THE Somewhere Else pub in Dunfermline has been bought by a group of local businessmen and will re-open in December.

The Guildhall Street bar latterly had a short-lived revival as gastropub The Drouthy Fox but has lain empty since January when it closed due to "operational issues".

It has now been purchased by an investment company headed by three friends and successful local businessmen, who aim to restore the pub's good name and glory days.

William Braisby, owner and managing director of Braisby Roofing Ltd, told the Press: "We know the pub and why it's there. Somewhere Else been a part of our lives for 20-30 years and we were disappointed to see it close.

"The Drouthy Fox episode never quite worked and the feeling was there was an opportunity to get a traditional pub, in the heart of the town centre, with good-quality food, good drink and good service, back up and running.

"The plan was to do it pre-COVID so we knocked it on the head as long as we could but we'd pass it every day and think 'Can it work?'

"We think it can."

Mr Braisby, Ross Lindsay and Derek Smith are directors in Elgin Investments, which has bought the pub.

He said: "We've got a number of ventures and we're always looking for something to do!

"It'll certainly be difficult doing it at this time, during a pandemic, and we've had to put in some capital that we didn't expect, but we feel the town deserves this and we're prepared to step up.

"We're all excited by the opportunity.

"We're planning on opening on Wednesday, December 2, so it's full steam ahead to get it ready."

Karen Davidson, formerly assistant manager at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, and who previously ran popular bars Shenanigans and Whisky Joes on the High Street, will be manager.

He said: "She's got fresh ideas and experience in the licensed trade so we'll come together as a team and get it up and running."

A social media post announcing their plans on Tuesday went viral and gave them added encouragement they can make a go of it.

Mr Braisby, who is also on the board of Pars United, said: "I never envisaged myself owning a pub but we looked at it with our business heads on.

"We've stayed in Dunfermline our entire lives so it's local businessmen that will be running it, rather than people who don't know the town, and we think we can offer something different that people will want.

"There's a nostalgic point of view too. We've had 20-odd good years of that pub being there, we've got good memories of it and there'll be a distinct clientele that remember those days too.

"It's a cliche but we now want the younger generation to come and make their own memories in Somewhere Else, which is pivotal in the town centre."

The pub is being refurbished completely and he added: "We want to make it a traditional Dunfermline pub with iconic town-centre images like the Glen, the Abbey, Carnegie and the High Street.

"We want to take it back to its roots, a Dunfermline pub for Dunfermline people, and what made it work before.

"We expect to be in it for a long time, we've made commitments and employed staff, so as long as we get the foundations right and have the right people in place, I see no reason why we can't make it work."