PINTS are set to be pulled and supped in an award-winning Dunfermline town-centre pub once again as soon as this month, the Press can reveal.

Operators of the Commercial Inn, on Douglas Street, have said that they are "looking forward to reopening in November" after providing an update on the future of the premises, which was thrown into doubt when it shut unexpectedly in September.

Hawthorn Leisure, who operate more than 650 leased, tenanted and managed pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, also confirmed that the bar's manager of 13 years, Andrew Black, is to take charge of the five-time CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) Fife Pub of the Year winner.

In a statement this week, a spokesperson for Hawthorn Leisure, who also stated previously that they "will not be moving away from what made the pub popular in the first place", said: "The Commercial is an important community hub in Dunfermline and we're looking forward to reopening with Andrew Black in charge.

"Andrew will be a familiar face to locals, having managed the pub for 13 years, and he's looking forward to delivering the high levels of service that people have come to expect from the Commercial, as well as continuing the pub's tradition for serving cask ales."

Customers of the popular boozer were left shocked when a notice on its doors advised that it had closed "due to unforeseen circumstances", only for Hawthorn Leisure to "reassure customers that we have no plans to close down the Commercial".

Describing it as a "great traditional pub and an important institution in Dunfermline", they said that it "would be closed for a short period while we recruit a new partner", adding that "once we have invested in the pub to give it a much-needed refurbishment, we're confident the Commercial will be better than ever".

A popular haunt for fans of real ale, its reputation as one of the Kingdom's best pubs for pouring the perfect pint was enhanced with award successes on no less than five separate occasions.

In 1998, the Commercial won its first CAMRA Fife Pub of the Year award, and went on to be presented with the accolade again in 2005, 2006, 2008 and, most recently, in 2014.

Following the latter win, the pub was also feted as one the county's best later that year, when it was named as runner-up in the CAMRA Scottish Pub of the Year, placing second only to The Steam Packet Inn, at Isle of Whithorn, in Dumfries and Galloway.

Last week, the Press revealed that the former post office in Dunfermline – located opposite the Commercial on Queen Anne Street – has been bought by the City Hotel Group, who hope to create licensed premises incorporating a mixed offering of food, drink, entertainment and accommodation.