Aberdeen barbecue favourite Smoke and Soul has temporarily closed its venues after what the team describe as a difficult start to the year, with severe weather and wider industry pressures forcing them to “down tongs and tools” in recent weeks. The family-run business, known for its low and slow smoked meats and comfort food at The Firepit in the city centre and The Old Smiddy in Bridge of Don, confirmed the pause in a heartfelt social media update shared with customers this month.
In a Facebook post on 15 January, the team told followers: “This hasn’t been the start to 2026 that we’d envisioned. Over the past few weeks our team has had to down tongs and tools for a number of reasons, many of them completely outwith our control.” The update went on to explain that while the recent snowfall had looked “magical”, it had effectively brought operations to a standstill, with knock-on effects still being felt even after the ice had cleared.
Like many operators across the north-east, Smoke and Soul has been hit by January’s challenging trading conditions, combining extreme weather disruption with ongoing cost and staffing pressures facing hospitality nationwide. The team said these realities mean “some important decisions need to be made about how we move forward into the year ahead”, signalling that the current closure is as much about longer-term planning as short-term firefighting.
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“For now, we’re remaining closed while we take the time to properly figure things out, rather than rushing into announcements before there’s anything definite to share,” the post continued, underlining that no firm reopening date has yet been confirmed. Regulars who had been hoping to break their January healthy-eating resolutions with a visit to the smokehouse will need to wait a little longer, though the team has promised to “update you properly as soon as we can.”
Smoke and Soul also used the update to reach out to fellow operators, signing off with “love and solidarity to everyone in hospitality who’s had a tough start to their trading year.” The note of support reflects a broader mood within the sector, as independent venues across Aberdeen and beyond navigate a traditionally quiet trading month made even more difficult by rising costs and unpredictable winter weather.
