Former Royal Deeside post office transformed into 'destination' pizza restaurant
A former post office has been given a new lease of life in Aberdeenshire.
Kite, a new pizza restaurant and deli, has opened in the village of Dinnet on Royal Deeside, bringing new life into the former post office building on the high street. Situated at the eastern gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, the venture is led by Ben Addy, director of locally based Moxon Architects and founder of Tàrmachan Café in Crathie.
Kite serves wood-fired pizzas and pizzetti alongside house-made tiramisu, using a combination of Italian and Scottish ingredients. A particular focus is the pizza dough, which is made fresh on site every day using a long-fermentation process that reflects the team's commitment to quality and craft.
The dough programme is a passion of resident pizzaiolo Lewis Lilburn, forming the foundation of the restaurant's approach to traditional Neapolitan pizza-making. Core Italian staples, including San Marzano DOP tomatoes, olive oil and mozzarella, are sourced directly from Italy, while locally produced ingredients feature prominently, such as venison salami from Great Glen Charcuterie and Scottish black pudding.
The drinks list is entirely Italian and Scottish too, with wines such as Amarone, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Gavi and beers from independent Scottish breweries including Edinburgh Beer Company, Jumpship, and Stewart Brewing. Kite also features deli shelves, which will soon stock a range of local produce.
The restaurant takes its name from the red kite, a bird that has made a remarkable comeback across north-east Scotland and Deeside in recent years. While the project was inspired by local demand for new dining options, it was equally motivated by a desire to restore a much loved building at the heart of the village.
The premises, formerly Dinnet's post office and general store, and later home to antiques dealer Auld Alliance, had fallen into significant disrepair. Extensive renovation works were undertaken to preserve the character of the building while adapting it for its new use.
Wherever possible, original features have been carefully retained or faithfully restored. The entrance door and internal doors have been remade as exact replicas of the originals, matching their historic proportions and mouldings.
Salvaged timber, still bearing traces of its original Victorian green paint, has been reused to line the interior walls, with the colour itself inspiring Kite's graphic identity.
The building's original shopfront sign has also been restored. Damaged sections were removed and replaced with new hardwood, and the sign now takes pride of place within the dining room. New additions, including an Italian pizza oven and a marble-topped preparation counter, have been introduced in a way that deliberately complements the historic fabric of the building.
By combining quality food, local produce and sensitive restoration, Kite aims to become a welcoming new gathering place for both residents and visitors to Royal Deeside.
Ben Addy, owner and developer, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to Kite, serving more than 500 pizzas during our opening weekend.
“From the outset, the project was about more than great food; it was an opportunity to restore a much-loved building, create a new destination for locals and visitors, and contribute to the vitality of Dinnet and the wider Deeside community.
“Seeing the space brought back to life and embraced so warmly by local residents and visitors alike has been incredibly rewarding.”
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