The proposal involves extensive internal reconfiguration and selective demolition to repurpose the upper levels of the A-listed property on Castle Street, originally built as the North of Scotland Bank HQ, into guest accommodation. The development would mark the company’s sixth hotel in Scotland and further its portfolio of integrated pub-and-hotel concepts already seen in Inverness and Edinburgh.

The design proposal outlines the transformation of the unused first and second floors into 29 hotel rooms comprising 21 double rooms, 3 family suites, 2 twin rooms and 2 singles.

Architectural drawings reveal internal structural adjustments, including new circulation cores and service integration within the existing footprint of the mid-19th-century granite building. Original office features, some designed by renowned Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson, remain largely intact, posing both a challenge and opportunity for the project team in preserving historic character while introducing modern accommodation standards.

As part of the expansion, the project includes demolition of a portion of the pub’s rear extension to accommodate a 51-seat beer garden. The new outdoor area is expected to boost capacity and meet rising demand for alfresco hospitality space.

An internal reconfiguration of the first floor will also increase the pub’s overall seating provision, with the new layout optimising guest flow and improving operating efficiency during peak hours.

Given the building’s A-listed status, heritage sensitivity remains a core concern. Wetherspoon has stated that all works will be “extremely sympathetic to the historic fabric of the building,” with plans to reinstate and retain architectural detailing where possible.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS), which acknowledged the overall ambition of the scheme but flagged two “major issues”: Inadequate accessibility provisions and concerns over the treatment of heritage interiors, particularly the former director’s suite and its original fireplaces

AHSS has recommended that proposed interventions on the second floor be reworked to better align with conservation principles and improve building usability.