Costley & Costley venue back in business after 2012 blaze
AN Ayrshire inn has reopened two years after it was devastated by fire.
Souter’s Inn, in Kirkoswald, has been closed since April 2012 when a blaze ripped through the building, causing a section of its thatched roof to collapse.
However, the Costley & Costley Group venue has now been rebuilt and was reopened earlier this month.
The restored building now comprises the Souter’s Inn bar and restaurant, Peggy’s Tearoom cafe and an offshoot of Costley’s Patisserie, serving handmade chocolates and ice cream.
The interior is said to have been revamped in a contemporary style, which includes the use of exposed brickwork and oak throughout the outlet.
“We may only have just reopened, but already Souter’s has exceeded our most optimistic forecast and we’re delighted with the response and support we’ve received from locals and tourists alike,” said Costley & Costley director Bill Costley.
“With a strong emphasis on the quality of our food offering, customer service and contemporary design, Souter’s is ideally located to cater for a brief lunch or refreshment before or after a round of golf, or a sightseeing trip to Burns Country and the many attractions of the west coast.”
Souter’s Inn first opened six years ago as Souter Johnnie’s Inn. Located on the site of a former schoolhouse said to have been attended by Robert Burns, the inn is named after a character in the Burns poem Tam o’ Shanter.
Both Tam and Souter Johnnie are said to be buried in a graveyard adjacent to the inn.
In addition to Souter’s Inn, the Costley & Costley portfolio includes a number of hotels, bars and restaurants in Ayrshire, including the Lochgreen House Hotel, Brig o’ Doon House Hotel and Doonbrae House.
