A long-running saga in Aberdeen’s hospitality scene has come to an end as the popular marquee outside the Dutch Mill Hotel on Queens Road was finally removed yesterday [January 21].
The structure, which had been a subject of controversy and legal battles for years, was dismantled following a protracted dispute with Aberdeen City Council.
The marquee was initially erected in July 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a safe outdoor space for socialising after lockdown.
It quickly became a beloved feature of the Dutch Mill Hotel, with one patron noting: “In this huge marquee there was plenty of room for tables to be at distance and although it covered the whole area for the original carpark, it was a great [addition].”
Planning Disputes and Job Concerns
The popularity of the marquee, however, did not prevent it from running afoul of local planning regulations. Aberdeen City Council ordered its removal, citing that “the large white canopy looked out of place in the traditional [area]”.
Bosses argued it had become “very popular”, but in 2022 Aberdeen City Council countered that the large white canopy looked out of place in the traditional area.
In a bid to keep al fresco service alive at the Queens Road site, Dutch Mill bosses applied to instead put up a smaller £30,000 marquee designed to blend in with the rest of the street, and warned about potential job losses if the marquee were to be shut down completely.
The marquee garnered significant community support, with “hundreds signing a petition to keep it in place”. This public backing led to a temporary reprieve when plans for the marquee were approved in 2023, saving an estimated 20 jobs.
Final Resolution
Despite the temporary approval, the council ultimately set a deadline for the marquee’s removal. According to official documents, “The use of the marquee shall cease on 10.02.2026, with the marquee being removed from site by 28.02.2026.”
However, it appears the Dutch Mill Hotel has now decided to remove the structure earlier than the mandated deadline, with its removal this week. In a statement on their Facebook page, the Dutch Mill Hotel said: “The time has come to bid farewell to our Marquee. What began in July 2020 as a safe space for socialising after lockdown, quickly became a much-loved part of [our establishment].”
