The blaze on December 23 last year caused “significant structural damage” to Valentino’s Italian on Carden Place and the roof of the building completely collapsed. Nobody was injured.

Law firm Quantum Claims, which owns the property, has lodged plans with Aberdeen City Council to demolish the premises.

Quantum Claims chairman Frank Lefevre said a decision is yet to be made on the future of the site but the company hopes to rebuild on the site eventually.

He told the Aberdeen Evening Express: “We haven’t made a decision on it and that may take two to three years to happen.

“We have tenants who are a licensed premises and it depends on what happens with their own insurance claim.

“They have their own policy. We have employed a surveyor and architects.

“Once the building has been cleared it will leave us with the shell.”

A demolition company is now being sought to undertake the works.

Mr Lefevre added: “It is out for tender at the moment and it could take three to six months to find someone.

“Clearly getting it demolished puts us a step closer to the part where we need to decide what to do with it.

“We will have to see whether or not we build the same building there now or something completely new.”