Two of Aberdeen’s most prestigious hospitality venues, award-winning wine bar Grape & Grain and sister restaurant Mediterranean, have appointed Chetan Doonga as General Manager.
Chetan, who holds an MSc in International Tourism Management from RGU, has taken up his new role after spending two years at the city’s Chester Hotel as Food & Beverage Manager.
Prior to that, he was at the Marcliffe at Pitfodels for more than 15 years, beginning his hospitality career in 2009 as a banqueting waiter. In the years following he worked his way up the ranks to take on the role of training manager, before working as maître d’ for 10 years under the late Stewart Spence.
Owned by Aberdeen businesswoman Jeanette Forbes, the two venues are located opposite one another on Thistle Street, considered a go-to destination for some of the city’s most exciting independent hospitality establishments.
“We are very pleased to have someone with Chetan’s background and top level experience join the team at Grape & Grain and Mediterranean,” said Ms Forbes. “Although each business operates independently of one another, there is great synergy between the two, which is about more than their proximity to one another.
“Chetan’s role will see him lead on developing the benefits of this synergy as he oversees operations across both venues. There will be a focus on developing team leadership with a commitment to ensuring exceptional guest experiences and the very highest operational standards while driving sustainable growth across both businesses.”
Chetan said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this role and working alongside Jeanette across both Grape & Grain and Mediterranean. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and passion for hospitality, particularly my interest in wine, to both venues and creating distinctive, memorable experiences for our guests.”
Grape & Grain first opened in 2017, and since then has won a string of local and national awards recognising everything from its selection of wines and gins to its unique style. Mediterranean opened in January 2025 with a menu that celebrates dishes from many of the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.