The Marcliffe Hotel is set to significantly expand its footprint in Aberdeen with the proposed acquisition of the neighbouring Woodbank property, currently owned by Shell.
Balmoral Group, owners of The Marcliffe, confirmed that a deal to acquire the 14-acre site is well advanced and subject to contract. If completed, the move will increase the estate from eight to 22 acres and forms part of a broader strategy to improve the hotel’s leisure offering.
The announcement follows the hotel’s #MyMarcliffe community survey, conducted in October 2024, which revealed that 34 percent of respondents were looking for more leisure facilities.
Located adjacent to The Marcliffe on North Deeside Road, Woodbank includes 21 bedrooms, seven meeting rooms, four private dining rooms and a fully equipped sports centre. Shell will continue to operate and use the facilities until mid-November.
Sir Jim Milne CBE, Chairman of Balmoral Group, said, “We are thrilled to be set to acquire Woodbank, not only to develop the luxury experience for our guests but to also contribute meaningfully to Aberdeen’s economy. This acquisition significantly expands the Marcliffe site from eight acres to 22 acres.
“We are currently exploring how Woodbank can offer new experiences for guests and how the site will integrate into our existing footprint. While we’re focused on upholding what people have come to cherish about Marcliffe, we’re looking to the future ensuring that luxury, service and guest experience remain core to our vision.”
Shell UK Upstream Senior Vice President, Simon Roddy, welcomed the planned sale. He said, “Shell UK Upstream welcomes the offer by the Balmoral Group for the purchase of Woodbank, which we are planning to pass into new ownership towards the end of the year.
“I know Woodbank has been a much-appreciated facility for so many employees, staff members and pensioners over decades. This opportunity is a positive move to secure a future for the property as part of the hotel complex, which the wider Aberdeen community can benefit from.”
