The Stage

Aberdeen sour as Lemon Tree closes

Published Monday 10 December 2007 at 13:45 by Nicole Hepburn

Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree theatre has closed its doors for the last time following a financial crisis.

The venue ceased trading and went into voluntary liquidation on December 5, leaving up to 50 full and part-time staff unemployed.

The centre, which programmed a mix of music, drama, dance and family activities, has experienced financial difficulties since opening in 1992. In 2004 it recorded a loss of around £170,000 and was only saved by a cash injection from the city council.

Doubts over the centre’s future were raised again last year when the Scottish Arts Council withdraw its annual grant, which had amounted to around £800,000 between 2002 and 2006. These doubts about the city venue resurfaced again last month.

At a meeting to save the Lemon Tree, local councillors agreed the venue should be offered a lifeline in the form of city council loan, or the centre could have had its overdraft facility underwritten by the local authority.

The board of the Lemon Tree decided against both options and issued a statement: “The board met tonight (December 4) and agreed unanimously that the Lemon Tree had no alternative but to cease trading with immediate effect. All due legal processes will be followed in proceeding to voluntary liquidation.

“We regret the decision and the impact that there will inevitably be on staff and customers, particularly at this time of year, but we are unable to continue trading when we do not have enough cash to meet liabilities.”

Acts due to appear at the Lemon Tree in the coming months included Big Country, Jerry Sadowitz and Lloyd Cole.