Bypass effect will see inn vanish down memory lane

Regrets at demise of pub

Anorth-east inn which became a “victim of the AWPR” after more than 200 years of trade is one step closer to being demolished.

The owner of the Lairhillock Inn, near Stonehaven, claimed the Aberdeen bypass was the final nail in the venue’s coffin following “absolutely rubbish trade” for “quite some time”.

Sandy Law closed it last March, soon after tabling plans to knock down the building and build five plush homes on the site – of which we can now show detailed design images.

On Tuesday, councillors expressed some regret that demolishing the once popular pub and restaurant would eradicate the scene of “many happy memories”. But ultimately members of the Kincardine and Mearns area committee gave Mr Law’s plans their blessing.

The former coaching inn, located just off the B979 at Netherley, has been a prominent part of the Mearns countryside for about 210 years.

In its glory days it was on the most commonly used route between Deeside and Stonehaven.

But it struggled to make ends meet in its later years, with the arrival of the AWPR deciding its fate.

With the construction of the billion-pound bypass, traffic heading north and south through the area typically now goes to the new dual carriageway.

It was run by the Law family for the final 14 years of its existence, its log fire crackling for the final time 18 months ago.

Mr Law last year told us how the AWPR had been the tipping point. He said: “Trade has been absolutely rubbish for quite some time. Pubs and restaurants, even in town, but especially those in the country, are dying everywhere.”

The area committee was briefed about the proposal for new homes at the site.

Councillor Ian Mollison was worried the building could be left to rot if the application is not approved when it later goes before elected members for a final decision.

He said: “It is a shame that none of the original building could be kept.

“Taking on board other examples such as Cammies at Cammachmore, it’s now lying there unwanted.

“I wouldn’t like to see the same thing happening at the Lairhillock.

“It’s got a lot of happy memories and I’m afraid that they are going to remain memories with little evidence on site of what has been there.”

The committee voted to refer the plan to the infrastructure services committee with a recommendation for approval. It will be determined at a later date.

STRUGGLE: Sandy Law said the bypass was the final nail in the coffin for the Lairhillock Inn, where five upmarket homes are now planned.

An artist’s impression of one of the planned new homes.

The coaching inn has been in existence for 210 years.