Renowned Anstruther restaurant venue The Cellar has been given a new lease of life by husband-and-wife team Nicola and Sian Linton.
With the help of a funding boost from the British Business Bank, the Lintons have taken over the venue and opened it as a wine and tapas bar called The Cellar at 24.
With the help of a head chef from San Sebastián, Nicola and Sian aim to celebrate and share their love of Spanish hospitality by ‘creating a relaxed and welcoming environment’ that offers something new for the Fife coastal town.
The couple also run the nearby Ox & Anchor at the town’s harbour. That eatery first began as a street food truck in 2022, which Nicola and Sian launched after giving up their day jobs.
Nicola previously worked in admin roles, while Sian had a 16-year career working as a chef in kitchens all around the East Neuk of Fife.
Under its previous owners, the venue was operated as Michelin-starred The Cellar, but that announced its closure at the start of 2024 after a decade in business.
Nicola and Sian saw it as the perfect opportunity to create a new culinary concept at the site – a former smokehouse and cooperage – and have spent the last six months developing menus, hiring the team and tweaking the interior design to match the Mediterranean theme.
Nicola said: “As a family, we spend a lot of time travelling to Spain and have always enjoyed the slower pace of life that locals adopt.
“While Anstruther may not have the same sunny climate, we wanted to create an amazing place to eat and drink that replicates the relaxed vibes and fantastic flavours we have experienced throughout the Mediterranean.
“The Cellar at 24’s head chef Pablo will be a key part of that, creating a menu of tasty tapas dishes using top-quality local produce for our customers to enjoy with a glass of wine.”
The couple recently received a £20,000 loan from DSL Business Finance through the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme to help with various set-up costs.
Nicola added: “The Cellar has a deep-rooted history in the town, and it seemed a shame to see the doors close for good. We received invaluable support via the Start Up Loans programme to get Ox & Anchor up and running in 2023, so it made sense to explore the same avenue for finance this time around.”
Senior manager for Scotland at the British Business Bank, Barry McCulloch, said: “The East Neuk of Fife already has a fantastic reputation for food and drink, with small businesses at the heart of its popularity.
“The Cellar at 24 is a great concept, bringing something a bit different to Anstruther. The success of Nicola and Sian’s other hospitality business to date is a strong foundation to build upon for the new tapas bar and we are so pleased to see them coming back to the Start Up Loans programme for further support.”
