unique setting, and strong student and nightlife appeal, Slains represents a fantastic chance to run a lively pub in Aberdeen city centre. For the right publican, it offers the perfect blend of history, individuality, and trading potential in one of Scotland’s busiest university cities. Key Features • Slains is a distinctive, high-capacity city centre pub on Belmont Street, perfectly positioned in one of Aberdeen’s busiest nightlife and hospitality areas. With a strong mix of students, locals, and weekend visitors, this versatile venue offers excellent trading potential for a dynamic operator ready to run a pub in Aberdeen with real presence and personality. • Spread over two floors, Slains offers contrasting atmospheres that give the pub wide appeal. The recently refurbished ground floor has a bright, modern feel, ideal for daytime dining and social gatherings, while the upstairs retains more of the building’s original gothic character, creating a memorable space for evening trade, parties, and live entertainment. • The venue benefits from a large overall capacity compared to many neighbouring bars, alongside a revamped outdoor seating area complete with turf and comfortable furniture – a strong draw during warmer months. Inside, guests can enjoy multiple HD screens showing live sport, a pool table, and a welcoming, dog-friendly environment (with some restrictions). Food is served daily, ensuring steady trade from lunchtime through late evening. • On Friday and Saturday nights, the pub comes to life with live DJs, making it a key part of the Belmont Street nightlife circuit. Its mix of great atmosphere, consistent footfall, and broad appeal across audiences makes Slains a true anchor venue on Aberdeen’s most vibrant hospitality strip. • For the right publican, this is an exciting opportunity to take on an iconic Aberdeen pub that blends historic character with modern energy and a loyal, diverse customer base. Business & Financial Information • Estimated ingoings (upfront): £18,795 • Full deposit: £18,000 • Agreement fee: £795 • Guide rent (weekly): £1,385 • Guide rent (annual): £72,000 • Forecast turnover (weekly): £20,964 • Forecast turnover (annual): £1,090,146 Ideal Operator This site would suit an experienced multi-use bar/restaurant manager, comfortable with high-footfall, multi-shift operations, and Skilled in event programming & promotions.  Someone who can balance different audiences (students, professionals, families) but also has strong financial control and staff management skills and ideally has experience with listed/historic buildings and complex layouts. Private Accommodation No private accommodation available. Regional Manager's Thoughts Slains represents a rare opportunity to operate a large, high-profile, multi-functional pub in Aberdeen city centre. The venue combines historic character with modern facilities, a prime location, and a strong, diverse customer base — offering significant potential for a capable operator to maximise revenue and establish a flagship city-centre venue. Some felt the recent refurbishment took away some of the historic gothic character and this may present an opportunity to put your own mark on returning Slains to the history it was known for whilst also exploring other opportunities to grow this fantastic site. Surrounding Area Slains sits on Belmont Street, one of Aberdeen’s busiest and best-known nightlife hubs. This pedestrianised, cobbled street is lined with pubs, bars, and nightclubs, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere that attracts a wide range of customers throughout the week. The area is especially popular with students from the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University (RGU), making it a key destination for student nightlife. Alongside the student population, Belmont Street draws in young professionals, city workers, and weekend visitors looking for a vibrant night out. Here you’ll find a mix of big-name brands such as Revolution and BrewDog, alongside long-standing independent operators, ensuring variety and a strong flow of trade. This mix of venues makes Belmont Street the beating heart of Aberdeen’s hospitality scene – and Slains, with its unique character and historic setting, is perfectly positioned to stand out. For a publican, this location offers the best of both worlds: steady weekday trade from students and professionals, plus strong weekend crowds, all in a prime city-centre spot with guaranteed footfall. It’s a proven nightlife destination and an exciting place to run a pub tenancy in Aberdeen.