THE family that has run the Old Inn pub in Dunfermline since 1979 has called time and sold the business.

Owner Mark Haggerty admitted he’d found it hard to continue in the historic Kirkgate bar after the death of his father, Joe, in January last year.

The sale to City Hotels (Dunfermline), who also own the Pitfirrane Hotel in Crossford, the Caledonia Hotel in Rosyth and Tappie Toories pub across the road from the Old Inn, was concluded last week.

Mark explained, “My dad bought the pub in August 1979 so it’s just short of 35 years.

“I’ve been there for 30 years and latterly owned it but it was his pub and I always told people that the Old Inn was Joe Haggerty.

“With my dad passing away last January, that was a big blow and the pub didn’t have the same hold.” He continued, “People maybe don’t realise just how hard it is to work and run a pub, to build a business and a customer base. It’s 24/7.

“We’ve lost holidays down to circumstances with work, people moving on or letting you down, calling in last-minute to say they can’t work, so with all that and dad passing away, we didn’t want to be there any more.

“It’s sad but it’s time to move on.” There’s been a tavern on the Kirkgate site called The Old Inn since at least the 18th century and Dunfermline Athletic were founded there in 1885.

It was also the first coaching inn of its kind in Scotland and the original gantry was preserved and is still in use.

Joe was Dunfermline’s longest-serving publican, best remembered as a cheery presence on the door and always with some banter for the punters, before handing over the reins to Mark.

He said, “We’ve had great times there.

“The original Black Fridays and the days of Dunfermline in the Premier League, going to the game at 3 and rushing back at 4.30pm, my dad would be on the door, the club was in its heyday and the place would be bouncing.

“Lots of people met and got together in some way or other in the pub and we built it up into what I believe is the best traditional pub in the town.” Asked about their future plans, Mark laughed, “I think I’ve served my time, I don’t think anyone would deny me that! “We’ve booked a holiday, we’ll spend more time with the family and have a complete break. Other than that I’m not sure what’s next, it’s a new chapter.

"We’ve been in negotiations with City Hotels and effectively managed to come to a deal so they’re happy and we’re happy.

“It’s a shame we never really got a chance to say cheerio to everyone, it’s just the way it happened with the sale and licence passing over.

“My dad, in my opinion one of the best publicans ever in Dunfermline, would have thanked all the customers over the years for their support of the pub and myself, Marie and my mum, Jean, wish the new owners all the very best for the future.”