Our Aberdeen, a free new city app is set for launch, giving locals and visitors alike the chance to explore everything Aberdeen has to offer – from hidden gems and cultural highlights, to food, drink and family-friendly activities.
The app has been developed by the Our Union Street initiative with the goal of increasing footfall in the city centre and showcasing the very best Aberdeen has to offer all on one platform.
Launching on May Day weekend (2 – 4 May) the app is designed to help everyone discover great local businesses, follow curated trails, and take advantage of promotions that reward them for spending time across the city centre - giving users a new way to explore, support and take pride in the Granite City.
Finlay Hendry and Amy Innes
By sharing inspiration, information and tips from local bloggers and foodies, the app reveals a new side to Aberdeen, making it easier and more convenient to enjoy. It will also support local businesses, providing them with a free platform to promote their latest deals and offerings.
Users can also follow a series of specially curated trails, revealing fascinating glimpses into the City’s hidden history, it’s medical marvels and vibrant music and art scene among a host of other highlights. Food blogger Julia Bryce has designed her own personal guide for users to eat their way around Aberdeen, celebrating the fantastic local hospitality.
An ever-growing range of local retail and hospitality businesses have signed up to share exclusive deals and promotions via the user-friendly app, which also collates and reveals the events that are happening across the city in real time – from gigs and plays to exhibitions, competitions and everything in between.
The leopard in the logo was chosen as a long-standing symbol of Aberdeen, featured across many of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including its coat of arms. It represents the city’s resilience, rich heritage, and strong sense of identity.
The app will launch over the May Day weekend as part of Aberdeen Unlocked, with a dedicated pop-up activation in Union Square on Saturday 2nd May. Members of the public will have the opportunity to ‘spin to win’ a range of prizes, as well as learn more about the app from the Our Aberdeen team. The launch will also be supported by collaborations with local businesses, offering exclusive promotions and giveaways across the weekend.
Our Union Street is a community-led organisation with a shared goal of regenerating and reinvigorating the Granite Mile. This city-first, not-for-profit initiative aims to tackle key challenges facing local businesses, including a lack of visibility and fragmented, hard-to-find information about what’s happening across Aberdeen.
Our Union Street Chairman Bob Keiller says: “There’s so much to see and do in Aberdeen, this is about making it easier to get back into the city centre and rediscover what’s here—whether that’s somewhere new to eat, something to do, or just a different way to spend time.
We hope it gives people more reasons to come in, supports local businesses, and makes exploring the city easy and enjoyable for everyone. For visitors to the city, the app brings together a raft of things to do and see, memories to be made, crucially all in the one place, the city in your pocket!”
The app will be available to download from 2nd May on iOS and Android, with new features set to be added regularly.