Three Towns: Ardrossan and Stevenston couple opening Cumnock pub

The Victoria Inn on The Square in Cumnock previously lay empty for a number of months.

Just over a month ago, Sean Conaghan, from Ardrossan, and his fiancée Paige Kennedy, from Stevenston, took ownership of the pub and set about transforming it.

Inside the new pub. (Image: NQ Archive)

After weeks of hard graft and with help from friend Jamie Burns and others along the way, the couple is set to reopen the pub this Saturday, October 14.

Sean, who has a background in hospitality, hopes that the premises can become a place people call their local. 

Friend Jamie Burns has helped out. (Image: NQ Archive)

He said: "When we came in there was quite a bit of work needing done to it, so we've put in a lot of hours to get it to this stage.

"We want it to be a place that people come in and feel comfortable with and want to come back.

"Me and Paige will be behind the bar most of the time, so that helps to create a friendly atmosphere and lets people recognise a friendly face when they come.

"We're hoping to get live acts back into it and try and get a pool team set back up again.

"I think it's a pub with so much potential and it's in a great bit with food place and stuff not far away.

"We want to change the perception of the pub, but we know what might take time and I'm sure we can do that.

"You never know what's going to happen, but at least we can say we've tried with it and we're looking forward to it opening".

For the time being, the pub's name is set to remain at The Victoria Inn.

Sean said that the opening in the first 'phase' in the renovation, with other plans for the future including potential collaborations with food establishments in the area.

The doors are set to open at 4pm on Saturday.