Aberdeen council votes to freeze new beach food van licences

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 29 Oct, 16:48 · Archive

Aberdeen City Council has approved a temporary ban on new food and drink van licences at the beachfront due to overcrowding concerns.

Aberdeen City Council has voted to impose a temporary freeze on new food and drink van licences at the beachfront. The council will adopt a 'presumption against' granting new street trader licences at the Beach Esplanade, a position similar to that already applied in Aberdeen city centre. The freeze will remain in place until the £50 million beach masterplan revamp is completed, allowing council officials to determine how food traders should fit into long-term plans for the seafront.

More than 30 licensed street traders currently operate at the beachfront, offering everything from burgers and burritos to coffee and sweet treats. The decision follows concerns raised by councillors and beach masterplan officials about overcrowding and lack of space. Councillors faced five applications from different traders seeking permission to open at the Esplanade last month, prompting the rethink. Some have described the appearance of the area as 'unsightly'.

The freeze has already affected traders with expansion plans. LA Coffee, which operates on York Street near the Beach Esplanade, had begun the licence application process to move to the beachfront but was told the rule change meant this would no longer be possible. The owners said footfall at the beach was better and they had wanted to relocate there. Separately, a burger van operator's licence renewal was refused due to a pavement parking ban enforced in July 2024, which prevents the food vehicle from being positioned in its original location on the busy pedestrian area.

How it is being reported

• Aberdeen beach burger truck refused street trader licence over pavement parking banThe ruling came as councillors also approved plans to effectively ban any new traders looking to apply for a pitch at the popular city site.Press and Journal · 29 Oct, 16:00
• Aberdeen beach food truck freeze: Council effectively bans new traders amid overcrowding fearsConcerns over whether there was enough room for the hordes of vans looking to capitalise on the passing trade led to beach masterplan bosses pushing for a moratorium - and now an effective freeze has been put in place on any more joining the packed beachfront.Press and Journal · 28 Oct, 13:00
• Line in the sand? Council set to ban new beach food vansCouncil officials are suggesting no new licences be granted for Aberdeen's beachfront due to concerns over a lack of space.BBC North East Orkney And Shetland · 27 Oct, 22:48

In this story: Aberdeen City Council · Aberdeen · LA Coffee · Beach Esplanade · Shake n' Burger Shack

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log