The firm has issued a statement confirming that the premises was placed into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation on June 11 and has now ceased trading.

The building located in Aberdeen’s Market Street has been closed since the lockdown restrictions were announced by the UK Government.

Aberdeen City councillors approved plans for redevelopment earlier this year with the site already earmarked for demolition. 

Market Village leased the building from its owners Patrizia, with the business then renting out space to its many small businesses. The independent traders had warned that the loss of the affordable city centre space could drive them out of business when pleading for its survival, the Press and Journal reports. 

Aberdeen LGBT+ charity Four Pillars announced an urgent search for new premises yesterday, worrying that administration meant the market would immediately close, as it was “highly unlikely” a new operator would take over with demolition plans already in place.

The charity was told its landlord had gone into liquidation on Friday.

Although it is understood there were several years remaining on Aberdeen Market Village’s lease, the charity agreed that immediately seeking a new premises was the best course of action to ensure the charity’s continuance. 

Deejay Bullock, Four Pillars community relations manager, said: “As COVID-19 wreaks havoc across the globe, we have tried to adapt our services, as a local charity, to help those in need through the crisis and have been looking forward at the kind of support individuals will need in the future.

“As if things weren’t bad enough, we now need to find a new home and urgently.”

The charity has set up a fundraising drive to fund its move.

Fellow Market Village tenants Market Heel N Key Bar said in a statement: “We are unsure if we will be able to reopen in the market as we have not been contacted by our landlords. We have made enquires about empty shops nearby but we will hopefully have more news soon.”

Other traders declined to comment on the announcement, telling the Press and Journal it “didn’t change much” in light of the already-approved demolition.

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.