AWARD-winning BBQ street food business, Smoke and Soul, have announced today that they have officially taken over the bar at Six Degrees North. After a successful 4 year kitchen residency, the local BBQ foodies have decided to make this their permanent home, and they couldn’t be more excited about the future.
This comes at a time of uncertainty for the hospitality industry. The impact that the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis has had on local independent businesses across the city has been detrimental. Unfortunately, Aberdeen city centre isn’t the bustling and vibrant place it used to be, with crowds of people day and night and shops, cafes, and restaurants brimming with customers, despite the efforts of local and national companies attempts to keep open. The decision to close Six Degrees North after covid is a loss to beer enthusiasts – however, their relationship with Smoke and Soul continues and their beers can still be found in the bar with four permanent lines pouring.
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Corey Milne, owner of Smoke and Soul said, “It’s disheartening to see so many of our neighbours closing due to financial struggles. Foot traffic has dwindled, and the streets are noticeably quieter than they used to be and with Six Degrees North looking to exit the bar post pandemic, this understandably had a profound impact on us at Smoke and Soul. We have discussed the possibility of another kitchen residency, but this bar has become our home and the staff and customers have become our family. While moving would be the safer option, we couldn’t bear to see those doors close for us”.
Taking over the bar is an exciting opportunity for the team at Smoke and Soul, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Their goal is to create a comfortable and enjoyable place for customers to eat, drink, and relax. Putting their own unique stamp on the bar and infusing it with the kind of soulful atmosphere they successfully achieved at their smokehouse in Bridge of Don. However, to accomplish this, some work needs to be done to make the vital renovations and upgrades.
Smoke and Soul will be launching a crowd-funder campaign in the coming weeks to make essential changes, while also giving something worthwhile back to supporters. Involving their customers and the community in their vision for the bar allows the team to continue to innovate and grow, bringing new and exciting experiences to their offering. By reviving the Aberdeen bar and creating a welcoming and vibrant space for customers, this will bring more foot traffic back to the city centre and hopefully support other local businesses too.
Lindsay Jackson, owner at Smoke and Soul, said, “We couldn’t allow the bar to become another empty place in Aberdeen. Not the place we have made so many memories and grown into what we are today or to see the staff we have worked alongside for years lose their jobs . We are aware there is a lot of work to be done in the bar but we know with support we can do it! We’re looking into crowdfunding at present to see how we can make the changes that have been long overdue and requested by our customers, to fulfil the venue’s full potential and provide an awesome place for people to come drink, eat and enjoy our exclusive events. We will also be introducing our first ever lunch menu and the bar staff have created our first cocktail offering just in time for May day weekend. We will strive to make the bar everything that our customers want it to be and ensure that those that invest in us get some amazing rewards in return.
Thank you from all the staff at Smoke and Soul for your continued support in what has been a difficult time for everyone. We really appreciate your custom and please continue to order from us – even better by dining with us in person at our bar”.
