Village left 'gutted' as 150-year-old Kirkton Inn shuts doors without warning

By HOAR Team 3 May, 2025 6 mins read 87 Views

God. I actually drove past the Kirkton Inn last summer. Beautiful white building with that distinctive red roof that just screams "come in for a pint, why don't ya?" Now it's gone. Just like that. Another piece of history that couldn't survive the absolute bloodbath that is today's hospitality industry.

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Hollywood's Secret Scottish Watering Hole

The Kirkton Inn has been serving drinks in Darymple since 1875. That's nearly 150 freaking years of pints, laughs, and local gossip. And now? Shuttered. Doors closed April 28th with zero warning, leaving locals completely blindsided.

My cousin's wedding reception was at a place just like this back in 2019. Same vibe, same history. There's something about these old village pubs that just can't be replicated.

Wait... Michael Douglas Drank HERE?

According to village lore (and honestly, who am I to question it?), the Kirkton wasn't just some random country pub. It apparently attracted actual Hollywood royalty. Village folklore claims Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas once popped in for a drink. Can you imagine being the bartender that day? "Oh, just another Tuesday serving Basic Instinct guy and the gorgeous Welsh actress."

I wonder if they left a good tip.

The Numbers Don't Lie (But They Sure Hurt)

Behind teh charm and celebrity connections lies the harsh reality. The pub's parent company, Eurotrade Windows, has been drowning in financial troubles. Run by John and Heather Keenan, company accounts reveal they were nearly £750,000 in debt by December 2023. They lost over £300K in that year alone.

The court finally ordered liquidators to close the place down on April 9th. It hasn't reopened since.

That's a lot of money. Like, a LOT lot.

From Renovation Dreams to Nightmare

The tragedy here feels especially cruel because the Keenans weren't absentee owners who let the place rot. They bought the pub in 2018 and poured everything into renovating it. One regular described how they dedicated "their heart and soul" to reviving what had been a struggling venue after some "torrid" years under brewery management.

I've seen this story play out before. Someone buys a historic place with dreams and ambition, renovates it beautifully, and then... reality hits. Costs spiral. Customer habits change. Suddenly you're hemorrhaging money with no end in sight.

The Community's Broken Heart

The locals are devastated. Absolutely gutted.

Even though management never officially announced the closure (probably too painful), regulars took to social media to share their grief. Bertie Rooney wrote: "Must be heartbreaking for John and Heather. They spent a fortune renovating the Kirkton and the family-run Eurotrade. The pub has been trading without a break for over 35 years and has given many a young lad a job over the years. I wish them the best in an unfortunate situation."

Sophie Harrison called it "our favourite place," while Scott Miller described it as a "massive blow for Dalrymple as a village."

Listen. When a village pub closes, it's not just a business failing. It's like someone ripped out the community's living room.

Too Pricey? Maybe.

One comment caught my attention. Scott Miller mentioned that while the food was lovely and the staff great, "Only negative thing was it was an expensive place to eat, but you get what you pay for."

I'm wondering if that might've contributed to their struggles? In today's economy, with everyone watching their pennies, an "expensive" village pub might be a tough sell... even with fantastic food and service.

My brother-in-law runs a small café in Yorkshire and he's had to completely rethink his pricing strategy twice in the last year just to keep customers coming through the door.

What Happens Now?

The building stands empty. A white structure with its distinctive red roof, silent after 150 years of continuous service. No more pints being pulled. No more Sunday roasts. No more first dates or last drinks.

I keep thinking about all those staff members suddenly without jobs. Chris, who Sophie Harrison mentioned was "always so great with us." All those young lads who got their start there.

The hospitality industry can be absolutely brutal. (And I should know—I waited tables for three years during uni and still have nightmares about forgetting orders during the dinner rush.)

Will someone else take a chance on the Kirkton Inn? Will it reopen under new management? Or will it join the growing list of historic pubs lost forever?

For now, Dalrymple has lost its heart. And that's a damn shame.

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