A new name has landed on the city’s food scene, just in time for Aberdeen’s biggest weekend of the summer.
Wild Goose, a stylish new brunch and small plates spot nestled in Union Terrace Gardens, has officially opened its doors for a special Tall Ships Races weekend soft launch, offering locals and visitors a first taste of what’s to come when the venue launches its full menu later this summer.
Running from Friday 18 to Monday 21 July, the venue’s soft opening coincides with the arrival of nearly 50 international Tall Ships in Aberdeen, marking a major celebration for the city and drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Designed to complement the vibrancy of the weekend, Wild Goose’s launch offers an exclusive small plates menu, cocktails, a pop-up garden bar, and rum tastings across multiple spaces – including a transformed underground bar and a relaxed outdoor terrace overlooking the historic gardens.
Founder Stuart Ross, best known for Grub Fresh Food, said the weekend was about more than simply opening the doors. “This weekend is all about celebrating Aberdeen, community, and giving everyone a flavour of what we’ve been working on, alongside an iconic event with the Tall Ships,” he said.
A bold new brunch destination
The vision behind Wild Goose is rooted in a desire to bring a more elevated brunch offering to Aberdeen’s city centre – something Ross feels has been long missing from the local scene.
“What we’re trying to do with Wild Goose is create a proper brunch offering – something high-end, which you see a lot of in cities like Manchester and London, but is still mostly missing here in Aberdeen,” he explained. “There are places that touch on it, but nothing quite like this in the city centre.”
Wild Goose promises not only quality food and drink, but a unique setting that complements the new-look gardens.
“It’s not just about the food. There’s nowhere else really where you can come in, have a cocktail, sit in a beautiful space, and have that kind of brunch experience,” Ross told Aberdeen Business News. “That’s the sort of gap we’re trying to fill.”
A triple experience – local, fresh, surprising
According to Ross, the aim is to offer a “triple experience”: a venue that feels unexpected, a menu that stands out, and a commitment to local produce.
“First, we want people to come through the gardens and be surprised – to think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this is in Aberdeen.’ Then we want them to try the food and feel like it’s something new. And finally, we’ve built our menus – both food and drink – around local suppliers,” he said.
There’s also a special garden bar pop-up with Brew Toon, the Peterhead craft brewers, and an underground tasting room in the repurposed Victorian toilets in partnership with Outlaw Rum.
Soaking up the atmosphere
The Wild Goose terrace offers one of the best new places in the city to take in Union Terrace Gardens’ revitalised surroundings.
“It’s not a massive area – about four or five tables upstairs and the same down below – but it’s enough to give people the option to sit out, soak up the gardens, and enjoy the buzz,” Ross noted.
Wild Goose forms part of the broader £28.3 million transformation of Union Terrace Gardens – a project designed to reimagine the historic green space with improved accessibility, modern amenities, and renewed civic pride.
Tried and tested
The Tall Ships weekend menu showcases this local ethos, with highlights including:
In Case You Missed it:
- Burrata with gin-macerated peach and jalapeño
- Mini Scottish cheese board with olives, honey, onion jam, and warm focaccia
- Amity crab toasts, made with hand-picked North Sea white crab and lemon mayo
Aberdeen Business News had the opportunity to sample Wild Goose’s special Tall Ships menu during its opening weekend. Dishes were fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavour. The Pimm’s-not-included mocktail proved especially popular – sweet, pleasant, and refreshingly well balanced.
With an official full brunch menu launch on the horizon, Wild Goose is one to watch. Keep an eye on Aberdeen Business News for continued coverage.
For more information visit: www.wild-goose.co.uk
