Kirkton Inn opens it's doors again

Jul 10 2009 by Lisa Boyle

IT COULDN’T be further from their previous careers, but Vicki Fairfoull and Joyce Hislop have decided to take the plunge and take over a landmark village inn.

The 130-year-old Kirkton Inn has been given a revamp and has once again opened its doors to the public.

The Dalrymple hotel has lay boarded up for months – a sight which saddened Vicki and Joyce.

Joyce explained: “I was a pharmacist with Boots for 25 years and Vicki was a designer with Creative Designs for 21 years.

“We were just a bit fed-up and knew we wanted to do something different.

“We both have horses up at Springwater Fishery and driving through the village I saw that the Kirkton was boarded up.

“I spoke to Vicki about it and that was it, we started looking into it.

“We got the keys in February, opened the bar on March 12 and the restaurant on March 30.”

And business is already booming. All the rooms at the Kirkton are fully booked for the Open Championship.

Vicki, from Hollybush, and mum-of-two Joyce, from Ayr, have been pals for five years.

The pair already employ 12 people but are hoping to expand their staff base as the business grows.

Vicki explained: “We want to try and encourage more young families from the village to come in. We are planning a play area and beer garden at the back.

“We want to make it somewhere that we would come ourselves. Hopefully, that means other people will enjoy it too.”

As well as the restaurant, bar and rooms all being given an upgrade, the menu has also been revamped.

Cullen skink and haggis are some of the traditionally Scottish delights on the menu.

But more modern dishes, such as salmon in a Thai curry sauce, means that the Kirkton Inn has something for everyone.

Chefs Robert Compton, who has previously worked in Elliotts and the Red Lion, and Scott Moore, who comes from the Erskine Bridge Hotel, are on hand to ensure every customer who walks through the Kirkton Inn enjoys the culinary experience.

The Kirkton Inn is open seven days. Call 01292 560241 to make a booking.