OUR STORY
Welcome to The Haven Community
Inn initiative.
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The Haven Bar & Restaurant is a much-loved venue in the picturesque East Neuk town of Cellardyke. The current owner has been considering the future of The Haven for some time. After carrying out research in the area and beyond, it is considered that there is a proven need for The Haven to become a community owned resource. The Haven is an important part of the Cellardyke community and its loss would leave a huge gap in the community fabric.
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In early 2024, after a well-attended public meeting, The Haven Community Inn was formed. Throughout 2024, we created Steering and Working Groups, drafted a constitution and successfully applied for small grants.
The Steering Group is now taking forward key tasks such as the preparation of further funding applications, ongoing communication with the community and establishing a legal entity to progress the initiative.
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As well as Cellardyke residents, we are also consulting those who spend holiday time in and around the village, and people from the wider Haven community who enjoy visiting for food, drinks and events.
The Haven plays a well-established central role in the Cellardyke community based around its key business strands, as a well-known, well-regarded bar and eatery.
These include:
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A welcoming bar area selling a wide range of drinks
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Restaurant serving quality meals using seasonal local produce
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Music events including open mic sessions
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Quiz nights
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Summer BBQs
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Burns suppers
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Community events around Christmas, New Year and other notable times
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The large, sheltered garden at the Haven also offers a popular meeting spot during the warmer months of the year. It is one of the few beer gardens in the surrounding area.
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The current options for the present owner include:
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Sale and continuation as at present
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Sale and change to another form of business
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Sale for development into residential use
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Our preferred option: Sale to the Community
We would like to thank the present owner of The Haven, Trevor Gow. Trevor is hugely supportive of our plans.
OUR VISION
The focus and priorities for community ownership of The Haven will be determined by our ongoing community consultation.
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Our vision
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​To establish a hub in and for the community.
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To preserve the premises as a community resource.
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To retain a pub and restaurant serving the community with good quality, locally sourced food and drink.
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To continue to serve as a venue for local events including live music, quizzes and special events.
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To provide the opportunity with a wider range of community facilities/activities to be developed such as a community cafe and, more generally, a meeting space for families and community groups.
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To provide an additional line of support for the existing and rich range of community groups and activities in the village.
Wider benefits experienced by other community-owned facilities include:
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Opportunities to create/ protect local jobs;
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The creation of training and development opportunities;
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Freedom to operate in a fully sustainable way;
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Tangible commitment to other local businesses;
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Generation of funds for community projects.
The process
Community ownership is now well established as a means of securing land and facilities for communities.
Initiatives range from the purchase and operation of large Highland estates to the ownership and operation of small shops, bars and post offices.
Achieving ownership by the community is not an easy process. However, a wide range of organisations and funds have been set up to support the process.
Typically, the steps to achieving community ownership include:
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Gauging and gaining community support;
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Consulting with the community to establish a shared vision;
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Establishing and developing a positive relationship with existing owners;
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Drawing up a development plan with a business plan at its core;
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Identifying, applying for and securing funding;
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Reformulating the business in line with the development plan (i.e. reflecting agreed community priorities for use);
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Launching and operating the business.
Each of these steps is challenging and requires commitment and time from members of the community.
You can help! Come and join the team to drive the project forward. Find out more at this page, or email us at havenfutures@gmail.com
OUR TEAM
Haven Community Inn Management Team
Dr Craig Thomson
Chair
Craig has lived in and around the East Neuk for over 30 years. Now retired, he worked widely in educational research and in teacher and management training.
Craig owned and operated The Boathouse bar and restaurant in Anstruther. His continuing interest in research relates mainly to the beers in the Haven, golf and sailing.
Wendy Frazier
Vice Chair
Wendy and her husband, Andy, visited Cellardyke 11 years ago and fell in love with the place so moved in. Now retired, Wendy is using the skills from her career to provide IT and communication support to the project. With the Haven on her doorstep, many a happy hour has been spent there with friends and neighbours. She is keen to see this fantastic pub remain as an asset to the community.
Keith Otto
Treasurer
Born and bred in Edinburgh, Keith worked in finance for a number of companies, including Grand Metropolitan Brewing (now part of Diageo), The University of Sussex, The University of St Andrews and The University of Abertay Dundee.
Now retired from full time accountancy, he is also involved with a range of charities, including volunteer guiding for the NTS at nearby Kellie Castle.
Paula Laing
Secretary
Andrew Chalmers
Brian Dickson
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Brian is a relative newcomer to Cellardyke, having moved here to be beside family.
Having previously been involved in various community projects elsewhere, it seems certain to Brian that The Haven ‘Buy Inn’ project will offer many things in lots of different ways to support all age groups beyond just saving a great pub.
Whilst working locally as a Postman these days, Brian previously spent 30 years in Sales Bid & Contract Management in the Corporate I.T. and Software sector. Before that he started his working life in hospitality after graduating out of The Scottish Hotel School at Strathclyde University.
Sue Nicol
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Sue has lived in Anstruther/ Cellardyke with her husband Stuart since 2005 when she took early retirement from the Civil Service. She was a Contract manager for DWP overseeing contracts for employment training.
Sue moved to Fife after her daughter decided to stay after graduating from the University of St Andrews.
She has volunteered with both Lighthouse and Harbour Lights as a youth worker, which gave her an interest in promoting training for young people locally.
Davie Telfer
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Davie moved to Cellardyke in 2014 and been involved with The Haven since then, both as a customer and member of the previous pool team. He hosts the pub’s regular Monthly Quiz, which is a great draw for both locals and visitors to the area. He would like to see the pub & restaurant continue to be a success in the years to come and continue to regularly meet friends and neighbours for drinks and food as well as attending music events within The Haven. He currently works within the Construction trade as a Health & Safety Advisor and previously in management in the Retail sector, so has relevant experience to bring to the team.
Sandy Wilkie
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Sandy moved to Cellardyke four years ago after taking early retirement. He first visited The Haven as a student in the 1980s and now enjoys the venue as a fantastic place to eat and relax.
His support for the project is based around retaining a community social hub for Cellardyke where people of all ages can come together.
