Nick Nairn's Aberdeen Cook School hit by downturn and announces closure

Nick Nairn's Cook School is the latest casualty of the oil price drop as he announced its closure today.

On his website and social media feeds, celebrity chef Nairn said: "Like many other businesses in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas, we haven't been immune to the downturn in the north-east economy.

"Our corporate custom has suffered greatly and whilst we have worked exceptionally hard for the last 18 months to diversify our offering, we have now reached a point where the Cook School is no longer commercially sustainable in Aberdeen."

The school, which opened in 2012, will close on 30 June, however his Pizza Bar in the city will remain open, which Nairn said is "showing strong growth and is hopefully the way forward".

He said its opening would be extended from five to seven days a week from 1 May, the space will be refurbished in July, and he is also exploring expansion of the brand to Edinburgh and Glasgow. His Cook School in Port of Menteith, Stirling is also unaffected.

Nairn added that "a big part of our loss making is poor occupancy of classes" and urged Aberdeen locals to "rally round and support the independents".

"We remain committed to maintaining a presence in Aberdeen," added Nairn. "I'd like to thank everyone who has supported the Aberdeen Cook School during the last six years and of course our incredible team who have made every effort to make it work in really challenging times."

The North Sea oil industry suffered badly as the global oil price fell dramatically in 2014. Stephen Dillon closed his restaurant Prime Cuts in 2016 after he claimed corporate trade in the city "disappeared", while Beetroot Restaurants closed Cue Barbecue just a few months later.

Nairn also heads Kailyard by Nick Nairn at the Hilton Dunblane Hydro, and was the youngest Scottish chef to win a Michelin star at his former restaurant Braeval in 1991.

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