Kirkcaldy pub to get £450,000 revamp

The refurbishment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and Bars will transform The Chapel Tavern on Chapel Road.

Building work started this week and it is scheduled to reopen in late April.

New licensee Reece Webb will take the reins when the pub opens for business and ten jobs will also be created.

The project will include an exterior renovation, as well as painting, adding new signage and lighting, enlarging the windows to let in more light and making the building universally accessible.

To further improve the pub’s appearance and the look of the neighbourhood, café style seating and planters will be added at the front.

A tarmac area at the back will be converted into a landscaped terrace with seating for 58 and plenty of planting.

The revamp will upgrade The Chapel Tavern throughout, in keeping with its original character. Stonework will be exposed and the fireplace opened up and brought back into use with a log burner. Thanks to the creation of a kitchen and a dining area, food will be served daily too.

Twenty-three-year-old Reece comes from a family who are all in the hospitality industry and he started helping out in a restaurant kitchen when he was aged just 10!

He said: “I’ve wanted a pub of my own for as long as I can remember.

“The Chapel Tavern is a beautiful old pub with a lovely atmosphere. The plans for it are amazing; I feel incredibly lucky it will be my first pub. I used to drink here on nights out in Kirkcaldy, but never dreamed I’d run it one day.

“I’d like to make it a local the community is proud of that provides great food, drink and entertainment on their doorstep.”

Brian Davidson, Star Pubs and Bars operations director for Scotland, said: “Reece’s experience, energy and enthusiasm are just what The Chapel Tavern needs to bring it back to life. The pub will have something for everyone when the development is completed.

“We’re working hard to reopen it so that people can make the most of the gorgeous new terrace when the warmer weather arrives.”