PETERCULTER pub The Ploughman is in new hands after being taken over by an experienced operator and a former oil executive.
Simon Cruickshank, owner of the nearby Richmond Arms pub, has teamed with Alistair Dornan, a former director of oil and gas engineering business Xodus and ClerkMaxwell, to take on the pub. The new owners have known each other since the 1990s, when Cruickshank owned another nearby pub, The Bieldside Inn. Both men live in the area.
The Ploughman was previously run by husband and wife Graeme and Shirley Wight, who owned the business for 33 years. All of the former owners’ staff – five full-time and 19 part-time – have been retained.
Cruickshank said: “We’re delighted to have acquired a well-run business, and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish Graeme and Shirley all the best in their retirement.
“They built up a hospitality business that stuck to a traditional Scottish pub theme and we intend to continue their good work. We will be seeking feedback from staff and customers as we look to invest in the business.”
Dornan described The Ploughman as “an institution”.
